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Which just goes to show that all the studies in the world don't mean a whole lot :) I guess it depends on your definition of "entrepreneur" - does it count if

Which just goes to show that all the studies in the world don't mean a whole lot :) I guess it depends on your definition of "entrepreneur" - does it count if you only found 1 company? But from where I stand I pretty much fail all the "high probability" criteria, no troubled past, no mental health issues, no previous employment history, no bad-childhood, and do on. Arguably I'm "well rounded" (for some definition of that. Yay!) So to aspiring entrepreneurs let me say, indicators don't really matter to _you_ as an individual. These are not _requirements_, they are indicators. Starting a business is not for the faint hearted though. You'll work more hours, probably for less money, possibly for no money, and you'll likely fail. You need more than just desire, you need a product people want, that they can afford, and you need a way to reach that market. And some luck. Did I mention you'll likely fail? Success isn't bei g a billionaire, success is keeping the doors open, drawing a salary, employing others in a non-exploitive way, not grinding away every second. Success is taking time off to spend with family, or playing sport, or whatever, just because you can. To those just starting out I say, welcome to the biggest adventure of all.

Swizec 4y ago
> Success isn't bei g a billionaire, success is keeping the doors open, drawing a salary, employing others in a non-exploitive way, not grinding away every second. Success is taking time off to spend with family, or playing sport, or whatever, just because you can. Success is whatever you want it to be. And that, to me, is the point of entrepreneurship: Defining your own success and getting there on your own terms.
- eastbound 4y ago
  Success is having no regrets. But of all the people, those who show jealousy acts are often the ones who say success is having less money and more time with family. Then you show them “Hey, you have 3 kids, a loving wife, just enough money to get by which is both what you’ve always said was sufficient and what you voted for (while you voted for the richer single men getting slashed), meanwhile I’m autistic, have no wife or kid, I’m rich like Cresus as a nice kickback from spending my Sundays at work… and you still have to be jealous???” If it were on my own terms, I would have chosen to be able to join improv groups and invite them all home without having a tantrum thrown because I don’t contribute more than the rest of the group. Money doesn’t equate universal power.
jossclimb 4y ago
Age can be a key factor too. I asked a VC once what were the key things they looked at. They came out with the expected answers, passion, vision , plan of execution and then said age. I expected they meant a someone in their early twenties to be then be told 'nope', if some middle aged industry vets walk in they immediately sit up in their chairs a little more.
- kriro 4y ago
  There's probably two reasons for this. The obvious one is that the person is more likely to have relevant experience in some field were they probably identified an issue they are trying to solve. This is even more true in the B2B world were a early 20s kind of person simply didn't have the exposure to critical pain points. The second more subtle point is that someone older is likely to be settled (job/family/money) and switching to a startup requires more intrinsic motivation to do it for the "right reasons". If you have two kids and a somewhat set job at a FAANG or big corp or whatever there must be something really bothering you to give that up. So ceteris paribus I'd assume the older person is far less likely to come in there because they want to "work on something cool", "yolo-startup can still rebuild later swing for the fences" or "this is the path to all the moneyz" and more likely to come there because they see the value of solving the problem they have identified and assume all else will sort of follow.

Swizec 4y ago

> Success isn't bei g a billionaire, success is keeping the doors open, drawing a salary, employing others in a non-exploitive way, not grinding away every second. Success is taking time off to spend with family, or playing sport, or whatever, just because you can. Success is whatever you want it to be. And that, to me, is the point of entrepreneurship: Defining your own success and getting there on your own terms.

eastbound 4y ago
Success is having no regrets. But of all the people, those who show jealousy acts are often the ones who say success is having less money and more time with family. Then you show them “Hey, you have 3 kids, a loving wife, just enough money to get by which is both what you’ve always said was sufficient and what you voted for (while you voted for the richer single men getting slashed), meanwhile I’m autistic, have no wife or kid, I’m rich like Cresus as a nice kickback from spending my Sundays at work… and you still have to be jealous???” If it were on my own terms, I would have chosen to be able to join improv groups and invite them all home without having a tantrum thrown because I don’t contribute more than the rest of the group. Money doesn’t equate universal power.

jossclimb 4y ago

Age can be a key factor too. I asked a VC once what were the key things they looked at. They came out with the expected answers, passion, vision , plan of execution and then said age. I expected they meant a someone in their early twenties to be then be told 'nope', if some middle aged industry vets walk in they immediately sit up in their chairs a little more.

kriro 4y ago
There's probably two reasons for this. The obvious one is that the person is more likely to have relevant experience in some field were they probably identified an issue they are trying to solve. This is even more true in the B2B world were a early 20s kind of person simply didn't have the exposure to critical pain points. The second more subtle point is that someone older is likely to be settled (job/family/money) and switching to a startup requires more intrinsic motivation to do it for the "right reasons". If you have two kids and a somewhat set job at a FAANG or big corp or whatever there must be something really bothering you to give that up. So ceteris paribus I'd assume the older person is far less likely to come in there because they want to "work on something cool", "yolo-startup can still rebuild later swing for the fences" or "this is the path to all the moneyz" and more likely to come there because they see the value of solving the problem they have identified and assume all else will sort of follow.