3 ms·
This is another article that makes a bunch of assumptions about its precise definition of a "Startup", then defines those definitions, then restates them as its
by jasonkester 14y ago
This is another article that makes a bunch of assumptions about its precise definition of a "Startup", then defines those definitions, then restates them as its conclusion.
But it doesn't mean you need to fit any of those definitions to be a Startup. Except in the mind of the author.
I run a successful little software startup that has as its first and primary goal: "Maximize Jason's vacation time". Every decision I make is made in that context. So profitability is important, as is low customer support requirements, as is technical simplicity (so I never have to cut a trip short because something breaks).
From that standpoint, articles like this that make it sound like a startup should consume your life and thoughts seem a bit silly. No it shouldn't. Not unless you want it to.
That's the cool thing about running your own business. You get to run it any way you please.
- Juuumanji 14y agoWell said. I don't understand why people shy away from this mindset. There is nothing wrong with running something successful and living a full life.
- eggspurt 14y agoThere's a difference between a "startup" and a "lifestyle business".
- ayers 14y agoI would disagree with that, they are not mutually exclusive. Some people create a "startup" to provide them with a "lifestyle business".
- eggspurt 14y agoHow about new lifestyle business referring to themselves as new lifestyle businesses versus referring to themselves as startups? How should a startup call itself not to be ambiguous?
- jeremyjh 14y agoGood luck with getting a consensus definition of "startup" on even this website alone. A lot of the advice that I read here is applicable to a "lifestyle business" - because I still have to make many of the same decisions with regard to product, marketing, hiring etc. I have some different constraints and optimization targets but that's true of any two businesses.
- unreal37 14y agoThe article is based on the (huge) assumption that you have an internal burning desire to change the world, and running a startup business is just the most efficient method to do that. That doesn't apply to most small businesses, even new ones. Say you want to disrupt credit card payments. Do you need to work on that 20 hours a day, 7 days a week? Or can credit cards be disrupted 8-5 M-F? Seems either is possible.