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You know, I'm a builder. I like to build things. But a business isn't about building things, it's about selling things. You can build a real business with a ter

You know, I'm a builder. I like to build things. But a business isn't about building things, it's about selling things. You can build a real business with a terrible to mediocre product if you are great at selling it. You can't build a real business if you can't sell your product, no matter how good your product is. The thing that will determine your success is sales and marketing, especially early in the business life.

stephengillie 13y ago
This is why my self-driving RC-car platform is withering on the vine - I can't get funding because I'm an engineer, not a salesman.
- ZoF 13y ago
  Need a site? I'll build it out for free within reason. Need someone to physically pitch your product to investors? I can't do that.
- agibsonccc 13y ago
  Half of the battle is picking up the phone. I think the main problem is coming up with a problem you're both passionate about and that provides value to customers. You can learn sales as you go. The best salesman are the ones who don't know how to say no. I think the self defeatist mentality of "I'm not a salesman" is the core problem. You're a salesman if you call yourself one. The main reason being: You're the first person who said yes. Your next job is to do what every other sales person has to do: stomach a no answer, learn from your mistakes, and iterate on your idea within reason of making sales. Validation is apart of the sales process as well.
- TimothyE 13y ago
  I had the same experience when I graduated and worked as an engineer. Ended up deciding that I'd learn the business side myself and do an MBA. Now I see the other side of the page, lots of business students who want to start something up but can't make a product. If you want to commercialize go find someone who's as passionate about business as you are about the engineering and you'll have a much better chance
  - stephengillie 13y ago
    The funny part about this is my BA is in Business...
    - TimothyE 13y ago
      :) Guess it goes to show that passion will out. Got a link for your project?
      - stephengillie 13y ago
        gilgamech.blogspot.com I haven't updated it in months.
- lemiffe 13y ago
  I am looking for an RC that I can control through WIFI. In other words, I want to be able to control an RC remotely through the internet (with a webcam, of course). Is this what you offer?
- goggles99 13y ago
  The biggest problem here is your product. Why would anyone want a self driving RC car? The whole point/fun of an RC car is driving it yourself. Why do you think a market actually exists here? I don't quite get it.
  - geon 13y ago
    I think the key word is "platform". Robotics hobbyists would enjoy writing software and design sensors for it to drive itself.
    - goggles99 13y ago
      Oh you mean like arduino? The very thing that he is using to create this? He has so far achieved less than I did in a high school tech class 20 years ago (and kids do far better in high schools today) and he wants some kind of funding? are you kidding? Forget the piss poor presentation. There is no product. Not even a virtual prototype of what he hopes to accomplish. I sure hope that he doesn't quit his day job over this.
taf2 13y ago
But if you embrace that you like to build things... you can sell and market - they are different aspects of what you want to build... to say you're a builder therefore you can't sell is incorrect... perhaps you're a programmer who only likes to program or mechanic that only likes to work on engines... but if you like to build... then it doesn't matter what it is you're building... websites, databases, markets, or sales... it's all building.
joshuaheard 13y ago
That's why all successful business have 2 founders: the builder and the seller. Look at Apple, Woz built it, Jobs sold it. Microsoft: Gates built it, Ballmer sold it. etc.
- agibsonccc 13y ago
  There's also people who can extrapolate value by themselves. The most common examples being patio11, bdunn, nathanbarry, and crew. It's no secret they're going to delegate or outsource parts of their work that might not be immediately relevant, but that's just part of knowing how to delegate. That doesn't require a permanent cofounder. I think there's something to be said about building something simple of value and selling the crap out of one idea.(Assuming you know the idea brings in some kind of value for customers) This kind of thing is easier to do than people give themselves credit for. Half of the problem is just getting yourself to practice it. You'll fail a few times, it comes with the territory. You might be more comfortable doing freelancing and transitioning to product, but both can be done. That being said: business is of course significantly easier with help. It can be hard to bring someone on board without at least putting in the initial effort if you were going to do it by yourself anyway though. So it's a really good thing to attempt regardless.

stephengillie 13y ago

This is why my self-driving RC-car platform is withering on the vine - I can't get funding because I'm an engineer, not a salesman.

ZoF 13y ago
Need a site? I'll build it out for free within reason. Need someone to physically pitch your product to investors? I can't do that.
agibsonccc 13y ago
Half of the battle is picking up the phone. I think the main problem is coming up with a problem you're both passionate about and that provides value to customers. You can learn sales as you go. The best salesman are the ones who don't know how to say no. I think the self defeatist mentality of "I'm not a salesman" is the core problem. You're a salesman if you call yourself one. The main reason being: You're the first person who said yes. Your next job is to do what every other sales person has to do: stomach a no answer, learn from your mistakes, and iterate on your idea within reason of making sales. Validation is apart of the sales process as well.
TimothyE 13y ago
I had the same experience when I graduated and worked as an engineer. Ended up deciding that I'd learn the business side myself and do an MBA. Now I see the other side of the page, lots of business students who want to start something up but can't make a product. If you want to commercialize go find someone who's as passionate about business as you are about the engineering and you'll have a much better chance
- stephengillie 13y ago
  The funny part about this is my BA is in Business...
  - TimothyE 13y ago
    :) Guess it goes to show that passion will out. Got a link for your project?
    - stephengillie 13y ago
      gilgamech.blogspot.com I haven't updated it in months.
lemiffe 13y ago
I am looking for an RC that I can control through WIFI. In other words, I want to be able to control an RC remotely through the internet (with a webcam, of course). Is this what you offer?
goggles99 13y ago
The biggest problem here is your product. Why would anyone want a self driving RC car? The whole point/fun of an RC car is driving it yourself. Why do you think a market actually exists here? I don't quite get it.
- geon 13y ago
  I think the key word is "platform". Robotics hobbyists would enjoy writing software and design sensors for it to drive itself.
  - goggles99 13y ago
    Oh you mean like arduino? The very thing that he is using to create this? He has so far achieved less than I did in a high school tech class 20 years ago (and kids do far better in high schools today) and he wants some kind of funding? are you kidding? Forget the piss poor presentation. There is no product. Not even a virtual prototype of what he hopes to accomplish. I sure hope that he doesn't quit his day job over this.

taf2 13y ago

But if you embrace that you like to build things... you can sell and market - they are different aspects of what you want to build... to say you're a builder therefore you can't sell is incorrect... perhaps you're a programmer who only likes to program or mechanic that only likes to work on engines... but if you like to build... then it doesn't matter what it is you're building... websites, databases, markets, or sales... it's all building.

joshuaheard 13y ago

That's why all successful business have 2 founders: the builder and the seller. Look at Apple, Woz built it, Jobs sold it. Microsoft: Gates built it, Ballmer sold it. etc.

agibsonccc 13y ago
There's also people who can extrapolate value by themselves. The most common examples being patio11, bdunn, nathanbarry, and crew. It's no secret they're going to delegate or outsource parts of their work that might not be immediately relevant, but that's just part of knowing how to delegate. That doesn't require a permanent cofounder. I think there's something to be said about building something simple of value and selling the crap out of one idea.(Assuming you know the idea brings in some kind of value for customers) This kind of thing is easier to do than people give themselves credit for. Half of the problem is just getting yourself to practice it. You'll fail a few times, it comes with the territory. You might be more comfortable doing freelancing and transitioning to product, but both can be done. That being said: business is of course significantly easier with help. It can be hard to bring someone on board without at least putting in the initial effort if you were going to do it by yourself anyway though. So it's a really good thing to attempt regardless.