4 ms·

This is the wrong forum for this advice. I think most of the people here are not looking for a median income or a simple business. They want to swing for the

This is the wrong forum for this advice. I think most of the people here are not looking for a median income or a simple business. They want to swing for the fences or transform the world. Having said that, its good advice. Most people underestimate the joy you get from a good solid, routine job that pays well. And they overestimate the joy you get from a giant windfall ... such as you get when you finally take your startup public or sell it off. Also, I have met far more douchebags among the ranks of lawyers and VCs in silicon valley than I have among the ranks of small business owners (my brother owns a couple small businesses and his circle is very down to earth).

war1025 9y ago
I think you underestimate the number of people that follow this site because they like the content, but are quite content to have a median income and a nice work-life balance.
- rabbadabba_99 9y ago
  Or a 1% level income from a "lifestyle" business that's boring and never in the news.
everdev 9y ago
I don't agree, I've met plenty in all walks of life. Jealousy certainly plays a part in judgement, so I think the dbag label is probably more equally distributed than you might think. We also tend to surround ourselves with people we like, so I guess that makes sense that you like the circle you and your brother are in and don't like the circle you're not in.
- TheMagicHorsey 9y ago
  I was a programmer, then a lawyer representing startups, and now I'm a programmer again. I've had one successful exit already, and I'm working on another. I'm not in my brother's circle.
bhldr 9y ago
I also think that's a mischaracterisation. It's statistically unlikely for me to transform the world. I just want to carve out a tiny piece of it and make it better.
- raihansaputra 9y ago
  I know this might be too personal for yourself, but I'm throwing this question to those who are still reading this: Does it matter which tiny piece? Is making the world better for the top 1% the same as the bottom 1%? Does the 'importance' matter? Sorry if this doesn't make sense, just something that bothers me personally (because I do believe in carving out a tiny piece of the world and making it better).
adventured 9y ago
> Most people underestimate the joy you get from a good solid, routine job that pays well. And they overestimate the joy you get from a giant windfall I broadly agree with that text, I think that premise probably applies to most people. I've spent essentially every day of my adult life as an entrepreneur. It's so difficult and grueling, there's no amount of money that would compensate for what you go through over a long period of time. You better like something more about it than money or it'll ruin you. When I was in my early 20s, I used to recommend that people should start their own businesses, I no longer do that; I think the people that are well suited for it, will typically do it anyway. When it comes to money, I think there are plenty of entrepreneurs that fall into my category - I want to get up every day and do what I want to do with my time, work on what I want to work on. No less, no more. I like that I can immediately throw all of my effort at something if I'm struck by an idea or problem I want to solve. I like that if I want to burn a week working on a potentially absurd optimization for caching, in the process of building something, I can do it: I set all the deadlines and end goals. Money is nice, sometimes it has poured in, sometimes it has been all pain and struggle. Doing what I want to do with my time, is nicer than money for me, I'll always spend my capital on that freedom rather than traditional consumer goods, if I have to choose. The freedom to work on only what I want to, is the only thing I've ever wanted professionally, and I feel like a prisoner trapped in a cell without it.
- jmatthews 9y ago
  Well said, I'd love to make an impact on the planet but as a father my first drive is to set the best example possible for my son. That does include self determination and being responsible for your own outcomes, that does not include allowing your personal and financial freedom to be disposed of as another person sees fit.

war1025 9y ago

I think you underestimate the number of people that follow this site because they like the content, but are quite content to have a median income and a nice work-life balance.

rabbadabba_99 9y ago
Or a 1% level income from a "lifestyle" business that's boring and never in the news.

everdev 9y ago

I don't agree, I've met plenty in all walks of life. Jealousy certainly plays a part in judgement, so I think the dbag label is probably more equally distributed than you might think. We also tend to surround ourselves with people we like, so I guess that makes sense that you like the circle you and your brother are in and don't like the circle you're not in.

TheMagicHorsey 9y ago
I was a programmer, then a lawyer representing startups, and now I'm a programmer again. I've had one successful exit already, and I'm working on another. I'm not in my brother's circle.

bhldr 9y ago

I also think that's a mischaracterisation. It's statistically unlikely for me to transform the world. I just want to carve out a tiny piece of it and make it better.

raihansaputra 9y ago
I know this might be too personal for yourself, but I'm throwing this question to those who are still reading this: Does it matter which tiny piece? Is making the world better for the top 1% the same as the bottom 1%? Does the 'importance' matter? Sorry if this doesn't make sense, just something that bothers me personally (because I do believe in carving out a tiny piece of the world and making it better).

adventured 9y ago

> Most people underestimate the joy you get from a good solid, routine job that pays well. And they overestimate the joy you get from a giant windfall I broadly agree with that text, I think that premise probably applies to most people. I've spent essentially every day of my adult life as an entrepreneur. It's so difficult and grueling, there's no amount of money that would compensate for what you go through over a long period of time. You better like something more about it than money or it'll ruin you. When I was in my early 20s, I used to recommend that people should start their own businesses, I no longer do that; I think the people that are well suited for it, will typically do it anyway. When it comes to money, I think there are plenty of entrepreneurs that fall into my category - I want to get up every day and do what I want to do with my time, work on what I want to work on. No less, no more. I like that I can immediately throw all of my effort at something if I'm struck by an idea or problem I want to solve. I like that if I want to burn a week working on a potentially absurd optimization for caching, in the process of building something, I can do it: I set all the deadlines and end goals. Money is nice, sometimes it has poured in, sometimes it has been all pain and struggle. Doing what I want to do with my time, is nicer than money for me, I'll always spend my capital on that freedom rather than traditional consumer goods, if I have to choose. The freedom to work on only what I want to, is the only thing I've ever wanted professionally, and I feel like a prisoner trapped in a cell without it.

jmatthews 9y ago
Well said, I'd love to make an impact on the planet but as a father my first drive is to set the best example possible for my son. That does include self determination and being responsible for your own outcomes, that does not include allowing your personal and financial freedom to be disposed of as another person sees fit.