Fuck influencers. The vast majority haven't done shit but sell a dream.
I am done. I give up
171–180 of 1001 posts
Re: I am done. I give up
#172I struggled with the same before. What I invite you to look at is: are you trying to be successful more than you are trying to serve people? Business is helping people in exchange for money. If you’re super preoccupied about being successful, you don’t have the mental resourcefulness to genuinely figure out how to help others. The energy of “need” you put out in the world is reflected to you as scarcity. If you start shifting things around and genuinely look for people to help, things will change. But it may require some soul searching, which means time. I am sure there is something for you to learn here. You’ve given up on trying too hard, that’s a good thing. Now, don’t give up on yourself. You have something to give.
Re: I am done. I give up
#173Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do opportunities like these still exist?
Yes, absolutely. Looking at one right now actually (NDA, so I can't tell you about it but it's a gem).
Thanks. Reading a thread like this is sobering on the one hand, but also gives the feeling of "it's all pointless and crowded" :)
Re: I am done. I give up
#174I have met a few wanna be startup people in SV. I'm so often reminded of the 'ingenue in hollywood' trope. They really have some so much hope and so little experience. It can be brutal.
Re: I am done. I give up
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
I wasted a decade of my life on the notion that you can bootstrap a startup. It is hard mode and the folks that are so dismissive of VC funding should have that disclaimer.
It's worth noting that investment makes building a business wildly different to bootstrapping. You stop trying to build whatever a successful business looks like to you and have to build something other people believe in. That comes with a lot of compromises, different decisions, and 'selling out'. Some founders find that change in direction very hard to accept. Bootstrapping and investment are different journeys. Ne…
As an example of a possible compromise, recall the risk/return efficient frontier.
If you are the principal investor in your venture, you may be willing to leave some potential return on the table, in exchange for dialling down risk to a comfortable level.
If funds are the principal investors, they have already dialled down their risk via diversification over the rest of their portfolios, and they will view any risk-adversity on your part as inefficient dead loss.
Solid base hit or swing for the bleachers? You may have the option to pick either strategy in the former case, but will not in the latter.
Re: I am done. I give up
#176Can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen.
Guessing you're younger than 30.
Re: I am done. I give up
#177Hang in there. Creating something is hard. It can take many, many attempts and many years to have success.
Stop for a while, take a job that can leverage your skills, learn new skills and get paid while doing it.
There was a period where lots of startup founders I followed where getting real jobs I was like what is going on.
Even the people you see as successful and idolize have issues and sometimes give up and take real jobs. Or take a real job and keep working on their side project.
Entre-porn is a real issue, quit cold turkey.
Relax, enjoy life with family and friends, get a pet, get new hobbies, enjoy nature.
You can try this again in the future but give yourself a 1 yr of 2 yr break from it.
And when you are ready to start again take it slow, look at Rob Walling's stair step approach. StartUpsForTheRestOfUs.com.
This Startup School Talk by @DHH was made for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CDXJ6bMkMY
Make sure you're financially stable before trying again, having financial pressures can really add to the stress of trying to build your startup.
It's totally possible to have a job and start something on the side. You'll enjoy startups for the rest of us.
And if it feels all consuming and stressful, it might not be for you.
Control your own situation, maybe you focus on your career and level up and then invest in startups instead of creating them.
Make choices that are best for you and your happiness.
Take care, enjoy the journey.
Re: I am done. I give up
#178Earlier quoted context omitted.
> But most successful entrepreneurs I know started their first successful company in their 20's or 30's, rarely 40's. “Research: The Average Age of a Successful Startup Founder Is 45” https://hbr.org/2018/07/research-the-average-age-of-a-succes... Discussion on HN here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18212409
Yes, I saw that when it first hit. I'm sure they did a great job at researching that but it really does not match my experience at all. And I see a lot of start-ups (up to 50 / year) from the inside, at least a few hundred founders if not a 1000+ by now over the last 15 years. The bulk of the successful ones is late 20's to mid 30's.
This might be an illusion or a strong bias.
The younger ones are not alone ( the successful 45/50+ parents/mentors/etc are supporting them financially and more ).
Otherwise, without the experience of your 20s and 30s you cannot understand the world, you haven't build the network you need to succeed ( I am my own example), basically you cannot manufacture you "luck".
Re: I am done. I give up
#179Giving up is giving up. Failing is continuing. Don't be a chump, don't give up.
Re: I am done. I give up
#180Ive said it before, I'll say it again.
The thing that is harder than starting a startup is quitting it.
You are brave, my friend, to even have attempted at building a startup. All people talk, very few have the conviction to give it a shot.
The experience you gained while trying to build a business will pay dividends in the future. If you are a software engg, a lot of companies would love to hire you. And you can make great money, and you know what - You can mentally checkout at 6pm - salary will fall into your account on time everytime - You can enjoy your weekends
PS: I am also a failed entrepreneur (sort of). The biggest thing my startup journey taught was how easy 9-5 is. And be grateful in life for having a job that pays well.
All the best brother!