Sounds more like PT(YC)SD! That drive to succeed is healthy, but that environment you were is was really not ideal.
Post YC Depression
101–110 of 163 posts
Re: Post YC Depression
#102You have to work on something you are passionate about. If you work on Sundays because you cant keep yourself away from it, then great. If you work Sundays because you think if you work hard enough you will become rich and successful, then you are likely going to burn yourself out. Your life is NOW, be happy now. Don't push it off. If coding all day makes you happy do so. but if you rather hang out at the beach do so…
Thanks for posting this. I've been bouncing startup ideas around for a long time, but I feel that this comment will help to reframe my thought process in a positive and productive way.
Thank you for saying so! Reach out if you want advice or support @quelsolaar on twitter.
Re: Post YC Depression
#103Earlier quoted context omitted.
> For most people, owning 100% of a company making $1M/year would be preferable to owning 10% of a company making $1B. It's not just that money has decreasing marginal value. It's about what life you want to live. Being in control of your life, or of anything, is a huge benefit and comes with a big premium. When one company acquires a public company, they usually pay more than the public stock price. If you don't dri…
>> owing a car But there are no car rentals which would bring a car to your door in the next 15 minutes.
There is a small car rental company in my town that does just this although it's more like an hour rather than 15 minutes. They've got all of my details on file so it's as easy as a 10 second phone call because the person recognises me by voice.
Re: Post YC Depression
#104Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having been rejected 2 times by YC, could not agree more. biz #1 is now series B at $120M valuation biz #2 is now series A with $50M valuation biz #3 is now seed with $15M valuation I did not bother to apply with biz #3 to YC, probability-weighted, it was not worth the effort to me.
Your post contradicts itself. You either care about investor validation or not. You just described your businesses by what investors value your companies, which means that you care about investors. I think it's great though, both investor validation and user validation matter a lot in business (it doesn't matter if it's YC or VC).
Or...he described part of the formula that determines how much he can cash out for...which backwards looking is a function of company success.
Re: Post YC Depression
#105Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having been rejected 2 times by YC, could not agree more. biz #1 is now series B at $120M valuation biz #2 is now series A with $50M valuation biz #3 is now seed with $15M valuation I did not bother to apply with biz #3 to YC, probability-weighted, it was not worth the effort to me.
Your post contradicts itself. You either care about investor validation or not. You just described your businesses by what investors value your companies, which means that you care about investors. I think it's great though, both investor validation and user validation matter a lot in business (it doesn't matter if it's YC or VC).
I think they're referencing YC specifically. While money is money, there is a prestige put upon the acceptance into YC (obviously more so in this community). This, I believe, is what's being discussed. Not the validation of business ideas via VC investment.
Re: Post YC Depression
#106One of the advantages of running your own business is that you set the tempo and values of it yourself. You. No one else. If you end up with something that isn't working out for you, you're doing it wrong. At my previous company, one of our (somewhat implicit) values was "suffering is not a KPI". And even though there are times when things are rougher, these should be exceptions, not the rule. At the same time, worki…
The 80/week people I have seen are "too busy" to stop and ask themselves if they are spending their time efficiently. They are focused on the short term tasks right in front of them. It is like someone saying they are too busy to get an oil change or new tires so they keep driving their car until they are stuck on the side of the road.
This seems like the "oh you're busy, you just haven't learned how to manage your time effectively" feedback that's not helpful. Someone relatively smart probably has a decent idea of the constraint set in front of them. Let's say the company is close to failing and by working your absolute hardest you can keep it alive for 9 months. Would you not do it?
Like maybe there's some insight on time management but after rudimentary time management...it's probably something else.
Re: Post YC Depression
#107Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having been rejected 2 times by YC, could not agree more. biz #1 is now series B at $120M valuation biz #2 is now series A with $50M valuation biz #3 is now seed with $15M valuation I did not bother to apply with biz #3 to YC, probability-weighted, it was not worth the effort to me.
Your post contradicts itself. You either care about investor validation or not. You just described your businesses by what investors value your companies, which means that you care about investors. I think it's great though, both investor validation and user validation matter a lot in business (it doesn't matter if it's YC or VC).
I think you are contradicting yourself. YC is not just an investor.
And may be he just cares about money.
Re: Post YC Depression
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having been rejected 2 times by YC, could not agree more. biz #1 is now series B at $120M valuation biz #2 is now series A with $50M valuation biz #3 is now seed with $15M valuation I did not bother to apply with biz #3 to YC, probability-weighted, it was not worth the effort to me.
Your post contradicts itself. You either care about investor validation or not. You just described your businesses by what investors value your companies, which means that you care about investors. I think it's great though, both investor validation and user validation matter a lot in business (it doesn't matter if it's YC or VC).
Maybe, or maybe you lack logic + specific situational insight. Perhaps you spoke too soon, before understanding.
Your case is true only if "YC" === "All Investors"
Re: Post YC Depression
#109People seem to become really attached to the validation from YC. Getting into an incubator or getting money from investors is zero measure of business success. Business success is users and growth and revenue. Whether YC blesses you is also zero reflection on you as a person. Rejection by YC means nothing at all. I think business is about trying to make money, it’s not about YC and funding and the scene and investmen…
>Rejection by YC means nothing at all.
More accurately it probably means "Honestly, we probably didn't even look at your idea very well because we have a shot glass to fill and 10 fire hoses of output trying to fill it. Likely, for some entirely arbitrary reason, you did not make the cut. You may or may not have a good idea but we lack the time to tell you"
Re: Post YC Depression
#110One of the advantages of running your own business is that you set the tempo and values of it yourself. You. No one else. If you end up with something that isn't working out for you, you're doing it wrong. At my previous company, one of our (somewhat implicit) values was "suffering is not a KPI". And even though there are times when things are rougher, these should be exceptions, not the rule. At the same time, worki…
The 80/week people I have seen are "too busy" to stop and ask themselves if they are spending their time efficiently. They are focused on the short term tasks right in front of them. It is like someone saying they are too busy to get an oil change or new tires so they keep driving their car until they are stuck on the side of the road.
Sometimes they’re even too busy to even get gas, which very quickly ends poorly.