4 ms·

Sounds like he was in the right place at the right time. I think it would be a mistake to read anything into his story other than "be really lucky". EDIT: Ther

by aothman 16y ago

Sounds like he was in the right place at the right time. I think it would be a mistake to read anything into his story other than "be really lucky". EDIT: There were lots of people just like him that weren't crazy-successful. It's wonderful that he put himself into a place where he could succeed, but that's only necessary, not sufficient, to realize that success. He deserves credit for buying the ticket and taking the ride, but beyond that it's luck.

lucindo 16y ago
+1
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]
paul 16y ago
We were all in the right place at the right time. There is something to be said for making an effort to put yourself in the "right" place though.
- nostrademons 16y ago
  Where do you think the "right" place is right now? The problem I always have is that the right place isn't really apparent until years after the decision about where to be is made. At the time, there're many places that look appealing, and little reason to choose one over the other. And then it's only with hindsight that one of those becomes a big success and the rest become has-beens. I was thinking about this today when responding to a Reddit post whining about how there're no good high-paying jobs left in this country: http://www.reddit.com/r/economy/comments/eyu1o/the_unemployment_rate_is_it_right_or_wrong/c1c170c http://www.reddit.com/r/economy/comments/eyu1o/the_unemploym... Of course that's false. However, when I think about how I got my good high-paying job, the answer that comes to mind is "pure dumb luck". I happened to like computers when I was a teen in the 90s, and I happened to stick with it through the dot-com bust in the early 2000s, and so now that these CS jobs are paying six figures easily, I've got close to ten years experience in skills that are very hot. But I wasn't really thinking about professions or salary at the time; I was thinking "Hey, this seems sorta interesting, I wonder what else I can find out..."
  - paul 16y ago
    YC. Of course I'm biased, but on the other hand I'm betting on it :) Even companies that don't make it often lead their founders to other great opportunities (e.g. at other yc companies). I also believe there's something surprisingly powerful about witnessing success first hand.
- prakash 16y ago
  Who's the VP of BD Steve refers to? Thanks!
  - bl4k 16y ago
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kordestani http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kordestani
InfinityX0 16y ago
You should instead read this story as "work really hard, take risks, and luck will find you". Whether that luck is Google or some other pretty successful venture is of course somewhat random - there is no doubt, though, that success - the vague, abstract idea of it - will find you eventually.
- kingkilr 16y ago
  Maybe "luck" will find you, but we need to acknowledge the scope and scale of his luck. Being willing to work hard and being good at what you do will probably ensure you a decent job, but I don't think you can generate luck to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
- talbina 16y ago
  If you were talking to him in person, you wouldn't start you sentence off like that. It's not really needed.
  - InfinityX0 16y ago
    Good point, I was slightly irritated by it so it caused the internet-reaction.
JanezStupar 16y ago
There's plenty of right time left. Just gotta figure or make the right place.
- noahc 16y ago
  Geography is becoming increasing irrelevant. I live in a small 855 person town in the middle of America. I just found an awesome job, working with an awesome company doing really interesting work. Don't use the place as an excuse.
  - alex_c 16y ago
    Point taken, but for what it's worth, being in the US already puts you ahead of the game in many ways.
Harj 16y ago
There's definitely luck in being involved with a Google size outcome but I can't believe that someone with his approach to life wouldn't consistently achieve a significantly above average level of success.
fwez 16y ago
"Chance favors the prepared mind" --Louis Pasteur
jimbokun 16y ago
"EDIT: There were lots of people just like him that weren't crazy-successful." I'd be curious to hear examples of people who spent a day wearing a sandwich board with their resume in the financial district, and did all the other things this guy did, and did not end up achieving some level of success. He reminds me of Chris Gardner, who inspired the movie Pursuit of Happyness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pursuit_of_Happyness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pursuit_of_Happyness
minalecs 16y ago
agree.. as theres something to be said about inspirational stories, I think the real lesson should be about taking calculated risks. I mean the same could be said about many actors giving up everything and coming to Hollywood looking for fame. There are many success stories, but probably a lot more failure stories.

by aothman 16y ago

lucindo 16y ago

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]

paul 16y ago

We were all in the right place at the right time. There is something to be said for making an effort to put yourself in the "right" place though.

nostrademons 16y ago
Where do you think the "right" place is right now? The problem I always have is that the right place isn't really apparent until years after the decision about where to be is made. At the time, there're many places that look appealing, and little reason to choose one over the other. And then it's only with hindsight that one of those becomes a big success and the rest become has-beens. I was thinking about this today when responding to a Reddit post whining about how there're no good high-paying jobs left in this country: http://www.reddit.com/r/economy/comments/eyu1o/the_unemployment_rate_is_it_right_or_wrong/c1c170c http://www.reddit.com/r/economy/comments/eyu1o/the_unemploym... Of course that's false. However, when I think about how I got my good high-paying job, the answer that comes to mind is "pure dumb luck". I happened to like computers when I was a teen in the 90s, and I happened to stick with it through the dot-com bust in the early 2000s, and so now that these CS jobs are paying six figures easily, I've got close to ten years experience in skills that are very hot. But I wasn't really thinking about professions or salary at the time; I was thinking "Hey, this seems sorta interesting, I wonder what else I can find out..."
- paul 16y ago
  YC. Of course I'm biased, but on the other hand I'm betting on it :) Even companies that don't make it often lead their founders to other great opportunities (e.g. at other yc companies). I also believe there's something surprisingly powerful about witnessing success first hand.
prakash 16y ago
Who's the VP of BD Steve refers to? Thanks!
- bl4k 16y ago
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kordestani http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kordestani

InfinityX0 16y ago

You should instead read this story as "work really hard, take risks, and luck will find you". Whether that luck is Google or some other pretty successful venture is of course somewhat random - there is no doubt, though, that success - the vague, abstract idea of it - will find you eventually.

kingkilr 16y ago
Maybe "luck" will find you, but we need to acknowledge the scope and scale of his luck. Being willing to work hard and being good at what you do will probably ensure you a decent job, but I don't think you can generate luck to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.
talbina 16y ago
If you were talking to him in person, you wouldn't start you sentence off like that. It's not really needed.
- InfinityX0 16y ago
  Good point, I was slightly irritated by it so it caused the internet-reaction.

JanezStupar 16y ago

There's plenty of right time left. Just gotta figure or make the right place.

noahc 16y ago
Geography is becoming increasing irrelevant. I live in a small 855 person town in the middle of America. I just found an awesome job, working with an awesome company doing really interesting work. Don't use the place as an excuse.
- alex_c 16y ago
  Point taken, but for what it's worth, being in the US already puts you ahead of the game in many ways.

Harj 16y ago

There's definitely luck in being involved with a Google size outcome but I can't believe that someone with his approach to life wouldn't consistently achieve a significantly above average level of success.

fwez 16y ago

"Chance favors the prepared mind" --Louis Pasteur

jimbokun 16y ago

"EDIT: There were lots of people just like him that weren't crazy-successful." I'd be curious to hear examples of people who spent a day wearing a sandwich board with their resume in the financial district, and did all the other things this guy did, and did not end up achieving some level of success. He reminds me of Chris Gardner, who inspired the movie Pursuit of Happyness. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pursuit_of_Happyness http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pursuit_of_Happyness

minalecs 16y ago

agree.. as theres something to be said about inspirational stories, I think the real lesson should be about taking calculated risks. I mean the same could be said about many actors giving up everything and coming to Hollywood looking for fame. There are many success stories, but probably a lot more failure stories.