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Semantics. Founders building potentially billion dollar businesses (not $10m lifestyle companies) need to have a psychotic drive to achieve that goal. That of

Semantics. Founders building potentially billion dollar businesses (not $10m lifestyle companies) need to have a psychotic drive to achieve that goal. That often creates tough work environments in the early stages of the company. To many people, failing to build that billion dollar company is the same as outright failing completely. They’ll do whatever it takes to get there. I’ve worked with engineers and designers that like this type of environment. I’ve worked with others that thought they did until it came time to actually pull an 80 hour week. EDIT: Several downvotes, but only one reply. If you have issue with anything I said I'd appreciate a response.

danielblank69 6y ago
I love it how you casually mention $10m lifestyle companies as a chill, comfortable goal :)
- ryanSrich 6y ago
  I mean, does it really make sense to target a goal of $10m valuation for a VC backed company?
  - danielblank69 6y ago
    Of course not. But it is not much easier to build a $10m lifestyle biz without VC help.
mandelbrotwurst 6y ago
I didnt downvote you but I'd guess it's because you're calling something "psychotic" that many on this forum aspire to or at least respect. Maybe you meant something more like "extreme" ?
- michaelcampbell 6y ago
  > you're calling something "psychotic" that many on this forum aspire to or at least respect. Both can be true. You've no doubt seen the CEO/psychopath studies.
cat199 6y ago
this entire thread is about the 'semantics' of work effort - what constitutes 'heroics' and if they are needed / not needed, and what that indicates/does not indicate about the goals/motivation of the person involved - Irrespective of whether one is building a potentially billion dollar business or 'only' a 10m lifestyle company, the goal and focus should still be on the usefulness of the product and fitting market need, and not 'disrupting an industry' with the product as a side goal - if it's the latter, it indicates the priorities are skewed; from experience, usually when 'heroics' are involved or priorities are skewed, it's ego to blame and not some external requirement. Further, 'heroics' are context-dependent - if the external requirement actually requires what would be 'heroics' in a normal situation, 'heroics' are simply 'duty' in that case, and there exists a 'that case heroics' that would still be 'heroics' (and therefore indicative of likely-ego-driven skewed priorities)

danielblank69 6y ago

I love it how you casually mention $10m lifestyle companies as a chill, comfortable goal :)

ryanSrich 6y ago
I mean, does it really make sense to target a goal of $10m valuation for a VC backed company?
- danielblank69 6y ago
  Of course not. But it is not much easier to build a $10m lifestyle biz without VC help.

mandelbrotwurst 6y ago

I didnt downvote you but I'd guess it's because you're calling something "psychotic" that many on this forum aspire to or at least respect. Maybe you meant something more like "extreme" ?

michaelcampbell 6y ago
> you're calling something "psychotic" that many on this forum aspire to or at least respect. Both can be true. You've no doubt seen the CEO/psychopath studies.

cat199 6y ago

this entire thread is about the 'semantics' of work effort - what constitutes 'heroics' and if they are needed / not needed, and what that indicates/does not indicate about the goals/motivation of the person involved - Irrespective of whether one is building a potentially billion dollar business or 'only' a 10m lifestyle company, the goal and focus should still be on the usefulness of the product and fitting market need, and not 'disrupting an industry' with the product as a side goal - if it's the latter, it indicates the priorities are skewed; from experience, usually when 'heroics' are involved or priorities are skewed, it's ego to blame and not some external requirement. Further, 'heroics' are context-dependent - if the external requirement actually requires what would be 'heroics' in a normal situation, 'heroics' are simply 'duty' in that case, and there exists a 'that case heroics' that would still be 'heroics' (and therefore indicative of likely-ego-driven skewed priorities)