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This. I have done this for 30 years and never, ever thought about a side project “this could be a commercial success”. What’s described here is a lot further a

This. I have done this for 30 years and never, ever thought about a side project “this could be a commercial success”. What’s described here is a lot further along than I normally take a project. There is always a more interesting project to make that has no potential of being “successful” than the most interesting idea among potentially successful projects. I think for some people the entrepreneurial angle itself is enough to make a project attractive. But I never quite understood it.

JJMcJ 3y ago
> “this could be a commercial success" Someday maybe, but if not, that's fine anyway because I learned something and had some fun.
gertlex 3y ago
I also never ponder personal projects from a commercial standpoint. But I sure see that narrative here on HN frequently. I have to conclude that most people on HN talking about commercializing are doing purely software projects. My projects very often include hardware. Commercializing hardware+software projects is hard... orders of magnitude harder than just software. That's probably a factor in why the idea of making money from wiring/soldering/dremeling/hacking things is so far from the forefront of my mind. As for what's attractive... novelty and usability/street cred do seem to be my subconcious goals. "Street cred" or even just aspiring to have people use a software tool is certainly a form of non-profitable entrepreneurship.
- hyperthesis 3y ago
  HN began as startup news, and remains part of YC (news.ycombinator.com): commercialization bias.
  - jfil 3y ago
    That's right - remember that the prevailing opinion here is just "one way to be". You are allowed to do things just for fun.
- xmprt 3y ago
  Street cred is a pretty big part of why anyone does anything. Money is one way to get that but having something that no one else does is even better in my opinion. I spent a few weeks making a custom version of a board game that I really enjoy and while I could never commercialize it (for copyright, trademark, and a whole slew of other intellectual property reasons), I think having it for myself makes it even more valuable.
imhoguy 3y ago
"commercial success", I think it is a common dream of escaping 9-5 worklife. I find myself trapped in that quite often, trading fun for possibility of financial independence.
hyperthesis 3y ago
I think your attitude is healthier. But fame and fortune do attract people. There is also something else exciting about a gap in the market: a kind of discovery and a way for the impact and usefulness of your efforts to be multiplied.

JJMcJ 3y ago

> “this could be a commercial success" Someday maybe, but if not, that's fine anyway because I learned something and had some fun.

gertlex 3y ago

I also never ponder personal projects from a commercial standpoint. But I sure see that narrative here on HN frequently. I have to conclude that most people on HN talking about commercializing are doing purely software projects. My projects very often include hardware. Commercializing hardware+software projects is hard... orders of magnitude harder than just software. That's probably a factor in why the idea of making money from wiring/soldering/dremeling/hacking things is so far from the forefront of my mind. As for what's attractive... novelty and usability/street cred do seem to be my subconcious goals. "Street cred" or even just aspiring to have people use a software tool is certainly a form of non-profitable entrepreneurship.

hyperthesis 3y ago
HN began as startup news, and remains part of YC (news.ycombinator.com): commercialization bias.
- jfil 3y ago
  That's right - remember that the prevailing opinion here is just "one way to be". You are allowed to do things just for fun.
xmprt 3y ago
Street cred is a pretty big part of why anyone does anything. Money is one way to get that but having something that no one else does is even better in my opinion. I spent a few weeks making a custom version of a board game that I really enjoy and while I could never commercialize it (for copyright, trademark, and a whole slew of other intellectual property reasons), I think having it for myself makes it even more valuable.

imhoguy 3y ago

"commercial success", I think it is a common dream of escaping 9-5 worklife. I find myself trapped in that quite often, trading fun for possibility of financial independence.

hyperthesis 3y ago

I think your attitude is healthier. But fame and fortune do attract people. There is also something else exciting about a gap in the market: a kind of discovery and a way for the impact and usefulness of your efforts to be multiplied.