Ask YC: Seeking advice for future unemployee in the context of start-ups.
15 comments
It totally depends on your situation, but this is what I did:
1) Slashed expenses. I traded the '03 bimmer for a '96 Minivan, pawned off the bachelor pad, moved in with some friends. Upside: total freedom. Downside: Asking a girl out when you drive a minivan sucks. Then again it's really good at filtering out materialistic women and I've gotten a lot closer to women who care about big ideas instead of impressing their other materialistic friends. This was incredibly painful to do. It was only AFTER I got rid of my stuff that I realized how much bondage I was in and how much I was buying into the same consumer bullshit that I pretended to hate.
2) Stopped moonlighting. I saved up some money and have resisted every urge to accept contract work. That just makes you lazy. As much as it stresses me out I create as much financial pressure on myself that I HAVE to make this startup profitable as quickly as possible.
3) Picked one idea. I'm an idea person. I have too many of them. Idea's are not the problem, it's commitment and focus. So just pick your best idea and don't think about anything else. Limit brainstorming unless it relates to how you are going to reach profitability.
4) Got a friend to go hardcore with me. When you are a subversive little jackass trying to do a startup that nobody gives a rip about it's easy to get discouraged. I don't think I could be doing this without a friend who is drinking the kool-aid.
5) Read founders at work. On a daily basis I'm flooded with uncertainty about direction and focus. Knowing that everyone is on the same rollercoaster between im-a-genius and im-an-idiot is really helpful.
I just sent out the first two invoices this morning... woo!
1) Slashed expenses. I traded the '03 bimmer for a '96 Minivan, pawned off the bachelor pad, moved in with some friends. Upside: total freedom. Downside: Asking a girl out when you drive a minivan sucks. Then again it's really good at filtering out materialistic women and I've gotten a lot closer to women who care about big ideas instead of impressing their other materialistic friends. This was incredibly painful to do. It was only AFTER I got rid of my stuff that I realized how much bondage I was in and how much I was buying into the same consumer bullshit that I pretended to hate.
2) Stopped moonlighting. I saved up some money and have resisted every urge to accept contract work. That just makes you lazy. As much as it stresses me out I create as much financial pressure on myself that I HAVE to make this startup profitable as quickly as possible.
3) Picked one idea. I'm an idea person. I have too many of them. Idea's are not the problem, it's commitment and focus. So just pick your best idea and don't think about anything else. Limit brainstorming unless it relates to how you are going to reach profitability.
4) Got a friend to go hardcore with me. When you are a subversive little jackass trying to do a startup that nobody gives a rip about it's easy to get discouraged. I don't think I could be doing this without a friend who is drinking the kool-aid.
5) Read founders at work. On a daily basis I'm flooded with uncertainty about direction and focus. Knowing that everyone is on the same rollercoaster between im-a-genius and im-an-idiot is really helpful.
I just sent out the first two invoices this morning... woo!
Congratulations on the first invoices!
I know, it's pretty hard to work on something alone. Sometimes you feel great, but sometimes you simply feel discouarged. A friend is also quitting hist job now, but he still has to prove that he has the skills to join me, as he once remarked he already wants 50% equity from the start. (Idea, prototype, first to quit etc nautrally all come from me :-))
Oooh god, please let cofounders rain! ;)
I know, it's pretty hard to work on something alone. Sometimes you feel great, but sometimes you simply feel discouarged. A friend is also quitting hist job now, but he still has to prove that he has the skills to join me, as he once remarked he already wants 50% equity from the start. (Idea, prototype, first to quit etc nautrally all come from me :-))
Oooh god, please let cofounders rain! ;)
Move to Shenzhen. Doing that just blew my mind - I thought I was a person, but alone in Shenzhen for 4 weeks just permanently changed me.
You know how people talk about discovering yourself? I thought it was a myth, but when you go to a country alone and don't know the language, it really changes you.
I'm more focused now, more determined, more careful and by God, the money is just rolling in.
You know how people talk about discovering yourself? I thought it was a myth, but when you go to a country alone and don't know the language, it really changes you.
I'm more focused now, more determined, more careful and by God, the money is just rolling in.
Just out of curiosity, what did you do while you were there? I've always fantasized about taking off to some distant Asian country to hack away on code while learning the language and experiencing the culture (while also enjoying the minimal living expenses), but I'd love to hear experiences from someone who's actually been there and done that.
