621–630 of 874 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Using money as a proxy for "dominant thinking" is a good example of SV VC thinking.
I’m riffing off of the adage, “if you’re so smart, how come you’re not rich?”
Am I the only one is getting pretty bored of "formula for success" content? This essay and other's like it, without evidence or data, implies that some of us know the formula for success. I get it, the things that change convention are unconventional at first. This is the definition of unconventional. I agree with the general vector of his essay but this is just boring to me. Here is my formula for success (in case a…
Trying to decide whether you fit in the “conventional” or “non-conventional” category; then trying to decide whether you committed a Type I or a Type II error on the previous task.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
The huge difference between tech startups and science is that in science, the conventional wisdom has recorded justifications and collected evidence that you can look up and understand, while in tech startups the conventional wisdom is advice made up by businessesmen who succeeded once, or sometimes succeeded zero times, and shared over drinks at the local pub. The usefulness gap between scientific knowledge and cult…
Seems like that depends on what kind of conventional startup wisdom you're thinking about. For example, from what I've read about SaaS business plans, the conventional approach is drawn from the experiences and data of hundreds (or thousands?) of SaaS companies. It's not done with scientific rigor, but it's not individual founders making hasty conclusions based on their own outcomes either. Understanding the conceptu…
This suggests to me many/most are started by people looking for a relatively conventional experience, just with a bit more appetite for risk. None of the attributes for these positions are required in much greater degree than elsewhere in tech - curiosity, resistance to being told what to think, or fastidiousness to truth. Perhaps it's a testament to YC's success that the choice to found a startup is more accessible to 'conventional thinkers' these days. No value judgment - we should let a thousand flowers bloom! - but the conflation of startups to the above attributes of 'independent thinkers' is perhaps overblown.
Like many of pg's essays there's an unqualified glorification of being independent. For example the suggestion that hiring conformist people is something that just happens. It seems more likely that companies more or less consciously hire such people, because a company where everyone thinks independently would be one where everyone wants to do something different, and nothing would get done, no one could agree on any…
No matter the size of the company, having an unconformist accountant is not going to go well for anyone. Aside: Michael Munger has a good Econtalk screed on the 5 buildings that a University considers most important here: https://www.econtalk.org/michael-munger-on-the-future-of-hig...
The late Christopher Hitchens was a drink sodden ex-Trotskyist popinjay, of course. But one we needed. His 'Letters to a Young Contrarian'(2001), though filled with himself[0], remains a heartfelt read for anyone going about the world in their own way. If you can get a used copy, preferably filled with marginalia, treasure it, add your own thoughts, and pass it along. The always unique comments railing against Hitch…
Am I the only one is getting pretty bored of "formula for success" content? This essay and other's like it, without evidence or data, implies that some of us know the formula for success. I get it, the things that change convention are unconventional at first. This is the definition of unconventional. I agree with the general vector of his essay but this is just boring to me. Here is my formula for success (in case a…
On the other hand, you are just a random guy from the internet, and offering advice with no data at all.
You might be broke and posting from your mom's basement, or from the top of a penthouse that you bought from building successful companies/startups.
We don't know, so your advice will be treated like: just another opinion, from a internet rando/keyboard warrior, and everyone has opinions.
I listen to PG as he has been more right then wrong, also he was very successful, multiple times, and is single handedly a major contributer to many products I use.
Am I the only one is getting pretty bored of "formula for success" content? This essay and other's like it, without evidence or data, implies that some of us know the formula for success. I get it, the things that change convention are unconventional at first. This is the definition of unconventional. I agree with the general vector of his essay but this is just boring to me. Here is my formula for success (in case a…
I don't know, but I rather hear sporting/fitness advice from someone that won NBA finals, or the soccer World Cup, then just some random loser. The winner at least can tell you how they did succeed personally, even if they have no comprehensive studies with data. On the other hand, you are just a random guy from the internet, and offering advice with no data at all. You might be broke and posting from your mom's base…