5 ms·

Here is my advice, if you think you are really that good, start your own company. Proof it, let the market test you.

by qompiler 13y ago

Synthpixel 13y ago
Capital doesn't grow on trees.
- psionski 13y ago
  If we're talking about software development, I bet you can piece together a computer from the trash (where do you think my home servers come from :)) that will be good enough to run a company. After that, your only issue is food and rent (which can be either a small or big issue depending on where you live).
- yekko 13y ago
  Ben prints them whenever he wants, in unlimited quantities. Then he gives it to his buddies.
tensor 13y ago
The market is like a school yard. Some people are popular and get all the praise. This reinforces their incorrect belief that it was their skill and not chance that got them ahead. If you want to prove you are really that good, contribute consistent novel and useful ideas to the world year after year. Prove that your ideas are good, with good unbiased evidence.
- crusso 13y ago
  This reinforces their incorrect belief that it was their skill and not chance that got them ahead If it doesn't take skill to have success in the market, then what's stopping you from being filthy rich? contribute consistent novel and useful ideas Wait, so if the market doesn't know how to properly judge ideas then who is the judge of what's "novel and useful"?
  - UK-AL 13y ago
    It does take skill, just not technical. Knowing the right people, flirting with tech reporters, being good at PR etc That is what gets you ahead.
    - infinite8s 13y ago
      Or how about you do a good job providing something people will pay money for. Unfortunately for tech people, what the market will pay money for isn't always what tech people want to build.
      - UK-AL 13y ago
        This guy in the main article was doing a good job, and look where that got him. From what I have seen, it isn't the best solution that wins, but the most publicised.
      - GFischer 13y ago
        Funnily, I believe you're both right, that there are several paths to success. One is the "knowing the right people, buddies/PR" route. I've known several sociopaths and unethical people that do well along that route. Many have the "skill" of making you believe they're your best buddy (and then backstab you), or to sell you a bridge (or sell you a shitty job with unpaid extra hours). The other is to provide something people will pay for, excel, and get known - which also involves some sales and PR, or marketing, but depending on your profession can be going through the speaker circuits at conferences, writing a blog or some other way to convey expertise, or getting writeups for your product somehow, if it's B2C - see Paul Graham on why he hired a PR: http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
    - crusso 13y ago
      It takes a variety of skills. Depending upon the endeavor - sometimes it takes technical skills, sometimes it takes sales skills, sometimes it takes marketing skills, sometimes it just takes the people skills to get to know the right people. What it takes more than anything is drive. The most successful people out there typically have a tremendous amount of drive to pursue success. I find that people who disregard skill do so because they have no clue as to why they're unsuccessful. The thing that would hurt their egos worst would be to admit to others and to themselves that they have no skill. The best thing that they could do is to look in the mirror, admit that they're lacking something, and work harder to find it.
iSnow 13y ago
Great developer not necessarily make great founders or leaders.
- olivier1664 13y ago
  Exactly, if the guy can not manage to have a raise for himself, he will probably not be a good sales/leaders/foounders.
  - UK-AL 13y ago
    I don't think that's true. A lot successful founders I know started their own companies because of frustration at their current company. Ironically they pull the shit that annoyed them with their own staff. Even people with a lot of charisma will have a lot problems if they have no official company authority.
    - crusso 13y ago
      Ironically they pull the shit that annoyed them with their own staff. Often, this is because they've been drenched from the cold bucket of reality. The nonsense ideas they once had about how easy it was to be the boss and how they would have the time, money, and energy to treat each employee as a special little extremely well paid but not-too-overworked snowflake was completely unachievable. They realized that being the boss is difficult, because no matter how well their little startup is doing, there are always other bosses (customers, the IRS, life) to whom they are responsible.

Here is my advice, if you think you are really that good, start your own company. Proof it, let the market test you.

Synthpixel 13y ago

Capital doesn't grow on trees.

psionski 13y ago
If we're talking about software development, I bet you can piece together a computer from the trash (where do you think my home servers come from :)) that will be good enough to run a company. After that, your only issue is food and rent (which can be either a small or big issue depending on where you live).
yekko 13y ago
Ben prints them whenever he wants, in unlimited quantities. Then he gives it to his buddies.

tensor 13y ago

The market is like a school yard. Some people are popular and get all the praise. This reinforces their incorrect belief that it was their skill and not chance that got them ahead. If you want to prove you are really that good, contribute consistent novel and useful ideas to the world year after year. Prove that your ideas are good, with good unbiased evidence.

crusso 13y ago
This reinforces their incorrect belief that it was their skill and not chance that got them ahead If it doesn't take skill to have success in the market, then what's stopping you from being filthy rich? contribute consistent novel and useful ideas Wait, so if the market doesn't know how to properly judge ideas then who is the judge of what's "novel and useful"?
- UK-AL 13y ago
  It does take skill, just not technical. Knowing the right people, flirting with tech reporters, being good at PR etc That is what gets you ahead.
  - infinite8s 13y ago
    Or how about you do a good job providing something people will pay money for. Unfortunately for tech people, what the market will pay money for isn't always what tech people want to build.
    - UK-AL 13y ago
      This guy in the main article was doing a good job, and look where that got him. From what I have seen, it isn't the best solution that wins, but the most publicised.
    - GFischer 13y ago
      Funnily, I believe you're both right, that there are several paths to success. One is the "knowing the right people, buddies/PR" route. I've known several sociopaths and unethical people that do well along that route. Many have the "skill" of making you believe they're your best buddy (and then backstab you), or to sell you a bridge (or sell you a shitty job with unpaid extra hours). The other is to provide something people will pay for, excel, and get known - which also involves some sales and PR, or marketing, but depending on your profession can be going through the speaker circuits at conferences, writing a blog or some other way to convey expertise, or getting writeups for your product somehow, if it's B2C - see Paul Graham on why he hired a PR: http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
  - crusso 13y ago
    It takes a variety of skills. Depending upon the endeavor - sometimes it takes technical skills, sometimes it takes sales skills, sometimes it takes marketing skills, sometimes it just takes the people skills to get to know the right people. What it takes more than anything is drive. The most successful people out there typically have a tremendous amount of drive to pursue success. I find that people who disregard skill do so because they have no clue as to why they're unsuccessful. The thing that would hurt their egos worst would be to admit to others and to themselves that they have no skill. The best thing that they could do is to look in the mirror, admit that they're lacking something, and work harder to find it.

iSnow 13y ago

Great developer not necessarily make great founders or leaders.

olivier1664 13y ago
Exactly, if the guy can not manage to have a raise for himself, he will probably not be a good sales/leaders/foounders.
- UK-AL 13y ago
  I don't think that's true. A lot successful founders I know started their own companies because of frustration at their current company. Ironically they pull the shit that annoyed them with their own staff. Even people with a lot of charisma will have a lot problems if they have no official company authority.
  - crusso 13y ago
    Ironically they pull the shit that annoyed them with their own staff. Often, this is because they've been drenched from the cold bucket of reality. The nonsense ideas they once had about how easy it was to be the boss and how they would have the time, money, and energy to treat each employee as a special little extremely well paid but not-too-overworked snowflake was completely unachievable. They realized that being the boss is difficult, because no matter how well their little startup is doing, there are always other bosses (customers, the IRS, life) to whom they are responsible.