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>It seems you define successful startup as companies who IPOed, became household brands No, I'm not the one fixated on famous IPO'd companies. I'm interpreting

by jasode 11y ago

>It seems you define successful startup as companies who IPOed, became household brands No, I'm not the one fixated on famous IPO'd companies. I'm interpreting the question the HN poster asked and making an assumption of what the questioner had in his mind for "successful startup" to motivate why he would ask it. Sure, it's possible for a "successful startup" to mean a sole-proprietor who wrote a niche vertical software that he hardly spends time in. He's just living off of maintenance renewals from enterprise customers. However, if the OP thought of this as a "successful startup", it wouldn't have motivated the question to be asked. I may be wrong but I look at what motivated phrases like "successful startup" and "give up your life". Well, he's on HN. It seemed my interpretation was very reasonable. > but here's a founder who rather works 4 days a week than 5 I don't think DHH is a "founder" in the sense that many HN readers are thinking. He was the key guy for Basecamp code and was hired by founders. I believe he was later given "partner" status at 37signals. He's definitely has high net worth like a "founder" so maybe that's the confusing part. >(I didn't downvote your post BTW if that was a concern) I don't mind the negative imaginary points but I do like some dialogue and discussion. I appreciate your and everyone else's response.

mtmail 11y ago
Let's agree OP's question left too much room for interpretation. The spectrum of solo entrepreneur to typical HN team to older medium size companies (some which call themselves startup but probably shouldn't) is too large. OP should have added a couple of sentences to clarify. I've worked crazy hours for multiple startups, it paid off, and will do again. I don't want to give the image though it's the best way. Lots of friends (startup employee) burnt out over the years and their extra hours made no difference because the business success was determine by something outside their control.
- jasode 11y ago
  > burnt out over the years and their extra hours made no difference because the business success was determine by something outside their control. If you're answering in this way, maybe other posters also interpret my post as "advice" or "prescription" that you must work 80 hours a week to be successful. That's not what my downvoted post was about. Instead, it was an observation of founder psychology that the questioner may not be aware of. I'm saying that there's a species of entrepreneur where there is no dichotomy of "work" vs "life". Their work is life. If the founder has that mentality, there is no "life to give up" and therefore, the OP's question is nonsensical to them. That type of crazy passion is in the peer group of entrepreneurs. That's the competition.

by jasode 11y ago

mtmail 11y ago

Let's agree OP's question left too much room for interpretation. The spectrum of solo entrepreneur to typical HN team to older medium size companies (some which call themselves startup but probably shouldn't) is too large. OP should have added a couple of sentences to clarify. I've worked crazy hours for multiple startups, it paid off, and will do again. I don't want to give the image though it's the best way. Lots of friends (startup employee) burnt out over the years and their extra hours made no difference because the business success was determine by something outside their control.

jasode 11y ago
> burnt out over the years and their extra hours made no difference because the business success was determine by something outside their control. If you're answering in this way, maybe other posters also interpret my post as "advice" or "prescription" that you must work 80 hours a week to be successful. That's not what my downvoted post was about. Instead, it was an observation of founder psychology that the questioner may not be aware of. I'm saying that there's a species of entrepreneur where there is no dichotomy of "work" vs "life". Their work is life. If the founder has that mentality, there is no "life to give up" and therefore, the OP's question is nonsensical to them. That type of crazy passion is in the peer group of entrepreneurs. That's the competition.