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America’s typical tech entrepreneurs are in their 20s. It seems to me that media is absolutely in love with this notion. The scrappy, brilliant kid who's goin

America’s typical tech entrepreneurs are in their 20s. It seems to me that media is absolutely in love with this notion. The scrappy, brilliant kid who's going to change your world (e.g. Diaspora). Why is that?

rednaught 15y ago
Unbridled optimism and naiveté? I certainly have much less of it now that I'm in my late 30s.
- pagekalisedown 15y ago
  If I have to choose between joining a start-up populated with 20yos vs 30+yos, it's no contest. For me, it's been the difference between shipping and being stuck in development hell forever. The older crowd wins hands-down.
Cmccann7 15y ago
The media in general loves to fit stories into archetypal stories that are easily digested by audiences. The 20 year old scrappy kid fits right into the "David vs. Goliath" archetype, people love to hear stories about someone winning against all odds.
craigmc 15y ago
Everyone loves the story of the overnight success. No one wants to read about a 10-15 year struggle, with liberal doses of failure and setback. They'd rather read about someone who had a 'light bulb' moment and cashed out six months later. The reason is perhaps that everyone likes to think they too can do it - if amazing success is available almost overnight to other people, why not to them. Not as cool to dream about years and years of toil...
- jeffdavis 15y ago
  "Everyone loves the story of the overnight success... the reason is perhaps that everyone likes to think they too can do it..." Perhaps it's the opposite. If they turn founders into mythical characters, then it's much easier to disregard the idea of ever starting a business. They don't have to take responsibility for their own lives or accomplishments.
  - ChristianMarks 15y ago
    And you can keep the employees in line. They're supposed to be disposable and, ideally, outsource-able. Business journalism makes money reminding employees how powerless they are, and that they are too old and too genetically disadvantaged to emulate the mythical irreplaceable entrepreneurs.
rjd 15y ago
The dream of get rich quick I'd put a wager on...
philwelch 15y ago
Traditional forms of success usually involve some degree of gerontocracy. People who hold traditional positions of power in business, politics, law, and the media are in their 50's at the earliest, maybe their 40's but that would be considered young.

rednaught 15y ago

Unbridled optimism and naiveté? I certainly have much less of it now that I'm in my late 30s.

pagekalisedown 15y ago
If I have to choose between joining a start-up populated with 20yos vs 30+yos, it's no contest. For me, it's been the difference between shipping and being stuck in development hell forever. The older crowd wins hands-down.

Cmccann7 15y ago

The media in general loves to fit stories into archetypal stories that are easily digested by audiences. The 20 year old scrappy kid fits right into the "David vs. Goliath" archetype, people love to hear stories about someone winning against all odds.

craigmc 15y ago

Everyone loves the story of the overnight success. No one wants to read about a 10-15 year struggle, with liberal doses of failure and setback. They'd rather read about someone who had a 'light bulb' moment and cashed out six months later. The reason is perhaps that everyone likes to think they too can do it - if amazing success is available almost overnight to other people, why not to them. Not as cool to dream about years and years of toil...

jeffdavis 15y ago
"Everyone loves the story of the overnight success... the reason is perhaps that everyone likes to think they too can do it..." Perhaps it's the opposite. If they turn founders into mythical characters, then it's much easier to disregard the idea of ever starting a business. They don't have to take responsibility for their own lives or accomplishments.
- ChristianMarks 15y ago
  And you can keep the employees in line. They're supposed to be disposable and, ideally, outsource-able. Business journalism makes money reminding employees how powerless they are, and that they are too old and too genetically disadvantaged to emulate the mythical irreplaceable entrepreneurs.

rjd 15y ago

The dream of get rich quick I'd put a wager on...

philwelch 15y ago

Traditional forms of success usually involve some degree of gerontocracy. People who hold traditional positions of power in business, politics, law, and the media are in their 50's at the earliest, maybe their 40's but that would be considered young.