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I have a similar story from back in 2008 (Labmeeting.com). Fortunately, I've had good success since then, but I learned the same lessons as you: Don't go all
by ljlolel 15y ago
I have a similar story from back in 2008 (Labmeeting.com). Fortunately, I've had good success since then, but I learned the same lessons as you:
Don't go all out working 90 hour weeks only to burn out, don't get into debt for your company, don't become distracted by the startup scene and Techcrunch and trying to get the millions in vc funding.
- ryanwaggoner 15y agoCan't agree more. I hear people in the startup world talk about how it's a marathon, not a sprint. And then I find out that they mean you might have to work at this for three or four years! The founders I admire most have almost all spent decades building their companies. I don't know if anyone in our industry is capable of thinking beyond the next 18 months, let alone 18 years.
- ljlolel 15y agoThe guys I know personally who are successful, who have become "overnight" successes recently (like box.net, airbnb, dropbox, and so on) have been at it (on the same company, not to mention the priors) for 4+ years beforehand or longer. Wow, 18 years, I guess I still haven't learned my lessons!
- ryanwaggoner 15y agoJust to be clear, I'm not disparaging anyone who has experienced success quickly, but companies like Dropbox are an aberration, even if they weren't an "overnight success". The more realistic company probably takes a few years to hit 10 employees, and a decade or more to hit 100.