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I Wish We Were So Stupid (As Stupid as Y Combinator)

24 points by startupcrazy 19y ago

rml 19y ago
I was born and raised in upstate New York. I have never seen an article that better describes the rotting corpse that is the Rust Belt of the United States - "You can't make money with some goofy website! When are you going to get a real job? I hear they're looking for people at the Old Mill." Never mind that the Old Mill, in its heyday, employed ten times as many people as it does now. It just boggles the mind...
jamiequint 19y ago
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." ~Henry Ford
- startupcrazy 19y ago
  "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison One of the reasons Henry Ford was willing to risk so much to start an automobile company is because Thomas Edison, who Henry idolized, encouraged him to do so. Edison told Henry something along the lines of "Do it Henry. If I was a young man I think I would start an automobile company." I think companies like Y Combinator are serving much the same purpose, helping encouraging people to go after their dreams. Most will fail, but they have probably learned a lot more than they would have in a cube, about both software and business. Those that succeed, well, hopefully they will pass the encouragement on. I wonder who Henry Ford encouraged?
  - BrandonM 19y ago
    I'm not sure about the truth of that anecdote, but I liked it and I've never heard it, so upvote!
    - startupcrazy 19y ago
      Edison as I Know Him by Henry Ford. Around page 5? Edison was really happy with the "power plant" in the car idea of the internal combustion engine.
motoko 19y ago
This was surprising well written. I grew up in Toledo, OH (on the border of Michigan) and this describes the attitude there very well...
kyro 19y ago
I think his repetition of the word stupid, and addressing California/startups/etc. as such, without really backing any of it up, was rather... stupid. Also, smart does not equate to being overly cautious and paranoid, as it sounds in the way he describes his beloved Michigan. Smart, in my opinion, when referring to the startup scene, is being able to analyze the current trends, approximate which direction societal trends will move, and take calculated risks accordingly. 'Smart' will make us stagnant and if being innovative, creative, and progressive is stupid, then for once in my life, i'd rather pursue stupidity. On another note, it's nice to see Michigan on the cutting edge and flourishing.
- startupcrazy 19y ago
  You may want to finish the article. :-)
  - kyro 19y ago
    I read the whole thing before I posted. My comment still stands as far as his uses of 'smart' and 'stupid.'

24 points by startupcrazy 19y ago

rml 19y ago

I was born and raised in upstate New York. I have never seen an article that better describes the rotting corpse that is the Rust Belt of the United States - "You can't make money with some goofy website! When are you going to get a real job? I hear they're looking for people at the Old Mill." Never mind that the Old Mill, in its heyday, employed ten times as many people as it does now. It just boggles the mind...

jamiequint 19y ago

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." ~Henry Ford

startupcrazy 19y ago
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas A. Edison One of the reasons Henry Ford was willing to risk so much to start an automobile company is because Thomas Edison, who Henry idolized, encouraged him to do so. Edison told Henry something along the lines of "Do it Henry. If I was a young man I think I would start an automobile company." I think companies like Y Combinator are serving much the same purpose, helping encouraging people to go after their dreams. Most will fail, but they have probably learned a lot more than they would have in a cube, about both software and business. Those that succeed, well, hopefully they will pass the encouragement on. I wonder who Henry Ford encouraged?
- BrandonM 19y ago
  I'm not sure about the truth of that anecdote, but I liked it and I've never heard it, so upvote!
  - startupcrazy 19y ago
    Edison as I Know Him by Henry Ford. Around page 5? Edison was really happy with the "power plant" in the car idea of the internal combustion engine.

motoko 19y ago

This was surprising well written. I grew up in Toledo, OH (on the border of Michigan) and this describes the attitude there very well...

kyro 19y ago

I think his repetition of the word stupid, and addressing California/startups/etc. as such, without really backing any of it up, was rather... stupid. Also, smart does not equate to being overly cautious and paranoid, as it sounds in the way he describes his beloved Michigan. Smart, in my opinion, when referring to the startup scene, is being able to analyze the current trends, approximate which direction societal trends will move, and take calculated risks accordingly. 'Smart' will make us stagnant and if being innovative, creative, and progressive is stupid, then for once in my life, i'd rather pursue stupidity. On another note, it's nice to see Michigan on the cutting edge and flourishing.

startupcrazy 19y ago
You may want to finish the article. :-)
- kyro 19y ago
  I read the whole thing before I posted. My comment still stands as far as his uses of 'smart' and 'stupid.'