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

Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 183 posts

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#81

Post by redeploy-test »

sjg007 wrote: post #79

Talk to your customers. They should be your best friends.

In all honesty this comes across as too gung-ho and short sighted. Perhaps even cruel advice, though I am certain it is not meant in that fashion at all.

What someone needs is good human connection that is not totally associated with their project. People need friends - real friends, and it is not realistic to expect that one should seek that out from customers. Not that it's unheard of to make a real friend in that situation, and yes, the closer the relationship is the better, but let's be real. Businesses have risk. They are not a healthy place to receive all of your biological need for real connection.

Also you don't know if the poster even has customers or is even in a business where intensive customer interaction is an option.

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#83

Post by anindha »

Joakal wrote: post #75
swyx wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

this is a bit of an awkward question but.. have you ever come across anyone who you tried to teach but in the end was just not suited for coding? can everyone learn to code?

As long they are interested in coding, they can code. It may take longer if they're not as adept. They can try some strategies to assist coding, such as books, checklists, pair programming, etc.

Imagine a graph where one axis is how interested you are and the other axis is how quickly you pick it up. There is a diagonal line the separates those that will persist long enough to be a good coder.

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#84

Post by telesilla »

mjwhansen wrote: post #18

Thank you for posting this. I've five weeks into working for myself and avoiding loneliness has become a key task for me every day. I wouldn't say I'm succeeding at it, to be honest. I know I could join a coworking space but I question whether it's worth $400+ a month when I wouldn't be able to attend the networking events since I have a family and need to be home at night. (And I don't need meeting space, and have a…

For everyone commenting on going to a café every day, you'll end up spending the $400 on coffee, cakes whathaveyou and you won't have the guarantee of a quiet, thoughtful space when you need it. I needed some company some time ago and found a co-working space that I treated like a café - the coffee included, I brought my own lunch, and even though I'm not particularly sociable it was still much, much healthier than working alone and over time I got on fairly well with a group of people I still consider friends, though I've long since left. Have a look if there is something around you, you never know. And even just the looking gets you out of the house for a valid reason!

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#85

Post by songzme »

danschumann wrote: post #55
songzme wrote: post #42

Personally, whenever I feel lonely I would go volunteer and help people. It makes you feel connected and really puts things into perspective (like, even if your startup doesn't do well, you would still be surrounded by people who enjoys you as a person). Every Saturday, my wife and I volunteer at our local library (northside branch in santa clara) to teach people how to code. We've been doing that for almost a year w…

That's a great idea. I could probably start that up pretty easily because I know there's a need.

Good luck man! Let me know if you need help. My email is song at garageScript.org

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#86

Post by neilk »

I’ve participated in two or three solopreneur / side-project groups (and even started one myself). I don’t think they work.

I’ve seen friendships forged by volunteering together on the same thing. But not by people working in proximity on different things.

Coworking spaces have worked out for me but only by giving me access to job opportunities.

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#87

Post by songzme »

swyx wrote: post #66
songzme wrote: post #42

Personally, whenever I feel lonely I would go volunteer and help people. It makes you feel connected and really puts things into perspective (like, even if your startup doesn't do well, you would still be surrounded by people who enjoys you as a person). Every Saturday, my wife and I volunteer at our local library (northside branch in santa clara) to teach people how to code. We've been doing that for almost a year w…

this is a bit of an awkward question but.. have you ever come across anyone who you tried to teach but in the end was just not suited for coding? can everyone learn to code?

Yes. If a person is able to do things sequentially (get up, brush teeth, etc etc), be able to decide, (if I do this, then I do that), they can code

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#88

Post by dlevine »

I would suggest meeting up with real people rather than doing video chat. There is something much more satisfying about meeting in person.

When I used to work alone, I had to schedule regular social interactions to keep from getting lonely (coffee or lunch with friends, meetups, etc...)

It's important to focus on your startup, but it's impossible to do that unless you take care of your mental (and physical) health.

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#89

Post by skython »

Years ago I created a public TeamSpeak server to meet and talk to people with the same coding interests. It never got much attention, but it's still online at devcon5.org. It's a voice group chat where you can create your own channels, but has no video features.

Re: Ask HN: I'm lonely. Are there any video chat support groups for solo founders?

#90

Post by malikNF »

muzani wrote: post #82

I wonder if someone could just do a Twitch channel. Similar to those "study with me" Youtube videos, but with a human on the other side.

There's a subreddit that shares these kind of videos.

https://www.reddit.com/r/WatchPeopleCode/

Post reply on HN