Here is the real issue: finding problems. Here is why: Anyone who tracks startups knows these two conflicting facts: 1. Ideas are not everything – execution i

Here is the real issue: finding problems. Here is why: Anyone who tracks startups knows these two conflicting facts: 1. Ideas are not everything – execution is key 2. It is extremely important to solve a problem that people would find value in, and therefore pay for. Summary: It is of course important to execute well and solve the problem, but the starting point is to know if the problem is worth getting solved. Now look at our education system through this new prism the flaw comes out very, very clearly the system today teaches problem solving, applying theory to practice etc but there is little to no emphasis on identifying problems. Think about your own school / college days for a second in how many instances were you given a situation, and were asked to identify problems to solve? The problem to be solved was always STATED nobody ever asked us to come up with a set of difficult problems to solve. Over time, this lack of practice in identifying problems translates into difficulties in spotting profitable opportunities. Even if we do, there is a lack of conviction and we end up pivoting multiple times. Our education system cultivates employees, not employers – to be one, you need to be trained not to solve a problem, but to identify one. For some reason HN would not allow me to submit the link for the above, it kept killing the post and any related query. Am trying to be reborn as a new guy on HN now.