5 ms·

Just a quick comment on the people who're hating on the Rules of Success Bob Parsons has put up and on GoDaddy * If one of the things he recommends turns out b

by switch 15y ago

Just a quick comment on the people who're hating on the Rules of Success Bob Parsons has put up and on GoDaddy * If one of the things he recommends turns out be of great value to you. Then does it really matter whether or not he objectifies women or does a hard sell? * It seems that we as geeks tend to love people who pretend to be all goody-goody like Google and open source people but if someone has the balls to be politically incorrect then it automatically means that the strategy they are using must be bullshit. He shot an elephant != His advice is not good. Here's a little story about 'When you're ready to quit you're closer than you think. One of my sites got closed down by a hosting company. Some stupid reason. I was thinking about closing down the other site hosted by that hosting company too - Didn't, Stuck with it and that site has ended up making me $440K over the last two years. At the moment when it seemed most hopeless i.e. the bigger site is just nuked and what's the point in sticking with the fledgling site -> sticking with it ended up being a great decision. That's just one example. Perhaps rather than applying your ethics and morals filter it might help to consider his advice on its own (i.e. separate from the person). Does it stand up - are there examples in your own life that prove that? * A Colombian Cocaine Warlord might figure out the same strategic magic that Jack Welch does (perhaps something like - If you don't have a competitive advantage, don't compete). It's still great strategy.

nupark2 15y ago
I tend to ignore advice from people who I consider unethical because I generally find that their advice runs counter to my personal goals, my approach to work, and (obviously) my ethics. Take your advice, for example: One of my sites got closed down by a hosting company. Some stupid reason. I was thinking about closing down the other site hosted by that hosting company too - Didn't, Stuck with it and that site has ended up making me $440K over the last two years. I've never had a site closed down by a hosting company. I don't even know why I would have a site closed down by a hosting company. I also don't know why I'd walk away from a product I'd developed if it was shut down by a hosting company. To me, it appears that you (and Bob Parsons) have VERY different ideas about personal fulfillment, and as such, your advice (and his) don't really seem to apply to me, outside of the fortune cookies style generalisms ("don't quit", "push yourself").
- switch 15y ago
  It was shut down by the hosting company for nothing illegal. It was just one of those - we had something very specific in our terms which you didn't read - type of things. Nothing like gambling or illegal or porn or anything. Just a minor technicality. I find it interesting that you would attack me or to be precise assume that I'm supporting Bob Parsons' ethical or moral fiber. All I'm saying is -> Good strategy is good strategy. It seems to you like a platitude. It seems to this billionaire like reality. Perhaps you should try it before you write it off. Besides, the stuff he writes aren't fortune cooke type generalisms. When you most want to quit is usually when you are closest to success - that's a remarkably accurate statement. Look back at your own life and if you've mastered any skills you'll see the truth in it. Seriously, try to imagine what you would think of the points if they were written by someone who fell into your 'good person' bucket and think about whether they hold true or not.
  - gnosis 15y ago
    "the stuff he writes aren't fortune cooke type generalisms. When you most want to quit is usually when you are closest to success - that's a remarkably accurate statement." Accurate or not it would still fit admirably in to a fortune cookie. Back when there were such things as used book stores, you could get yourself a stack of books chock full of cliches like this for a couple of bucks.
  - quanticle 15y ago
    >When you most want to quit is usually when you are closest to success - that's a remarkably accurate statement. Accurate in the sense that a broken clock is right twice a day. As you accumulate failures, your motivation flags and your desire to quit increases. Now, this might meant that you're about to make a breakthrough that will turn your business into the next Google. It also might mean that you're bashing your head into a brick wall and you need to pivot in order to become successful. Your desire to quit gives you no information as to what your strategy should be, and, therefore, is totally useless as a decision-making strategy. tl;dr; Your desire to quit is also greatest right before you go totally bankrupt and wreck your life.
erikpukinskis 15y ago
The reason one should be careful of who they listen to (even when listening with a critical mind) is groupthink. Here's what happens when you listen to someone: - You agree with the things you have reason to agree with - You disagree with the things you have reason to disagree with - Everything else they say gets an uptick of social proof There a bunch of stuff that you're totally ignorant about, and you have just absorbed a tiny bit of this guy's opinions about it. The stuff you know is safe, but the stuff you don't know is polluted. I try to pretty actively prune the communities I pay attention to. I have serious misgivings about spending so much time on Hacker News. I'm relatively ignorant about business: there are things I don't even know that I don't know about. And on Hacker News I'm getting a bunch of brainwashing on those topics without being able to critically evaluate it. With respect to those things I'd be better off hashing stuff out on my own like a pre-school toddler, building up lived experience with which I can evaluate what people are saying. But on the other hand, I learn lots of cool tricks here, so I've decided it's worth the risk. And personally, I decided it was worth the risk to look at what Barr has to say. But I think the risk is clear and present.
- switch 15y ago
  Yes, that's a valid point. Whenever you get someone's good attitudes you also get a little (or a lot if you aren't careful) of the not-so-good attitudes. Great to know you are willing to take the risk to learn something new.
chopsueyar 15y ago
But the site that got nuked could have been the next Broadcast.com.

