Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

ianlandsman.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 61 posts

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#21

Post by slap_shot »

ricardobeat wrote: post #8

I have to disagree with the first points: 1. Code is 5% of your business: no, it isn't. If you have a watchmaking company, is making watches 5% of the business? Marketing, sales, and operations are only important as long as you have a quality product. 2. Design is everything: it can used to great advantage, but let's keep it real. There are plenty examples of successful "gray boxes" applications, don't confuse aesthe…

I think his exact number, 5%, may be a little low, but the sentiment is right. The article is addressing the change from programmer to entrepreneur, and I think it is very common for technical founders to care too much about what they are most experienced with: the code.

He even acknowledges the importance of code quality ("It has to be high quality code that isn't filled with bugs or is insecure.") but his point is that, as a first-time entrepreneur, you will be overwhelmed with the other aspects of a business that have to developed, and you will tempted to focus yourself in the area that you have specialized in for years prior. As a founder that has recently began the transition from programmer, I can certainly say there are times that I've failed at this, and I'm sure it happens a lot.

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#22

Post by chops »

ricardobeat wrote: post #20
djt wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that its higher than 5% but if you think that your product is the majority of running a business then please explain the Snuggy.

Snuggy? Google didn't help.

I'm sure he's talking about the Snuggie, a ridiculous looking blanket with sleeves, known for its ridiculous infomercials in the US.

http://www.mysnuggiestore.com

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#23

Post by tdr »

ricardobeat wrote: post #8

I have to disagree with the first points: 1. Code is 5% of your business: no, it isn't. If you have a watchmaking company, is making watches 5% of the business? Marketing, sales, and operations are only important as long as you have a quality product. 2. Design is everything: it can used to great advantage, but let's keep it real. There are plenty examples of successful "gray boxes" applications, don't confuse aesthe…

I think he is referring here to setting the priorities straight: focus on growing the business and what people want/appreciate; code only the most important part (the entrepreneur himself)

Also, this reminds me of the "nail it, then scale it" approach. Don't focus on scalability when you don't have customers.

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#24

Post by Travis »

ricardobeat wrote: post #8

I have to disagree with the first points: 1. Code is 5% of your business: no, it isn't. If you have a watchmaking company, is making watches 5% of the business? Marketing, sales, and operations are only important as long as you have a quality product. 2. Design is everything: it can used to great advantage, but let's keep it real. There are plenty examples of successful "gray boxes" applications, don't confuse aesthe…

I believe he is warning against the Coffee Shop fallacy. IE, you may like coffee, but if you think running a coffee shop is a good way to enjoy/experience coffee, you are unlikely to be in business long.

It also seems like he's saying that "code" as an aesthetic principle is a very small part of your business. Your code is a means to an end (for your users), and does/should not hold much of your attention as an intrinsic ideal.

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#25

Post by d4nt »

tdr wrote: post #23
ricardobeat wrote: post #8

I have to disagree with the first points: 1. Code is 5% of your business: no, it isn't. If you have a watchmaking company, is making watches 5% of the business? Marketing, sales, and operations are only important as long as you have a quality product. 2. Design is everything: it can used to great advantage, but let's keep it real. There are plenty examples of successful "gray boxes" applications, don't confuse aesthe…

I think he is referring here to setting the priorities straight: focus on growing the business and what people want/appreciate; code only the most important part (the entrepreneur himself) Also, this reminds me of the "nail it, then scale it" approach. Don't focus on scalability when you don't have customers.

Exactly, I recently had a startup with approx 0 users try to recruit me by arguing that building the web app was "programming 101... we need someone who can architect for massive data volumes". I didn't take the job. That kind of attitude is going to cause them serious issues.

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#26

Post by nhebb »

ricardobeat wrote: post #8

I have to disagree with the first points: 1. Code is 5% of your business: no, it isn't. If you have a watchmaking company, is making watches 5% of the business? Marketing, sales, and operations are only important as long as you have a quality product. 2. Design is everything: it can used to great advantage, but let's keep it real. There are plenty examples of successful "gray boxes" applications, don't confuse aesthe…

You have to keep in mind that he wrote this after a few years in business. After creating the product, programming takes up less of your time in day to day operations. HelpSpot is business software, and Ian was running it as a one man shop for a while. When you have to do the marketing, customer support, accounting, and, well, everything by yourself, it just plain takes up a lot of your day.

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#27

Post by ricardobeat »

nhebb wrote: post #26
ricardobeat wrote: post #8

I have to disagree with the first points: 1. Code is 5% of your business: no, it isn't. If you have a watchmaking company, is making watches 5% of the business? Marketing, sales, and operations are only important as long as you have a quality product. 2. Design is everything: it can used to great advantage, but let's keep it real. There are plenty examples of successful "gray boxes" applications, don't confuse aesthe…

You have to keep in mind that he wrote this after a few years in business. After creating the product, programming takes up less of your time in day to day operations. HelpSpot is business software, and Ian was running it as a one man shop for a while. When you have to do the marketing, customer support, accounting, and, well, everything by yourself, it just plain takes up a lot of your day.

That makes perfect sense.

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#28

Post by sigkill »

chops wrote: post #22
ricardobeat wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Snuggy? Google didn't help.

I'm sure he's talking about the Snuggie, a ridiculous looking blanket with sleeves, known for its ridiculous infomercials in the US. http://www.mysnuggiestore.com

Wow, that product is crazy. Was it a success?

Re: Moving from programmer to entrepreneur

#30

Post by wwwhizz »

sigkill wrote: post #28
chops wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm sure he's talking about the Snuggie, a ridiculous looking blanket with sleeves, known for its ridiculous infomercials in the US. http://www.mysnuggiestore.com

Wow, that product is crazy. Was it a success?

They have sold millions of them. They were a christmas hit in several countries...
Post reply on HN