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Don't be discouraged. I'm 100% sure my idea is rock solid, I've executed successfully before AND I have a cofounder, but I was turned down. You don't have a goo

by ericb 19y ago

Don't be discouraged. I'm 100% sure my idea is rock solid, I've executed successfully before AND I have a cofounder, but I was turned down. You don't have a good startup-tale without getting turned down a few times. I think of it like this: me: Would you like to make some money with me YC? YC: No thanks, we have plenty.

dcurtis 19y ago
Sounds kind of like you're disguising your YC-denial under a veil of "I've done this before, and I'm better than you" type of thinking. Are you sure that's productive? What was your successful execution?
- pius 19y ago
  I don't think there's anything wrong with positive self-talk. A founder being confident about his or her ability to execute shouldn't make anyone else feel insecure.
  - kirubakaran 19y ago
    Agree with you 100%. We are nothing without confidence that at first seems baseless.
    - izaidi 19y ago
      Yeah, exactly. Fake it 'til you make it.
      - kirubakaran 19y ago
        Worked for Caterina :) http://www.caterina.net http://www.caterina.net
    - keating 19y ago
      “All the best things I did at Apple came from (a) not having money and (b) not having done it before, ever. Every single thing that we came out with that was really great, I’d never once done that thing in my life.” -- Woz
- ericb 19y ago
  When you're rejected, you can interpret it as this "says something about me" and take it personally, or you can interpret it as an opportunity someone else missed out on for whatever reason, (not a good match, not web 2.0 enough, who knows!) and move on. If you believe in your idea and yourself strongly, there's usually only one clear interpretation you should take. And yes, self confidence is generally a productive strategy. As for my success, I built a shareware business that made me significantly more than my salary, as a single founder, while still working full time. It enabled me to leave my job and work for myself.
  - xenoterracide 19y ago
    I agree... but it would be nice to know if there was something that gave me (or anyone else) a black mark. I think my idea is great. It's more of a "can I do anything to improve". I believe in always trying to find ways to be better. If my idea was rejected because they thought it was too niche, I would want to know. If it's because I couldn't think of other things I've done, I'd like to know. etc, etc.
    - ericb 19y ago
      I agree, I'd have loved a reason as well--it would have justified the time spent on the application. Although I would love it, it's probably not practical and may just open them up to angry emails.
  - dcurtis 19y ago
    Awesome. Maybe I mistook your tone. I agree that a positive, confident attitude is probably productive, but you made your point by turning the positivity against Y Combinator because you are upset that you were not accepted. Right?
    - ericb 19y ago
      I don't see where I turned anything against y combinator in my posts. Please clarify.
  - lux 19y ago
keating 19y ago
> I'm 100% sure my idea is rock solid, I've executed successfully before AND I have a cofounder, but I was turned down. Send them a letter rejecting their rejection letter and show up anyhow. From gettingintogradschool.com: Thank for your letter of April 9. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me admission to our department. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates it is impossible for me to accept all refusals. Despite W.M.U.'s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will join the ranks of graduate students in your department this September. I look forward to seeing you then. Sincerely,
- ebukys 19y ago
  Haha, brilliant! The problem is, you need at least one person (someone who has deciding power) to be impressed enough with your pure stubborn flippancy to let you in even after having been rejected.
  - keating 19y ago
    If anyone actually went through with it I'd like their chances. If you have that kind of chutzpah why stop there? Hit up every other VC/Angel in the area and something will stick.
- hooande 19y ago
  Reminds me of the excite.com story in Founders at Work
- jsjenkins168 19y ago
  Upon hearing the news that YC decided not to fund us, my co-founder refused to take no for an answer and decided to call PG on the phone and plea. PG was really really cool and even offered additional advice to help us, but wouldnt budge on their decision. My advice for those rejected now and after interviews is to simply accept the rejection and continue to build your product as aggressively as you can. I didnt take our rejection very well, and probably wasted more time than I should have dwelling on it. There is not enough time in this field to focus on defeats. Your competition will simply kill you if you do. Consider this rejection to be a practice round of many more to come.

