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As a YC founder I know exactly what I signed up for. YC is in the business of placing a series of low risk bets twice annually and then sorting through those be

As a YC founder I know exactly what I signed up for. YC is in the business of placing a series of low risk bets twice annually and then sorting through those bets looking for likely winners, doubling down and helping when possible It doesn't matter though, they still lower my overall risk profile by being involved and (I believe) increase my odds of success. I believe it's a square deal. I also believe that fundamentally if there's a time to aim high rather than minimizing downside risk in one's life, it's your 20s. Furthermore to a certain type of personality (mine) a secure life making a few hundred thousand dollars a year in an essentially mind-numbing profession that does little for humanity is unthinkably depressing. It ain't for everyone, but I don't think it's fair to act as if it's some sort of sinister delusion projected by YC in order to benefit Paul Graham.

akbar501 13y ago
There are people who aim high whether they are in the 20's, 30's, 40's ... and then there are those who aim low. Age is rarely a factor for those who are shooting for the moon, but it's a great excuse for those who don't.
- aelaguiz 13y ago
  Yeah I didn't say people past their 20s don't aim high. I said your 20s is a great time to aim high.
  - illumen 13y ago
    Spend your youth however you want to, but there's no refunds.
    - argonaut 13y ago
      And your point is...?
      - mattwad 13y ago
        You can "aim high" working long days in your 20s, 30s, or 40s. But in your 20s maybe there's other stuff you want to do, like chasing college tail, or not having kids.
- achompas 13y ago
  Yeah, the family and significant obligations one takes on with age are terrible excuses for not aiming high. Losers!!
ForHackernews 13y ago
> secure life making a few hundred thousand dollars a year in an essentially mind-numbing profession that does little for humanity is unthinkably depressing. You realize Wall Street bankers make a few million dollars a year doing mind-numbing work that does little for humanity, right?
- aelaguiz 13y ago
  Yeah that doesn't matter to me. Maybe others experience wealth differently but it made substantially no difference to my day to day happiness (once the newness of the money had worn off) - but working on a project I feel strongly about makes a strong and lasting difference.
  - sillysaurus2 13y ago
    May I ask, after you were acquired, how long did you end up working for them? How did you feel about it? Was it a jarring experience trying to transition back into more of a "traditional 9-5 mindset," or were you expected to work as hard as before? I've always wondered what that type of situation is like.
    - aelaguiz 13y ago
      Just under 2 years, it was a nightmare. I gained weight and became depressed. I left and will never sell a company like that again. If there's an earn out it'll be 1 year, otherwise I won't do it.
  - pyrrhotech 13y ago
    Perhaps it's my own superego unable to understand experiences outside of my own mind, but I think you either didn't get enough money or haven't learned how to transmute it into happiness. Money is freedom and freedom is happiness. It's that simple. If money doesn't make you happy, nothing will. If you have enough money, you can do anything you want. If you don't have enough money, you can't do anything you want. If you can do anything you want, then by definition you either have happiness or you are unable to achieve happiness. It really is that simple.

akbar501 13y ago

There are people who aim high whether they are in the 20's, 30's, 40's ... and then there are those who aim low. Age is rarely a factor for those who are shooting for the moon, but it's a great excuse for those who don't.

aelaguiz 13y ago
Yeah I didn't say people past their 20s don't aim high. I said your 20s is a great time to aim high.
- illumen 13y ago
  Spend your youth however you want to, but there's no refunds.
  - argonaut 13y ago
    And your point is...?
    - mattwad 13y ago
      You can "aim high" working long days in your 20s, 30s, or 40s. But in your 20s maybe there's other stuff you want to do, like chasing college tail, or not having kids.
achompas 13y ago
Yeah, the family and significant obligations one takes on with age are terrible excuses for not aiming high. Losers!!

ForHackernews 13y ago

> secure life making a few hundred thousand dollars a year in an essentially mind-numbing profession that does little for humanity is unthinkably depressing. You realize Wall Street bankers make a few million dollars a year doing mind-numbing work that does little for humanity, right?

aelaguiz 13y ago
Yeah that doesn't matter to me. Maybe others experience wealth differently but it made substantially no difference to my day to day happiness (once the newness of the money had worn off) - but working on a project I feel strongly about makes a strong and lasting difference.
- sillysaurus2 13y ago
  May I ask, after you were acquired, how long did you end up working for them? How did you feel about it? Was it a jarring experience trying to transition back into more of a "traditional 9-5 mindset," or were you expected to work as hard as before? I've always wondered what that type of situation is like.
  - aelaguiz 13y ago
    Just under 2 years, it was a nightmare. I gained weight and became depressed. I left and will never sell a company like that again. If there's an earn out it'll be 1 year, otherwise I won't do it.
- pyrrhotech 13y ago
  Perhaps it's my own superego unable to understand experiences outside of my own mind, but I think you either didn't get enough money or haven't learned how to transmute it into happiness. Money is freedom and freedom is happiness. It's that simple. If money doesn't make you happy, nothing will. If you have enough money, you can do anything you want. If you don't have enough money, you can't do anything you want. If you can do anything you want, then by definition you either have happiness or you are unable to achieve happiness. It really is that simple.