4 ms·

Before you read the YC email or answer PG call, read this.

31 points by rokhayakebe 19y ago

Your success or failure are both in front of you. What will happen is just a matter of choice. You chose success. You left the safe and secure land of corporates and you are sailing towards the uncertain, unknown land of startups. Unlike most people who live according to the past ("it has always been done this way" ) you are one of the few on this earth who let the unknown future guide you ('well I am gonna do it a different way"). While on your journey you will add passengers who won't pay you, and will keep asking for more comfort on your ship. If you do not deliver, they will suddenly disappear. i do not need to tell you that 9 out 10 who sail never come back. They become lunch for the sharks, but your hard-headed nature pushes you to go. You only fear staying in safe-mode. I admire your courage and your seeking attitude, which is why when the sharks and pirate show up, when your boat is sinking, when your passengers are disappearing, when you loose one of your sailor or think about going back, do not be afraid as we are all here to support you. We will fight the sharks, fix your boat, recommend passengers, recommend loyal sailors, and we certainly will not let you go the opposite way. Do not give up if you do not make it to YC. Help is here, just ask for it. Keep paddling. Never Ever Ever Give Up.

yrashk 19y ago
I personally believe that submitting an application to YC is an experience itself and whether we will be invited or not, it gave me few minutes to step back to look at a big picture and get more inspiration to continue working.
- cherif 19y ago
  I agree 100%. Writing that app was extremely beneficial in itself. It is an excellent forcing device to stop and think about the difficult questions.
- rokhayakebe 19y ago
  Indeed it is an experience.
dottertrotter 19y ago
More hackers should become writers.
- deleted 19y ago
  [deleted]
- falsestprophet 19y ago
  Friend, this post is very, very poorly written. Hackers need to open up a book first.
dfranke 19y ago
To continue the metaphor for a bit, here's some apropos consolation for any who don't get good news tomorrow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skye_Boat_Song http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skye_Boat_Song Chorus: Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing, Onward, the sailors cry. Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye. Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar, Thunderclaps rend the air, Baffled, our foes stand by the shore, Follow they will not dare. Chorus Many's the lad fought on that day, Well the Claymore could wield, When the night came, silently lay Dead in Culloden's field. Chorus Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep, Ocean's a royal bed. Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep Watch o'er your weary head. Chorus Burned are our homes, exile and death, Scattered the loyal men. Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath, Charlie will come again. Chorus
sbh 19y ago
This is getting creepy, I'm getting out of here.
- pg 19y ago
  Yeah, it is, a bit. Don't get too worked up over this, guys. We're just trying to cook up a new model for seed funding, not starting a cult.
  - DanielBMarkham 19y ago
    Does this mean I have to tear down my PG posters and little statue I built?
    - JMiao 19y ago
      Fusilli Paul.
  - testapplication 19y ago
    Back away, SHARK!
  - rokhayakebe 19y ago
    Guys. I apologize to anyone who felt this is too serious for this audience.The item wasn't focused on YC, but to whatever you are seeking. What I am saying is that in every journey they will come decisive moments, but what is more important is how we react to those moments. I wasn't suggesting that you should eat, drink, sleep and breath startup (although I do, but then again, I am no role model) as in a cult but really simply showing people what I have experienced here http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47232 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47232. In other words there is more to YC then being accepted
    - brlewis 19y ago
      Not really a big deal. It just sounded overdramatized. PG has written things that came across the wrong way too.
dzorz 19y ago
Little (useless) trivia: if we assume that a startup has 10% chance of succeeding (regardless of one's experience/whatever), then there is a 52% chance that your 7th (or maybe earlier) startup will succeed.
- diamondtearz 19y ago
  Unless you believe what they say about Statistical Independence which says that you are therefore still one of the startups that had a 10% chance of suceeding the other times "regardless of on's experience".
adrianwaj 19y ago
You know you have been eaten by a 'shark' when you become one yourself. The only way out is through.
german 19y ago
"Before you read the YC email or answer PG call, read this." This is a great title, rokhayakebe is a marketing genius! I think every single YC user have read this thread!
- rbrisita 19y ago
  Aye, it was a good title and it did catch my eye. And just to pass on another link: http://www.foundersatwork.com/1/post/2007/10/what-no-means.html http://www.foundersatwork.com/1/post/2007/10/what-no-means.h... Good luck to every one who applied. Keep your fingers-crossed, I know mine are. R.
wensing 19y ago
I love the reference to 'safe-mode'. Subtle! Really subtle!
Xichekolas 19y ago
You know, I tried about five times to read this before I finally gripped the edge of my desk and forced myself to finish it. Not sure what the point of this was, but it comes off as trying to sound 'deep' and actually saying nothing. So the only reason I'm bothering to post this is to say: use paragraphs so it's at least easier to get from the right side of the line to the left side of the next!