by ericb 19y ago

dcurtis 19y ago

Sounds kind of like you're disguising your YC-denial under a veil of "I've done this before, and I'm better than you" type of thinking. Are you sure that's productive? What was your successful execution?

pius 19y ago
I don't think there's anything wrong with positive self-talk. A founder being confident about his or her ability to execute shouldn't make anyone else feel insecure.
- kirubakaran 19y ago
  Agree with you 100%. We are nothing without confidence that at first seems baseless.
  - izaidi 19y ago
    Yeah, exactly. Fake it 'til you make it.
    - kirubakaran 19y ago
      Worked for Caterina :) http://www.caterina.net http://www.caterina.net
  - keating 19y ago
    “All the best things I did at Apple came from (a) not having money and (b) not having done it before, ever. Every single thing that we came out with that was really great, I’d never once done that thing in my life.” -- Woz
ericb 19y ago
When you're rejected, you can interpret it as this "says something about me" and take it personally, or you can interpret it as an opportunity someone else missed out on for whatever reason, (not a good match, not web 2.0 enough, who knows!) and move on. If you believe in your idea and yourself strongly, there's usually only one clear interpretation you should take. And yes, self confidence is generally a productive strategy. As for my success, I built a shareware business that made me significantly more than my salary, as a single founder, while still working full time. It enabled me to leave my job and work for myself.
- xenoterracide 19y ago
  I agree... but it would be nice to know if there was something that gave me (or anyone else) a black mark. I think my idea is great. It's more of a "can I do anything to improve". I believe in always trying to find ways to be better. If my idea was rejected because they thought it was too niche, I would want to know. If it's because I couldn't think of other things I've done, I'd like to know. etc, etc.
  - ericb 19y ago
    I agree, I'd have loved a reason as well--it would have justified the time spent on the application. Although I would love it, it's probably not practical and may just open them up to angry emails.
- dcurtis 19y ago
  Awesome. Maybe I mistook your tone. I agree that a positive, confident attitude is probably productive, but you made your point by turning the positivity against Y Combinator because you are upset that you were not accepted. Right?
  - ericb 19y ago
    I don't see where I turned anything against y combinator in my posts. Please clarify.
- lux 19y ago

keating 19y ago

> I'm 100% sure my idea is rock solid, I've executed successfully before AND I have a cofounder, but I was turned down. Send them a letter rejecting their rejection letter and show up anyhow. From gettingintogradschool.com: Thank for your letter of April 9. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me admission to our department. This year I have been particularly fortunate in receiving an unusually large number of rejection letters. With such a varied and promising field of candidates it is impossible for me to accept all refusals. Despite W.M.U.'s outstanding qualifications and previous experience in rejecting applicants, I find that your rejection does not meet my needs at this time. Therefore, I will join the ranks of graduate students in your department this September. I look forward to seeing you then. Sincerely,

ebukys 19y ago
Haha, brilliant! The problem is, you need at least one person (someone who has deciding power) to be impressed enough with your pure stubborn flippancy to let you in even after having been rejected.
- keating 19y ago
  If anyone actually went through with it I'd like their chances. If you have that kind of chutzpah why stop there? Hit up every other VC/Angel in the area and something will stick.
hooande 19y ago
Reminds me of the excite.com story in Founders at Work
jsjenkins168 19y ago
Upon hearing the news that YC decided not to fund us, my co-founder refused to take no for an answer and decided to call PG on the phone and plea. PG was really really cool and even offered additional advice to help us, but wouldnt budge on their decision. My advice for those rejected now and after interviews is to simply accept the rejection and continue to build your product as aggressively as you can. I didnt take our rejection very well, and probably wasted more time than I should have dwelling on it. There is not enough time in this field to focus on defeats. Your competition will simply kill you if you do. Consider this rejection to be a practice round of many more to come.