Why shenzhen? I spent some time in India and it was awe inspiring on one level but it was also depressing having to deal with such overwhelming incompetency.
That's the difference, is it not? Many people go and they think people are incompetent. I go and I see that people are not working optimally, and I figure out a way to make them work optimally.
As mentioned, for tailored and considered answers, you need to provide more details about your background and constraints. We will also nned to look at your motivations as doing a startup may not be what you are looking for as for simple excitement you can do many other things to achieve this e.g. travel, extreme sports/experiences, new job in new area
Erstwhile, as a generalisitic answer from someone having been in a similar situation I would say try and implement a few ideas in your spare time. See which ones you enjoy and which ones take off. Often the elements of business you least consider are the most fun and vice versa. Perhaps try and do so consulting work at other places, if possible, to build your exposure to business in general if you have not worked at many places.
Once you have been exposed to more activity and have experienced mre things you will often find yourself in a better position to determine what is right for you and the problem, if any, you want to tackle in your business/startup.
Business/startup for the sake of it may not be the answer. We cannot know until we find out more about your sceanario.
This may sound very soft and general advice, but I hope it helps and if you can elaborate further I am sure I and the many others here will try and give sound advice to the best of our ability.
Thanks.
Erstwhile, as a generalisitic answer from someone having been in a similar situation I would say try and implement a few ideas in your spare time. See which ones you enjoy and which ones take off. Often the elements of business you least consider are the most fun and vice versa. Perhaps try and do so consulting work at other places, if possible, to build your exposure to business in general if you have not worked at many places.
Once you have been exposed to more activity and have experienced mre things you will often find yourself in a better position to determine what is right for you and the problem, if any, you want to tackle in your business/startup.
Business/startup for the sake of it may not be the answer. We cannot know until we find out more about your sceanario.
This may sound very soft and general advice, but I hope it helps and if you can elaborate further I am sure I and the many others here will try and give sound advice to the best of our ability.
Thanks.
I would take a look at the constraints you have in place and those that you can and/or want to change. Resources are the natural place to start the assessment.
Provide some more information as to your current (as well as past) work experience, education, interests, etc. and I am sure the community can be more concrete with suggestions.
Provide some more information as to your current (as well as past) work experience, education, interests, etc. and I am sure the community can be more concrete with suggestions.
Provide some more information as to your current (as well as past) work experience, education, interests, etc. and I am sure the community can be more concrete with suggestions.
That's a good idea. I'll probably post another Ask YC with more specifics.
That's a good idea. I'll probably post another Ask YC with more specifics.
Why not do both? Go to grad school while at the same time working on your start up. You never realize how much free time you have at school until you leave it.
And don't worry about coming up with a genius idea, most startup ideas aren't genius. Its usually just another social network or travel site
I would also recommend you to move outside of NYC, since you are most likely paying 3-4 times in rent compared to outside of the city. Like everyone said your goal now is to cut your costs dramatically.
And don't worry about coming up with a genius idea, most startup ideas aren't genius. Its usually just another social network or travel site
I would also recommend you to move outside of NYC, since you are most likely paying 3-4 times in rent compared to outside of the city. Like everyone said your goal now is to cut your costs dramatically.
You might be able to negotiate a leave of absence (since you're walking away anyway)
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=184979
Or have you considered grad school abroad at a suitable university (ideally, where the academics meet your rigor and exchange rate is favorable)?
Or have you considered grad school abroad at a suitable university (ideally, where the academics meet your rigor and exchange rate is favorable)?
I actually like the grad school idea. Being in a nice relaxed college atmosphere while working on interesting problems would be perfect. All you would need is to not lose sight of what you got there for in the first place.
Make sure you save up a lot of cash if you're going to be staying in NYC!
Could you put your email in your profile (or shoot me one)?
you have many options - something exciting can come from anywhere and anytime, you dont need to join school or new job ... also if u can afford and survive financially then couple of months of vacation/traveling can re-juvenile you completely with may be something more creative and exciting for you.
Edit: This is a first shot at the question. I found out this morning that I'm employed until Dec. My first thought was, "I wonder what the people on YC would do next." I heard Grad school takes up most peoples time so I figured Grad school vs. Start-up was expected. Some comments below indicate otherwise. Do VC's have any inhibitions towards funding someone my age? I'm the type who can spend money but can just as easily go three months on ramen and barely washed clothes.