I met someone at work years ago and we were both sure we’d found a company together. But it became clear during the values conversations (good on him for initiating these) that we had wildly...
I met someone at work years ago and we were both sure we’d found a company together. But it became clear during the values conversations (good on him for initiating these) that we had wildly different goals for our company.
He confided in me that he still held on to insecurity from his childhood that he needs to prove he’s the best. He needs the prestige of founding a wildly successful company to protect himself from this insecurity. To his credit he also definitely has the skills and work ethic to have a chance.
I want a company not for money. Not for prestige. A little bit because I like computers and bit because I think I have the temperament to handle being a complete owner. But a major part is my desire to spite other business owners. All of the bullshit in our society about how owners deserve to underpay their employees. They deserve to exploit market capture because they were so smart. I know it’s a lie. They’re just greedy. Our society feeds these mental illnesses with the myth of the genius CEO. If I get so lucky to found a company I will use the opportunity to be uncommonly generous to employees and customers, with obvious consideration to maintaining profitability. I dream regularly about going to Silicon Valley dinner parties and subtly shaming greedy people for not giving themselves and their employees the same compensation (until I don’t get invited anymore).
Fundamentally, it’s wrong to decide that getting somewhere first means you get most of the rewards from that thing forever.
I feel like this article would be a good addition to this entrepreneurship discussion from a few days ago. Any friendly entrepreneurship communities that aren't rotten with the whole "grindset,"...
I feel like this article would be a good addition to this entrepreneurship discussion from a few days ago.
I've been reading Graham's essays for a long time. There's nothing new here; it's more or less the same thing he's been saying for a while. It's probably news to some in the intended audience, though?
I've been reading Graham's essays for a long time. There's nothing new here; it's more or less the same thing he's been saying for a while.
It's probably news to some in the intended audience, though?
It is obvious when you read it, but there are so many people selling "entrepreneurship courses" out there that, funnily enough, get promoted by Google over Paul Graham's website, so it's hard to...
It is obvious when you read it, but there are so many people selling "entrepreneurship courses" out there that, funnily enough, get promoted by Google over Paul Graham's website, so it's hard to find good advice. It's hard for people to figure out that all you need to start a business is years of experience and hard work when there are thousands of people online telling you that they have a secret to getting rich.
Paul Graham is also trying to sell you on the idea of getting rich because he wants more people funneling into Y-combinator, but he needs quality over quantity unlike the online "business gurus".
I met someone at work years ago and we were both sure we’d found a company together. But it became clear during the values conversations (good on him for initiating these) that we had wildly different goals for our company.
He confided in me that he still held on to insecurity from his childhood that he needs to prove he’s the best. He needs the prestige of founding a wildly successful company to protect himself from this insecurity. To his credit he also definitely has the skills and work ethic to have a chance.
I want a company not for money. Not for prestige. A little bit because I like computers and bit because I think I have the temperament to handle being a complete owner. But a major part is my desire to spite other business owners. All of the bullshit in our society about how owners deserve to underpay their employees. They deserve to exploit market capture because they were so smart. I know it’s a lie. They’re just greedy. Our society feeds these mental illnesses with the myth of the genius CEO. If I get so lucky to found a company I will use the opportunity to be uncommonly generous to employees and customers, with obvious consideration to maintaining profitability. I dream regularly about going to Silicon Valley dinner parties and subtly shaming greedy people for not giving themselves and their employees the same compensation (until I don’t get invited anymore).
Fundamentally, it’s wrong to decide that getting somewhere first means you get most of the rewards from that thing forever.
I feel like this article would be a good addition to this entrepreneurship discussion from a few days ago.
Any friendly entrepreneurship communities that aren't rotten with the whole "grindset," hustle culture stuff?
I've been reading Graham's essays for a long time. There's nothing new here; it's more or less the same thing he's been saying for a while.
It's probably news to some in the intended audience, though?
It is obvious when you read it, but there are so many people selling "entrepreneurship courses" out there that, funnily enough, get promoted by Google over Paul Graham's website, so it's hard to find good advice. It's hard for people to figure out that all you need to start a business is years of experience and hard work when there are thousands of people online telling you that they have a secret to getting rich.
Paul Graham is also trying to sell you on the idea of getting rich because he wants more people funneling into Y-combinator, but he needs quality over quantity unlike the online "business gurus".
These are the PUAs of the business world.