‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message • Hacker News Board

Re: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message

#31

Post by thoughtsimple » Mon, Mar 04, 2013, 4:13 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #22

lysol wrote: post #17

What a great way to trivialize a classic film. "It's like 'Shawshank Redemption', except at the end people can reserve a table at a restaurant without calling ahead."

Apparently running a startup is just like being imprisoned for life in an institution with rampant routine prisoner rape, abusive and sometimes murderous guards, and a terribly corrupt warden. And here I thought that startup entrepreneurs were fairly well off and had decent lives.

Andy was also falsely accused and wrongly convicted. So he ends up in prison without any recourse. This is the same as starting or joining a startup voluntarily?

Also, don't forget what he had to swim through to reach freedom.

Re: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message

#32

Post by pnathan » Mon, Mar 04, 2013, 4:13 PM UTC

wtvanhest wrote: post #18

jasonzemos wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These counterpoints sound swell for trivial activities like developing mobile apps that remind me to walk my dog. What about the guy developing fusion, or rockets to the moon? Or pursuing the minesweeper that is step-by-step scientific discovery. Should we forgo all activities that require serious investment and only take baby-steps to attain the goals we calculate to be the surest and easiest to reach?

Am I the only one who believes that the lean startup movement is a positive for early stage investors at the expense of true innovation and causes founders who would otherwise try tough challenges to try somewhat trivial business ideas? It seems that the framework is designed to reduce the need for computer engineers to use business thinking and to allow for a few examples of lucky groups to float to the top, raise c…

No. Any significant breakthrough usually represents many man-years of effort spanning years in real-time. Loosely, it's a very applied set of phd research, driven towards a goal which can not be demonstrated true until it is proven true.

I'm sure 'lean startup' is fine for a relatively trivial problem space, and there are many of those bringing much added benefit. I'm equally sure that significant lab equipment for bio/chem/materials firms can't be just 'iterated' through without heavy capital and a long-term plan. :-)

Re: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message

#33

Post by mikeash » Mon, Mar 04, 2013, 4:15 PM UTC

thoughtsimple wrote: post #31

mikeash wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apparently running a startup is just like being imprisoned for life in an institution with rampant routine prisoner rape, abusive and sometimes murderous guards, and a terribly corrupt warden. And here I thought that startup entrepreneurs were fairly well off and had decent lives.

Andy was also falsely accused and wrongly convicted. So he ends up in prison without any recourse. This is the same as starting or joining a startup voluntarily? Also, don't forget what he had to swim through to reach freedom.

Imagine how nice prison would be if at any moment you could just say "fuck it" and go get a six-figure job with Google or Facebook or whatever.

Re: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message

#34

Post by sakopov » Mon, Mar 04, 2013, 4:19 PM UTC

Comparing carving through a concrete wall to freedom for 20 years and building a startup in a 4 or 5 months is very humorous and is like comparing apples and oranges. You'd never feel like you completely failed if your startup failed. The new things learned along the way makes it way more rewarding than getting caught with a chisel in hand.

Re: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message

#35

Post by jasonzemos » Mon, Mar 04, 2013, 4:45 PM UTC

pnathan wrote: post #32

wtvanhest wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Am I the only one who believes that the lean startup movement is a positive for early stage investors at the expense of true innovation and causes founders who would otherwise try tough challenges to try somewhat trivial business ideas? It seems that the framework is designed to reduce the need for computer engineers to use business thinking and to allow for a few examples of lucky groups to float to the top, raise c…

No. Any significant breakthrough usually represents many man-years of effort spanning years in real-time. Loosely, it's a very applied set of phd research, driven towards a goal which can not be demonstrated true until it is proven true. I'm sure 'lean startup' is fine for a relatively trivial problem space, and there are many of those bringing much added benefit. I'm equally sure that significant lab equipment for b…

I think we're all in agreement here. Early stage investors benefit from trivial successes by passing along the hot potato down the pyramid.

Re: ‘The Shawshank Redemption’: A Simple But Powerful Message

#36

Post by pnathan » Mon, Mar 04, 2013, 7:28 PM UTC

jasonzemos wrote: post #35

pnathan wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. Any significant breakthrough usually represents many man-years of effort spanning years in real-time. Loosely, it's a very applied set of phd research, driven towards a goal which can not be demonstrated true until it is proven true. I'm sure 'lean startup' is fine for a relatively trivial problem space, and there are many of those bringing much added benefit. I'm equally sure that significant lab equipment for b…

I think we're all in agreement here. Early stage investors benefit from trivial successes by passing along the hot potato down the pyramid.

Sorry! I should have quoted this line:

> Am I the only one who believes that the lean startup movement is a positive for early stage investors at the expense of true innovation and causes founders who would otherwise try tough challenges to try somewhat trivial business ideas?

"No, you're not the only one".