6 ms·

> A one-person business is an exercise in long-term anxiety management, so I would say if you are already an anxious person, go ahead and start a business. You'

> A one-person business is an exercise in long-term anxiety management, so I would say if you are already an anxious person, go ahead and start a business. You're not going to feel any worse. +1

keyle 7y ago
And become a solo indie game developer! Wooo the roller coaster.
- Cthulhu_ 7y ago
  Part of me would like to do that. But part of me is also very consciously aware I'm terrible at self-managing / motivating, and that the indie game development market is flooded by people and games that are a lot more creative than the ones I could come up with who still aren't able to make ends meet years down the line. But maybe I'm just cynical and afraid to get out of my comfort zone.
  - trevyn 7y ago
    If you were doing it just for fun, with no expectation of a financial or reputational payoff, would you still like to do it? Would it feel different?
    - Schwolop 7y ago
      Yes, but I (we? I get the feeling I’m not alone in this...) never finish them. It’s always more fun to start the next one than finish the first.
function_seven 7y ago
I loved the line soon after that one: > Running an online service solo puts one in the coffin corner between the Dunning Kruger effect and impostor syndrome. This guy knows how to write.
- phasetransition 7y ago
  An engineer's version of the tightly crafted allusory phrasing book authors love.
  - misterman0 7y ago
    I just wanted to let you know that your post is #1 on Google if you search for the phrase "allusory phrasing". I was wondering, what does it mean?
    - scarejunba 7y ago
      He means this concept https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allusion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allusion
    - phasetransition 7y ago
      Allusory is an adjective that means "making allusion." What I mean is phrasing that makes allusions. You'll find it in writing as a tool to expand meaning, change tone, add connotation, etc. It can lose power and clarity when the reader is unfamiliar with the underlying references. Here, the writing brings in an aerodynamics concept (coffin corner), a famous bit of psychology about cognitive biases (Dunning Kruger), and a trueism about doubting one's own capacity (imposter syndrome). Personally, the reference to coffin corner adds richness to the writing. It is from a completely different discipline, less commonly referenced in HN context than the other two, and immediately gives me a sense of greater breadth about the author's experiences.
- thirdsun 7y ago
  You should read some of the greatest hits form his blog: https://idlewords.com/ https://idlewords.com/ - an excellent writer indeed.
Sir_Cmpwn 7y ago
I draw my inspiration from Pinboard in my own business, and I feel this effect quite acutely. Keep up the good work and keep down the anxiety, maciej :)
- ndarwincorn 7y ago
  I was wondering. I'd read their blog occasionally over the years but never looked at the site. sourcehut was the first thing I thought of when the top comment got me to look at Pinboard itself.
- dannyw 7y ago
  I remember you from KnightOS, that OS for Ti calculators!!
jamiepenney 7y ago
Not to pitch in with low-value "me too thanks" style replies, but by god does this sum up the last 18 months of my life. Every time I feel comfortable, bam! Something new to keep me awake at night. It's one part exhausting and one part exhilarating and I'm not sure if I could go back to salaried work at this point.
- ci5er 7y ago
  > I'm not sure if I could go back to salaried work at this point. I hope it's a choice! I applied for a salaried position at IBM (I think?) for a Product Management position that I could have nailed, through a head-hunter that I knew was covering the position. He said: "No way, dude. I wouldn't do that to them or you". I said: "Why not?" He said: "Because you are a startup guy". I said: "Hey - I used to work at Motorola. At the global level. Scotland, Malaysia, I lived in Japan, Phoenix and Austin. I was a great corporate droid." He said: "Used to be. Now you would just get a couple of paychecks into feeling less homeless-bound, and tell your boss or your boss's boss to fuck off and die." I said: "No I wouldn't". He said: "Yes you would - and you can't change my mind". Whatever. In my town, I am apparently branded "a startup guy".
  - joejerryronnie 7y ago
    Dude, I think the headhunter may be right. Just imagine when (and this is a when not an if) you are demanded to do an insanely stupid thing which you, your team, and your customers hate. It makes no sense but must be done asap. When you ask for justification, it’s because the VP, who never leaves his office except for extra long work lunches with the other executive staff, said it must be done. No logic, no reasoning, no arguing - just get it done. You have two choices: 1) Eat shit and do the stupid thing while a small part of you dies. 2) March into the VP’s office, tell him to fuck off, and walk out like a champ. Which option do you choose?
    - deleted 7y ago
      [deleted]
    - ci5er 7y ago
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]

> A one-person business is an exercise in long-term anxiety management, so I would say if you are already an anxious person, go ahead and start a business. You're not going to feel any worse. +1

keyle 7y ago

And become a solo indie game developer! Wooo the roller coaster.

