4 ms·

I finally gave up comparing myself to them. Even Jobs. It's just a waste of time and a pointless exercise to feed/starve the ego. No one in my family has been

by rblion 8y ago

I finally gave up comparing myself to them. Even Jobs. It's just a waste of time and a pointless exercise to feed/starve the ego. No one in my family has been to college. I am a first-generation American from the Bible Belt, a state that is 49th in education. I was fortunate that I loved nature, books, music, sports, computers, creative service, big ideas. This helped me find a way out of poverty, out of a life of drugs and crime surrounded by cops and judges. I am a minority but that is not my identity. I am a man but I respect women, hoping for equality for all. Yet, above everything, I believe in a meritocracy. I was in SF last fall, realized that I don't even want to move there anymore. I am visiting NYC this month for work/fun, maybe that's where I'll want to be. Maybe though, I'll aim even higher (live by some mountains like originally planned) because SF felt like it was too one-dimensional for me. NYC looks amazing but I may just see it a place I visit when I need to instead of moving there. I was rejected from YC once and I felt bad about it. I still love HN but I've learned that SV isn't the gatekeeper anymore, the Internet as a whole is. If I keep chugging away every day and put myself in the best position to get my ideas out into the world, I believe that the best design and marketing will always beat out a team with better engineers that lacks good design/marketing. I have no trust fund or inheritance, just the sweat of my brow, this brain aided by computers, and the vision inside my heart. "Fortune favors the bold"

superhuzza 8y ago
So basically everyone from where you came from is held back by poverty and lack of education, and you believe the world is a meritocracy?
- rblion 8y ago
  No. I believe that I need to pick my battles and I can't win them all.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- antidesitter 8y ago
  Can you point out where they said they “believe the world is a meritocracy”?
  - superhuzza 8y ago
    I misread his post.
bhhaskin 8y ago
If you are looking for a place to move, check out Reno NV. Cost of living is fairly cheap and only a few hours away from SV & SF. Tech scene is blowing up. Tahoe is 10 minutes away.
- rblion 8y ago
  Thanks, this is a good place to keep in mind. I loved Oregon and Montana the most out of all the Western states I've explored. I have not been to NV or Tahoe yet, but I want to soon. Heard a lot of great things. After growing up in the Bible Belt and living in Utah for a year, I realized just how much more I value mountains over skyscrapers.
  - Relys 8y ago
    Oregon/Washington is really nice if you don't mind the rain. :) Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
    - rblion 8y ago
      Oregon was perfect. It had it all but the biggest thing was the people. Very kind, enjoyed life, respected the environment, valued fresh/quality ingredients, not too 'busy' but still productive. It had the best parts of California and Washington without any of the stuff that annoyed me (I won't go into it because this is subjective). Plus, as a single man, I got a ton of matches on Bumble, a lot more than any other state. Made me feel very welcome. Montana just felt WILD. Missoula had a vibe that is hard to describe. I just felt like I was at the edge of civilization but still had fast internet and a Target close by when I needed it.
      - magduf 8y ago
        >Plus, as a single man, I got a ton of matches on Bumble, a lot more than any other state. Made me feel very welcome. Really? According to the statistics, the west coast cities have a surplus of single men, whereas the east coast cities have a surplus of single women. Of course, lots of single women in a place doesn't mean that there's a lot who will match you. I'm in DC, the #2 metro area for surplus single women (NYC is #1), and interestingly, I do get a lot of dates, but the large majority of them are from Asia (as in born there, not just descended from there). The professional white women here all seem to want a guy from the cover of GQ who likes to go to bars and drink a lot, and I don't drink. Or they're conservative and religious. Maybe I need to move to Portland...

by rblion 8y ago

superhuzza 8y ago

So basically everyone from where you came from is held back by poverty and lack of education, and you believe the world is a meritocracy?

rblion 8y ago
No. I believe that I need to pick my battles and I can't win them all.
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
antidesitter 8y ago
Can you point out where they said they “believe the world is a meritocracy”?
- superhuzza 8y ago
  I misread his post.

bhhaskin 8y ago

If you are looking for a place to move, check out Reno NV. Cost of living is fairly cheap and only a few hours away from SV & SF. Tech scene is blowing up. Tahoe is 10 minutes away.

rblion 8y ago
Thanks, this is a good place to keep in mind. I loved Oregon and Montana the most out of all the Western states I've explored. I have not been to NV or Tahoe yet, but I want to soon. Heard a lot of great things. After growing up in the Bible Belt and living in Utah for a year, I realized just how much more I value mountains over skyscrapers.
- Relys 8y ago
  Oregon/Washington is really nice if you don't mind the rain. :) Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
  - rblion 8y ago
    Oregon was perfect. It had it all but the biggest thing was the people. Very kind, enjoyed life, respected the environment, valued fresh/quality ingredients, not too 'busy' but still productive. It had the best parts of California and Washington without any of the stuff that annoyed me (I won't go into it because this is subjective). Plus, as a single man, I got a ton of matches on Bumble, a lot more than any other state. Made me feel very welcome. Montana just felt WILD. Missoula had a vibe that is hard to describe. I just felt like I was at the edge of civilization but still had fast internet and a Target close by when I needed it.
    - magduf 8y ago
      >Plus, as a single man, I got a ton of matches on Bumble, a lot more than any other state. Made me feel very welcome. Really? According to the statistics, the west coast cities have a surplus of single men, whereas the east coast cities have a surplus of single women. Of course, lots of single women in a place doesn't mean that there's a lot who will match you. I'm in DC, the #2 metro area for surplus single women (NYC is #1), and interestingly, I do get a lot of dates, but the large majority of them are from Asia (as in born there, not just descended from there). The professional white women here all seem to want a guy from the cover of GQ who likes to go to bars and drink a lot, and I don't drink. Or they're conservative and religious. Maybe I need to move to Portland...