6 ms·

I'm not sure what the ideal % of people should actually start a company is. It certainly isn't for everyone. Perhaps a helpful topic would be "Should I actually

I'm not sure what the ideal % of people should actually start a company is. It certainly isn't for everyone. Perhaps a helpful topic would be "Should I actually be a founder?" or "Should I start a venture scale company or a lifestyle business?". I think many more people would be happy with the consistency and regularity of a small lifestyle business than pursing an opportunity that's billion or bust.

kcorbitt 6y ago
Totally agreed -- starting a company probably isn't the right choice for the majority of people. Our Future Founder curriculum actually includes a couple of Paul Graham's old essays that explore that topic (http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html and http://www.paulgraham.com/before.html http://www.paulgraham.com/before.html). Hopefully, this course will help potential founders make a more informed decision about whether starting a company is the right decision for them or not.
quaffapint 6y ago
That is certainly a valid point and there should be something on it. Though at the same time a lot of the stages and efforts you need to go through in the beginning (validation, sales, marketing, etc) are very similar. I never have aspiration that whatever I create will make enough money for me to leave my day job. Give that, I still need to go through all the steps though to get there.
eloff 6y ago
Given how many people are unemployed, I would say a problem in the USA (and probably all developed nations with few exceptions) today is that not enough people start companies. Too many employees, not enough employers. That said, most people are better suited to starting a small business than a venture financed business. And the former employ vastly more people.
- qppo 6y ago
  I agree but find it's more a capital and cultural problem to solve. Too many people don't have the financial tolerance for the risk, and too many people with it are too afraid to put it into new ventures.
  - eloff 6y ago
    I think it's school. It teaches you to be a good and compliant little worker drone from a young age. It does not encourage an entrepreneurial mindset. By the time people are adults the mindset is entrenched.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- petra 6y ago
  Solving unemployment isn't that simple:Startups, especially recent startups often increase productivity, and that reduces the amount of jobs or wages.
rizpanjwani 6y ago
from what I understand, the first video lecture addresses this.

kcorbitt 6y ago

Totally agreed -- starting a company probably isn't the right choice for the majority of people. Our Future Founder curriculum actually includes a couple of Paul Graham's old essays that explore that topic (http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html http://www.paulgraham.com/notnot.html and http://www.paulgraham.com/before.html http://www.paulgraham.com/before.html). Hopefully, this course will help potential founders make a more informed decision about whether starting a company is the right decision for them or not.

quaffapint 6y ago

That is certainly a valid point and there should be something on it. Though at the same time a lot of the stages and efforts you need to go through in the beginning (validation, sales, marketing, etc) are very similar. I never have aspiration that whatever I create will make enough money for me to leave my day job. Give that, I still need to go through all the steps though to get there.

eloff 6y ago

Given how many people are unemployed, I would say a problem in the USA (and probably all developed nations with few exceptions) today is that not enough people start companies. Too many employees, not enough employers. That said, most people are better suited to starting a small business than a venture financed business. And the former employ vastly more people.

qppo 6y ago
I agree but find it's more a capital and cultural problem to solve. Too many people don't have the financial tolerance for the risk, and too many people with it are too afraid to put it into new ventures.
- eloff 6y ago
  I think it's school. It teaches you to be a good and compliant little worker drone from a young age. It does not encourage an entrepreneurial mindset. By the time people are adults the mindset is entrenched.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
petra 6y ago
Solving unemployment isn't that simple:Startups, especially recent startups often increase productivity, and that reduces the amount of jobs or wages.

rizpanjwani 6y ago

from what I understand, the first video lecture addresses this.