Cthulhu_ 7y ago
Part of me would like to do that. But part of me is also very consciously aware I'm terrible at self-managing / motivating, and that the indie game development market is flooded by people and games that are a lot more creative than the ones I could come up with who still aren't able to make ends meet years down the line. But maybe I'm just cynical and afraid to get out of my comfort zone.
- trevyn 7y ago
  If you were doing it just for fun, with no expectation of a financial or reputational payoff, would you still like to do it? Would it feel different?
  - Schwolop 7y ago
    Yes, but I (we? I get the feeling I’m not alone in this...) never finish them. It’s always more fun to start the next one than finish the first.

function_seven 7y ago

I loved the line soon after that one: > Running an online service solo puts one in the coffin corner between the Dunning Kruger effect and impostor syndrome. This guy knows how to write.

phasetransition 7y ago
An engineer's version of the tightly crafted allusory phrasing book authors love.
- misterman0 7y ago
  I just wanted to let you know that your post is #1 on Google if you search for the phrase "allusory phrasing". I was wondering, what does it mean?
  - scarejunba 7y ago
    He means this concept https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allusion https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allusion
  - phasetransition 7y ago
    Allusory is an adjective that means "making allusion." What I mean is phrasing that makes allusions. You'll find it in writing as a tool to expand meaning, change tone, add connotation, etc. It can lose power and clarity when the reader is unfamiliar with the underlying references. Here, the writing brings in an aerodynamics concept (coffin corner), a famous bit of psychology about cognitive biases (Dunning Kruger), and a trueism about doubting one's own capacity (imposter syndrome). Personally, the reference to coffin corner adds richness to the writing. It is from a completely different discipline, less commonly referenced in HN context than the other two, and immediately gives me a sense of greater breadth about the author's experiences.
thirdsun 7y ago
You should read some of the greatest hits form his blog: https://idlewords.com/ https://idlewords.com/ - an excellent writer indeed.

Sir_Cmpwn 7y ago

I draw my inspiration from Pinboard in my own business, and I feel this effect quite acutely. Keep up the good work and keep down the anxiety, maciej :)

ndarwincorn 7y ago
I was wondering. I'd read their blog occasionally over the years but never looked at the site. sourcehut was the first thing I thought of when the top comment got me to look at Pinboard itself.
dannyw 7y ago
I remember you from KnightOS, that OS for Ti calculators!!

jamiepenney 7y ago

Not to pitch in with low-value "me too thanks" style replies, but by god does this sum up the last 18 months of my life. Every time I feel comfortable, bam! Something new to keep me awake at night. It's one part exhausting and one part exhilarating and I'm not sure if I could go back to salaried work at this point.

ci5er 7y ago
> I'm not sure if I could go back to salaried work at this point. I hope it's a choice! I applied for a salaried position at IBM (I think?) for a Product Management position that I could have nailed, through a head-hunter that I knew was covering the position. He said: "No way, dude. I wouldn't do that to them or you". I said: "Why not?" He said: "Because you are a startup guy". I said: "Hey - I used to work at Motorola. At the global level. Scotland, Malaysia, I lived in Japan, Phoenix and Austin. I was a great corporate droid." He said: "Used to be. Now you would just get a couple of paychecks into feeling less homeless-bound, and tell your boss or your boss's boss to fuck off and die." I said: "No I wouldn't". He said: "Yes you would - and you can't change my mind". Whatever. In my town, I am apparently branded "a startup guy".
- joejerryronnie 7y ago
  Dude, I think the headhunter may be right. Just imagine when (and this is a when not an if) you are demanded to do an insanely stupid thing which you, your team, and your customers hate. It makes no sense but must be done asap. When you ask for justification, it’s because the VP, who never leaves his office except for extra long work lunches with the other executive staff, said it must be done. No logic, no reasoning, no arguing - just get it done. You have two choices: 1) Eat shit and do the stupid thing while a small part of you dies. 2) March into the VP’s office, tell him to fuck off, and walk out like a champ. Which option do you choose?
  - deleted 7y ago
    [deleted]
  - ci5er 7y ago

deleted 7y ago

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