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Thank you for adding this comment. I find it very valuable, and quite interesting, especially the idea of "not being able to concisely explain what you actually

Thank you for adding this comment. I find it very valuable, and quite interesting, especially the idea of "not being able to concisely explain what you actually do." I wonder if you could expand on that? I also wonder if you've observed whether or not people want to be "concise" with their goals. In my experience, success has been built around doing certain little things really well. For example, my business is successful because I'm really good at building a certain type of landing page. Yes, there is a lot that surrounds it, but it's basically just this one thing that makes it work. The issue of scope is something that everybody confronts when running a business. Any additional insight you could add would be appreciated. Thank you for your comment. Warmly, Jacob

larrys 12y ago
> "especially the idea of "not being able to concisely explain what you actually do." > I wonder if you could expand on that?" This is really selling. And it's something that comes in handy in business in every situation. If you can't concisely explain what your product can do for someone (either in person or in print) through marketing or salesmanship you won't make the sale unless you have some overwhelming advantage in some other area that holds people's interest (or little competition or maybe a super low price). Obviously in a HN comment there is no way to get into explaining how to be a good sales person in a few sentences. And while I could suggest books [1] the truth is you either have to have some experience and/or you have to be a "born" salesman. Or both. Edit: [1] I don't mean "I" could suggest specific books. Because I've never read books on sales. But I have closed large and small deals, against formidable opponents (right out of college, an example is trained IBM sales people) and I never read a single book on sales. But I do know there are books that can be purchased on selling and sales obviously.
- gregpilling 12y ago
  This is an excellent book http://www.amazon.com/Zig-Ziglars-Secrets-Closing-Sale/dp/0425081028 http://www.amazon.com/Zig-Ziglars-Secrets-Closing-Sale/dp/04... . I buy used copies and give them to friends starting new businesses. Used copies start at 1 cent, and I closed a lot of deals with the contents of this book. Very easy to read, with short humorous chapters.
carrotleads 12y ago
You need to be "concise" if the target is pressed for time or likely to be. This is always the case at YC like places.
rdl 12y ago
It's not "skipping all the details", it's starting with the key parts first, then expanding. And every sentence should make the reader/listener want to continue to the next.
elwell 12y ago
http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Please don't sign comments, especially with your url. They're already signed with your username. If other users want to learn more about you, they can click on it to see your profile.
- ZoF 12y ago
  I found your terrible formatting far more bothersome than the parent comments name.
- jacquesm 12y ago
  This suggests an interesting alternative lay-out for presenting threaded forums: add the moniker of the user to the bottom of the comment rather than at the end. It is how we used to communicate anyway and it forces you to first digest the words before seeing who said them.

larrys 12y ago

> "especially the idea of "not being able to concisely explain what you actually do." > I wonder if you could expand on that?" This is really selling. And it's something that comes in handy in business in every situation. If you can't concisely explain what your product can do for someone (either in person or in print) through marketing or salesmanship you won't make the sale unless you have some overwhelming advantage in some other area that holds people's interest (or little competition or maybe a super low price). Obviously in a HN comment there is no way to get into explaining how to be a good sales person in a few sentences. And while I could suggest books [1] the truth is you either have to have some experience and/or you have to be a "born" salesman. Or both. Edit: [1] I don't mean "I" could suggest specific books. Because I've never read books on sales. But I have closed large and small deals, against formidable opponents (right out of college, an example is trained IBM sales people) and I never read a single book on sales. But I do know there are books that can be purchased on selling and sales obviously.

gregpilling 12y ago
This is an excellent book http://www.amazon.com/Zig-Ziglars-Secrets-Closing-Sale/dp/0425081028 http://www.amazon.com/Zig-Ziglars-Secrets-Closing-Sale/dp/04... . I buy used copies and give them to friends starting new businesses. Used copies start at 1 cent, and I closed a lot of deals with the contents of this book. Very easy to read, with short humorous chapters.

carrotleads 12y ago

You need to be "concise" if the target is pressed for time or likely to be. This is always the case at YC like places.

rdl 12y ago

It's not "skipping all the details", it's starting with the key parts first, then expanding. And every sentence should make the reader/listener want to continue to the next.

elwell 12y ago

http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html http://ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Please don't sign comments, especially with your url. They're already signed with your username. If other users want to learn more about you, they can click on it to see your profile.

ZoF 12y ago
I found your terrible formatting far more bothersome than the parent comments name.
jacquesm 12y ago
This suggests an interesting alternative lay-out for presenting threaded forums: add the moniker of the user to the bottom of the comment rather than at the end. It is how we used to communicate anyway and it forces you to first digest the words before seeing who said them.