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I agree -- for software engineers, programming is a popular way to procrastinate. Refactoring doubly so :-) Whereas, for somebody comfortable with selling and

I agree -- for software engineers, programming is a popular way to procrastinate. Refactoring doubly so :-) Whereas, for somebody comfortable with selling and networking but uncomfortable making or improving products, the networking and selling would be a way to procrastinate.

raganwald 17y ago
> for somebody comfortable with selling and networking but uncomfortable making or improving products, the networking and selling would be a way to procrastinate. No, no, you did the hard bit, coming up with an idea, and you have the connections and the sales know-how to make the business succeed. Now all you need is a cofounder who will come in and implement it in exchange for some sweat equity, say 1% of a business that will be worth at least one hundred million dollars.
- c1sc0 17y ago
  @raganwald: you make me want to print out your comment and staple it to my wall.
- ramchip 17y ago
  Hello sir. I had this idea yesterday for a site like facebook but with classifieds like craig's list in it and I'm looking for an experienced C/C++ coder...
kowen 17y ago
> Refactoring doubly so :-) Oh, man, the truth hurts! I would much rather refactor than go out and sell. There is such a zen to refactoring. It doesn't require intense problem-solving thought, but it isn't mindless. More, hm... mindful. sigh
- nathanieljones 17y ago
  Refactoring is very similar to picking up house or cleaning out my closet to me. I love the feeling of throwing things away, of knowing everything fits properly. That's great for a Saturday morning. With refactoring, though, you're combining that feeling with the idea that you're "working on your business," and that is a crippling combination. You don't even realize you're procrastinating. This article is fantastic. I just realized two days ago that programming isn't the challenge to me that it once was. Oh, sure, there are plenty of things I don't know how to do, and I'll spend the rest of my life improving at my craft. But I have a confidence that I can figure out how to do anything I need to do. I don't have that confidence when it comes to running a business. And that's how I know it's time to make running a business my full-time focus, and only program when I must to reach my business goals. Not because running a business is easy, but because it's hard.

raganwald 17y ago

> for somebody comfortable with selling and networking but uncomfortable making or improving products, the networking and selling would be a way to procrastinate. No, no, you did the hard bit, coming up with an idea, and you have the connections and the sales know-how to make the business succeed. Now all you need is a cofounder who will come in and implement it in exchange for some sweat equity, say 1% of a business that will be worth at least one hundred million dollars.

c1sc0 17y ago
@raganwald: you make me want to print out your comment and staple it to my wall.
ramchip 17y ago
Hello sir. I had this idea yesterday for a site like facebook but with classifieds like craig's list in it and I'm looking for an experienced C/C++ coder...

kowen 17y ago

> Refactoring doubly so :-) Oh, man, the truth hurts! I would much rather refactor than go out and sell. There is such a zen to refactoring. It doesn't require intense problem-solving thought, but it isn't mindless. More, hm... mindful. sigh

nathanieljones 17y ago
Refactoring is very similar to picking up house or cleaning out my closet to me. I love the feeling of throwing things away, of knowing everything fits properly. That's great for a Saturday morning. With refactoring, though, you're combining that feeling with the idea that you're "working on your business," and that is a crippling combination. You don't even realize you're procrastinating. This article is fantastic. I just realized two days ago that programming isn't the challenge to me that it once was. Oh, sure, there are plenty of things I don't know how to do, and I'll spend the rest of my life improving at my craft. But I have a confidence that I can figure out how to do anything I need to do. I don't have that confidence when it comes to running a business. And that's how I know it's time to make running a business my full-time focus, and only program when I must to reach my business goals. Not because running a business is easy, but because it's hard.