Building a company is fucking hard • Hacker News Board

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#41

Post by decasteve » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:15 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #36

cik wrote: post #7

There's an old adage that successful people surround themselves with success. It's all about cohort - if you don't have other friends who are pushing themselves the way you are, it will be very, very, hard. It doesn't matter if you're in tech and your friend is in gardening, what matters is the shared struggle, and dreams. It helps knowing you're in a boat others have been in before. Spouses/partners can understand a…

This is why it's important to grow up in the right zip code, do well in school, score high enough on standardized tests, get into the best universities. If you want to maximize your chances of getting to the top, the best way to do that is to know the right people.

Pick your parents well.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#42

Post by malvosenior » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:16 PM UTC

lotsofpulp wrote: post #36

cik wrote: post #7

There's an old adage that successful people surround themselves with success. It's all about cohort - if you don't have other friends who are pushing themselves the way you are, it will be very, very, hard. It doesn't matter if you're in tech and your friend is in gardening, what matters is the shared struggle, and dreams. It helps knowing you're in a boat others have been in before. Spouses/partners can understand a…

This is why it's important to grow up in the right zip code, do well in school, score high enough on standardized tests, get into the best universities. If you want to maximize your chances of getting to the top, the best way to do that is to know the right people.

There are many, many people who do these things and fail or become mediocre at best. In fact I'd say the ultra rule following path you laid out is contra to what makes a great entrepreneur in most cases.

That being said, having rich parents is the #1 way to raise capital. VCs fund people they know socially first.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#43

Post by malvosenior » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:17 PM UTC

cik wrote: post #7

There's an old adage that successful people surround themselves with success. It's all about cohort - if you don't have other friends who are pushing themselves the way you are, it will be very, very, hard. It doesn't matter if you're in tech and your friend is in gardening, what matters is the shared struggle, and dreams. It helps knowing you're in a boat others have been in before. Spouses/partners can understand a…

Your spouse may not be able to understand everything but if they don't support you, your life is going to be hell. Sadly, it's rare to see a founders spouse happily take the roller coaster ride with them for the long haul.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#44

Post by jacknews » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:17 PM UTC

Some very good points, though the tone slightly reminds me of the the Mark Twain quote: “When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.”

It's certainly very difficult to start a business from scratch, and to grow it.

A trick is if you can spin off a job into a contract, into a larger contract, etc, with the same customer(s), ideally people who may move to larger companies, and carry the relationship with them.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#45

Post by srrge » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:17 PM UTC

readhn wrote: post #14

Building a company is not hard. (Look around, we are surrounded by businesses). Building financially and ethically sustainable business that employs people that are truly happy to work there IS hard.

I don't understand why you are downvoted, because you are right.

Conducting a successful career is also very hard. Let alone a successful marriage! Or getting fit, loosing weight.

You want to build a company? Just do it. It's not harder than other things in life.

Edit: some words.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#46

Post by comboy » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:18 PM UTC

tw1010 wrote: post #29

dqpb wrote: post #15

> I have yet experienced more in these four years than most people do in all of their lives. Lol, hearing that from a 22 year old.

A lot of old people have been comfortable their entire adult lives.

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that you are young.

Just on of the points would be how different the world looked like 60 years ago.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#47

Post by noobiemcfoob » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:22 PM UTC

vinceguidry wrote: post #18

ArtWomb wrote: post #9

I think Mark Cuban on Shark Tank used to tell founders this. Don't start a company because you have a world-altering idea. Start a company because you love starting companies.

What would he have you do if you have a world-altering idea? A company is still the best vehicle for seeing it actually change the world.

Recognize that you most probably don't.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#48

Post by lotsofpulp » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:23 PM UTC

adreamingsoul wrote: post #38

lotsofpulp wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is why it's important to grow up in the right zip code, do well in school, score high enough on standardized tests, get into the best universities. If you want to maximize your chances of getting to the top, the best way to do that is to know the right people.

That’s one approach of many, and ultimately depends on the individual.

That's why I wrote "maximizing chances". Life offers no guarantees, all we can do is try to optimize our choices so the probability of success (however one defines it) is maximized. The data I've seen suggest that knowing the right (well heeled, hard working, smart, etc) people plays a huge role in building a business.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#49

Post by mbesto » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:24 PM UTC

dqpb wrote: post #15

> I have yet experienced more in these four years than most people do in all of their lives. Lol, hearing that from a 22 year old.

This is exactly the resulting effect of VCs + tech media's influence on young and impressionable tech entrepreneurs.

Re: Building a company is fucking hard

#50

Post by nomadtwin » Wed, Nov 28, 2018, 3:25 PM UTC

rokov wrote: post #35

cik wrote: post #7

There's an old adage that successful people surround themselves with success. It's all about cohort - if you don't have other friends who are pushing themselves the way you are, it will be very, very, hard. It doesn't matter if you're in tech and your friend is in gardening, what matters is the shared struggle, and dreams. It helps knowing you're in a boat others have been in before. Spouses/partners can understand a…

This is what I have been going through for a long time. Everyone around me goes to their 9-5, so I barely even talk about my work anymore with them (even though I love it). You get used to it. I have tried finding people that are doing the same thing as me but with no luck.

If you have a little bit of freedom (money and job-wise) and your country (passport) allows you to travel - try to join a digital nomad trip. NOT one of those "life coach, ebook selling things".

You'll be part of a group of like-minded people from around the world. I joined Hacker Paradise some years ago and it not only gave me valuable directions but tons of people that would understand what a Trello is and you can share struggles and stories.