31 points by rokhayakebe 19y ago

yrashk 19y ago

I personally believe that submitting an application to YC is an experience itself and whether we will be invited or not, it gave me few minutes to step back to look at a big picture and get more inspiration to continue working.

cherif 19y ago
I agree 100%. Writing that app was extremely beneficial in itself. It is an excellent forcing device to stop and think about the difficult questions.
rokhayakebe 19y ago
Indeed it is an experience.

dottertrotter 19y ago

More hackers should become writers.

deleted 19y ago
[deleted]
falsestprophet 19y ago
Friend, this post is very, very poorly written. Hackers need to open up a book first.

dfranke 19y ago

To continue the metaphor for a bit, here's some apropos consolation for any who don't get good news tomorrow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skye_Boat_Song http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skye_Boat_Song Chorus: Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing, Onward, the sailors cry. Carry the lad that's born to be king Over the sea to Skye. Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar, Thunderclaps rend the air, Baffled, our foes stand by the shore, Follow they will not dare. Chorus Many's the lad fought on that day, Well the Claymore could wield, When the night came, silently lay Dead in Culloden's field. Chorus Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep, Ocean's a royal bed. Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep Watch o'er your weary head. Chorus Burned are our homes, exile and death, Scattered the loyal men. Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath, Charlie will come again. Chorus

sbh 19y ago

This is getting creepy, I'm getting out of here.

pg 19y ago
Yeah, it is, a bit. Don't get too worked up over this, guys. We're just trying to cook up a new model for seed funding, not starting a cult.
- DanielBMarkham 19y ago
  Does this mean I have to tear down my PG posters and little statue I built?
  - JMiao 19y ago
    Fusilli Paul.
- testapplication 19y ago
  Back away, SHARK!
- rokhayakebe 19y ago
  Guys. I apologize to anyone who felt this is too serious for this audience.The item wasn't focused on YC, but to whatever you are seeking. What I am saying is that in every journey they will come decisive moments, but what is more important is how we react to those moments. I wasn't suggesting that you should eat, drink, sleep and breath startup (although I do, but then again, I am no role model) as in a cult but really simply showing people what I have experienced here http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47232 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47232. In other words there is more to YC then being accepted
  - brlewis 19y ago
    Not really a big deal. It just sounded overdramatized. PG has written things that came across the wrong way too.

dzorz 19y ago

Little (useless) trivia: if we assume that a startup has 10% chance of succeeding (regardless of one's experience/whatever), then there is a 52% chance that your 7th (or maybe earlier) startup will succeed.

diamondtearz 19y ago
Unless you believe what they say about Statistical Independence which says that you are therefore still one of the startups that had a 10% chance of suceeding the other times "regardless of on's experience".

adrianwaj 19y ago

You know you have been eaten by a 'shark' when you become one yourself. The only way out is through.

german 19y ago

"Before you read the YC email or answer PG call, read this." This is a great title, rokhayakebe is a marketing genius! I think every single YC user have read this thread!

rbrisita 19y ago
Aye, it was a good title and it did catch my eye. And just to pass on another link: http://www.foundersatwork.com/1/post/2007/10/what-no-means.html http://www.foundersatwork.com/1/post/2007/10/what-no-means.h... Good luck to every one who applied. Keep your fingers-crossed, I know mine are. R.

wensing 19y ago

I love the reference to 'safe-mode'. Subtle! Really subtle!

Xichekolas 19y ago

You know, I tried about five times to read this before I finally gripped the edge of my desk and forced myself to finish it. Not sure what the point of this was, but it comes off as trying to sound 'deep' and actually saying nothing. So the only reason I'm bothering to post this is to say: use paragraphs so it's at least easier to get from the right side of the line to the left side of the next!