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Ok all, we're going to settle this once and for all. I'll work with my prof (behavioral economics) tomorrow to set up a risk profile questionnaire (like an adva

Ok all, we're going to settle this once and for all. I'll work with my prof (behavioral economics) tomorrow to set up a risk profile questionnaire (like an advanced Ask HN) and we'll know by Tuesday how well this claim holds up, empirically. (edit: unless we're comfortable making claims about risk preference WITHOUT data...) edit 2: these are specialized, refined tests that construct risk preference from a number of decisions from hypothetical situations. Assessing risk preference is not a simple manner of direct question (ex: "Hi, are you risk tolerant or risk averse?") or introspection.

deltasquare4 16y ago
That would be awesome. Looking forward to it.
bali 16y ago
Just because something is complicated doesn't mean necessarily that it's more accurate or true (a funny illustration: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/360419/a-dream-within-a-dream http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/360419/a-dream-within-...) I have constructed preference profiles with conjoint and other "complicated" methods many times for big companies and believe me: they only scratch the surface of human behavior, most of it is not valid. Everybody may have his/her own reason for being an entrepreneur. I see this discussion and Arrington's article as well (besides maybe preparing the ground to quit:) more as an emotional discourse to justify why we do what we do. I have these discussions with my friend and bus. partner all the time and I really enjoy feeling superior to employees, but I know in the back of my brain that it's somewhat unfair. Anyhow, as for myself, I love to do it because of the lifestyle, because I love to create something, because I can wake up late and work during the night, because I am in control of my professional life and decisions and perhaps most importantly because I hate to know what's gonna happen the next day, next month which is inevitable with a normal job. My life is over as soon as I am locked in a job + family + everyday routines + stop being curious and open. I would die. I would know how it is going to end, just wouldn't know when. Just to avoid the latter and achieve the former I am risking right now nearly everything stable I have had in life (friends, family, nice job ($1M in 5-6 years), house, perspective of a relaxed long life) (don't misunderstand the family part, i believe that is the most important element of a happy life, but it decreases your "degrees of freedom", if you see what i mean) Ah, that was the word I was looking for, freedom :)
deleted 16y ago
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deltasquare4 16y ago

That would be awesome. Looking forward to it.

bali 16y ago

Just because something is complicated doesn't mean necessarily that it's more accurate or true (a funny illustration: http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/360419/a-dream-within-a-dream http://www.southparkstudios.com/clips/360419/a-dream-within-...) I have constructed preference profiles with conjoint and other "complicated" methods many times for big companies and believe me: they only scratch the surface of human behavior, most of it is not valid. Everybody may have his/her own reason for being an entrepreneur. I see this discussion and Arrington's article as well (besides maybe preparing the ground to quit:) more as an emotional discourse to justify why we do what we do. I have these discussions with my friend and bus. partner all the time and I really enjoy feeling superior to employees, but I know in the back of my brain that it's somewhat unfair. Anyhow, as for myself, I love to do it because of the lifestyle, because I love to create something, because I can wake up late and work during the night, because I am in control of my professional life and decisions and perhaps most importantly because I hate to know what's gonna happen the next day, next month which is inevitable with a normal job. My life is over as soon as I am locked in a job + family + everyday routines + stop being curious and open. I would die. I would know how it is going to end, just wouldn't know when. Just to avoid the latter and achieve the former I am risking right now nearly everything stable I have had in life (friends, family, nice job ($1M in 5-6 years), house, perspective of a relaxed long life) (don't misunderstand the family part, i believe that is the most important element of a happy life, but it decreases your "degrees of freedom", if you see what i mean) Ah, that was the word I was looking for, freedom :)

deleted 16y ago

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