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

CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

pieratt.tumblr.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 73 posts

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#61

Post by ditojim »

marcamillion wrote: post #23

I am very grateful for this post. One of the most common pieces of valuable feedback I got before starting my company (as a sole founder) is that I need to keep going no matter what - especially in times of self-doubt. I always considered myself to be confident, and self-assured (not obnoxious, just confident)...but starting a company is a completely different cup of tea. I have both a Computer Science degree + an MB…

everyday is a series of lessons that prepares you for tomorrow and beyond. build on it. i think it is generally understood among any startup ceo's that this is what its like. honestly, i don't think it is something that should be openly discussed. i've shared moments of doubt with individuals very close to me, just needing to be human in rough times of building my business, and it did not help. you find inner strength to deal with the challenges and learn to leverage every possible resource to solve each and every problem that comes your way. it is just what you do...or you fail. i love it now that i know what it is, but it does take some time to grow into. and i am not claiming to know what tomorrow will bring, but i know i can handle it, and more importantly, my employees are confident that i have a firm grasp on their future.

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#62

Post by Meai »

Unseelie wrote: post #43
Meai wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have no idea, and that's my point. I think it will have unforseeable effects. Interaction with future business partners, friends, talks with possible employees who read it and decide not to apply. Everything is coloured from now on.

you cannot make the argument that unforseeable effects are patently bad. You're contradicting your terms, and arguing that you have an inkling that it would be bad, rather than, possibly, good.

Risk is bad in business, anything unforseeable should be avoided. Do you really want to stake the success of your business on luck?

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#64

Post by biot »

F_J_H wrote: post #40
rudiger wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Witholding the truth isn't lying.

Intentionally/knowingly leaving someone with the wrong impression is dishonest however...

Yes, that dress does make you look fat. And you are getting fatter anyways so why worry about which dress to get? Besides, people are more likely to notice the wrinkles around your eyes or your sagging boobs than they will an extra ten pounds. Oh now they'll definitely notice all that running mascara... it makes your face look awful.

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#65

Post by simonw »

keeptrying wrote: post #52

It'll be interesting to see if the next round of investors bring up this blog post. Its not really a surprise that when doing something you've never done before, your a little lost. Thats normal. But the buying public dont want to hear that. It bursts their bubble about CEOs.

Investors are smart. If they do bring up this post, I imagine it'll be in the context of a "so how much have you learned about being a CEO in the past year?" question.

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#66

Post by newman314 »

marcamillion wrote: post #23

I am very grateful for this post. One of the most common pieces of valuable feedback I got before starting my company (as a sole founder) is that I need to keep going no matter what - especially in times of self-doubt. I always considered myself to be confident, and self-assured (not obnoxious, just confident)...but starting a company is a completely different cup of tea. I have both a Computer Science degree + an MB…

As I've often said in the past: "Fear (of failure) is a great motivator"

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#67

Post by Unseelie »

Meai wrote: post #62
Unseelie wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you cannot make the argument that unforseeable effects are patently bad. You're contradicting your terms, and arguing that you have an inkling that it would be bad, rather than, possibly, good.

Risk is bad in business, anything unforseeable should be avoided. Do you really want to stake the success of your business on luck?

You say "Risk is bad in business", here, on a forum dedicated to startups? Where our conversation hinges around venture capital investments and quit your day job gambles?

Yeah, some, perhaps even many, risks get you sunk. On the other side of the coin, nothing we discuss here would exist if people didn't take risks with their businesses.

The world would be so different if no-one took risks. I daresay we wouldn't be making tools, have a knowledge of agriculture, or even have spread out of Africa.

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#69

Post by rhizome »

rudiger wrote: post #17
compay wrote: post #13

It's a shame so many of the comments here are criticizing this guy for not lying more.

Witholding the truth isn't lying.

Sure it is, it's called a "lie by omission." Whether this matters in a given situation is determined by the person's ethics.

Re: CEO of Svpply: I have no idea what I'm doing

#70

Post by rhizome »

Meai wrote: post #62
Unseelie wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you cannot make the argument that unforseeable effects are patently bad. You're contradicting your terms, and arguing that you have an inkling that it would be bad, rather than, possibly, good.

Risk is bad in business, anything unforseeable should be avoided. Do you really want to stake the success of your business on luck?

So are you saying that leaving risks unspoken means they don't exist? The risks in this case are there regardless of whether the guy talks about them or not.
Post reply on HN