Letter To A Young Programmer Considering A Startup

Post by throwaway1979 » Thu, May 30, 2013, 9:09 PM UTC

sillysaurus wrote: post #85

ibdknox wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The word "formula" is very important in his statement - yes we have techniques for coming up with new ideas, but we do not have a formula for it. A formula produces a consistent and reproducible result. If we actually had such a thing it'd be the real-life equivalent of a magic lamp; make a wish for a new idea about x and out it comes. The reality of the situation is far too messy for such a clean solution to exist.…

make a wish for a new idea about x and out it comes. Isn't that a description of a YC RFS? It's still too early to tell whether RFS works or not, but it's almost precisely what you've described.

Post by beatpanda » Thu, May 30, 2013, 10:03 PM UTC

beatpanda wrote: post #123

venus wrote: post #112

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read that article (again - I read it when it was first published) and it doesn't mention the number 16 anywhere. Look, I am broadly sympathetic to your point of view (I think). I agree we need to take drastic measures to control CO2. I think that fracking and methane hydrate are going to be fucking disasters if we don't start actively sequestering CO2. Actually, I think the methane thing seals the deal - the reduct…

Page 2, middle of the second paragraph: > In fact, study after study predicts that carbon emissions will keep growing by roughly three percent a year – and at that rate, we'll blow through our 565-gigaton allowance in 16 years, around the time today's preschoolers will be graduating from high school. The article was written in July of 2012. At the time of writing the estimated global carbon budget (the amount of carb…

Post by jfasi » Fri, May 31, 2013, 2:14 AM UTC

thebear wrote: post #98

Many people seem to believe that if you want to do a startup, you have to do it when you're young. Young people can afford to take a lot of risk, because they have few responsibilities to hold them back. And if they fail, there'll be plenty of opportunity to make up for lost time. What few people seem to realize is that there is a second phase in your life where almost exactly the same is true, namely, when you're ol…

Post by jfasi » Fri, May 31, 2013, 2:22 AM UTC

sloria wrote: post #58

I have collected my favorite quotes and talking points from this piece, Michael Church's "Don’t waste your time in crappy startup jobs", and Aza Raskin's "Psychological Pitfalls And Lessons of A Designer-Founder". Here: http://www.stevenloria.com/disillusionment-in-startups-colle... I intend to add to this list of quotes, and I also welcome others to email me related bits of wisdom.

Post by [deleted] » Fri, May 31, 2013, 3:52 AM UTC