by switch 15y ago

nupark2 15y ago

I tend to ignore advice from people who I consider unethical because I generally find that their advice runs counter to my personal goals, my approach to work, and (obviously) my ethics. Take your advice, for example: One of my sites got closed down by a hosting company. Some stupid reason. I was thinking about closing down the other site hosted by that hosting company too - Didn't, Stuck with it and that site has ended up making me $440K over the last two years. I've never had a site closed down by a hosting company. I don't even know why I would have a site closed down by a hosting company. I also don't know why I'd walk away from a product I'd developed if it was shut down by a hosting company. To me, it appears that you (and Bob Parsons) have VERY different ideas about personal fulfillment, and as such, your advice (and his) don't really seem to apply to me, outside of the fortune cookies style generalisms ("don't quit", "push yourself").

switch 15y ago
It was shut down by the hosting company for nothing illegal. It was just one of those - we had something very specific in our terms which you didn't read - type of things. Nothing like gambling or illegal or porn or anything. Just a minor technicality. I find it interesting that you would attack me or to be precise assume that I'm supporting Bob Parsons' ethical or moral fiber. All I'm saying is -> Good strategy is good strategy. It seems to you like a platitude. It seems to this billionaire like reality. Perhaps you should try it before you write it off. Besides, the stuff he writes aren't fortune cooke type generalisms. When you most want to quit is usually when you are closest to success - that's a remarkably accurate statement. Look back at your own life and if you've mastered any skills you'll see the truth in it. Seriously, try to imagine what you would think of the points if they were written by someone who fell into your 'good person' bucket and think about whether they hold true or not.
- gnosis 15y ago
  "the stuff he writes aren't fortune cooke type generalisms. When you most want to quit is usually when you are closest to success - that's a remarkably accurate statement." Accurate or not it would still fit admirably in to a fortune cookie. Back when there were such things as used book stores, you could get yourself a stack of books chock full of cliches like this for a couple of bucks.
- quanticle 15y ago
  >When you most want to quit is usually when you are closest to success - that's a remarkably accurate statement. Accurate in the sense that a broken clock is right twice a day. As you accumulate failures, your motivation flags and your desire to quit increases. Now, this might meant that you're about to make a breakthrough that will turn your business into the next Google. It also might mean that you're bashing your head into a brick wall and you need to pivot in order to become successful. Your desire to quit gives you no information as to what your strategy should be, and, therefore, is totally useless as a decision-making strategy. tl;dr; Your desire to quit is also greatest right before you go totally bankrupt and wreck your life.

erikpukinskis 15y ago

The reason one should be careful of who they listen to (even when listening with a critical mind) is groupthink. Here's what happens when you listen to someone: - You agree with the things you have reason to agree with - You disagree with the things you have reason to disagree with - Everything else they say gets an uptick of social proof There a bunch of stuff that you're totally ignorant about, and you have just absorbed a tiny bit of this guy's opinions about it. The stuff you know is safe, but the stuff you don't know is polluted. I try to pretty actively prune the communities I pay attention to. I have serious misgivings about spending so much time on Hacker News. I'm relatively ignorant about business: there are things I don't even know that I don't know about. And on Hacker News I'm getting a bunch of brainwashing on those topics without being able to critically evaluate it. With respect to those things I'd be better off hashing stuff out on my own like a pre-school toddler, building up lived experience with which I can evaluate what people are saying. But on the other hand, I learn lots of cool tricks here, so I've decided it's worth the risk. And personally, I decided it was worth the risk to look at what Barr has to say. But I think the risk is clear and present.

switch 15y ago
Yes, that's a valid point. Whenever you get someone's good attitudes you also get a little (or a lot if you aren't careful) of the not-so-good attitudes. Great to know you are willing to take the risk to learn something new.

chopsueyar 15y ago

But the site that got nuked could have been the next Broadcast.com.