3 ms·

The first point hit home big time. When you're doing a startup you feel like every day is precious and the tide of change is racing along impossibly fast. It'

The first point hit home big time. When you're doing a startup you feel like every day is precious and the tide of change is racing along impossibly fast. It's healthy to remember that the world doesn't reinvent itself every month. The problem you're working on now will probably still be relevant in 1-2 years.

unalone 17y ago
The site I had the idea for three years ago still hasn't been made. A friend and I are ambling along getting it launched, but there's no particular drive. We figure if it hasn't been solved yet it won't be this year either.
- cousin_it 17y ago
  What's the idea?
  - unalone 17y ago
    Coming soon-ish. ;-)
pg 17y ago
It's true that you rarely have to work fast because the world will leave you behind otherwise (though that has occasionally been the case with startups we've funded). The reason you have to work fast is that your initial idea is probably wrong, and you have to iterate till you get it right.
- notauser 17y ago
  Plus you are probably in the process of running out of money and how long you get to tackle the problem(s) has more to do with cash flow than the state of the world.
10ren 17y ago
True, not every month, but every so often. It's more like punctuated equilibrium. In between, you might have something like 10-15 years.
sonofjanoh 17y ago
That also depends on the problem you're trying to solve. In a year or two there might be multiple solutions already and yours will be "yet another" one even if good but commercially not as successful. It's good to have these calming posts but deep inside there will always be anxiety and a fear of "missing the boat". Timing your product/service well is one of the many things you have to get right to be successful. And to get a head start by releasing early won't trigger the sleeping competition to overtake you in the early stages. You'll be the first and you can change along the way...it might be the wrong approach to solve the problem and you can have invaluable feedback along the way.

unalone 17y ago

The site I had the idea for three years ago still hasn't been made. A friend and I are ambling along getting it launched, but there's no particular drive. We figure if it hasn't been solved yet it won't be this year either.

cousin_it 17y ago
What's the idea?
- unalone 17y ago
  Coming soon-ish. ;-)

pg 17y ago

It's true that you rarely have to work fast because the world will leave you behind otherwise (though that has occasionally been the case with startups we've funded). The reason you have to work fast is that your initial idea is probably wrong, and you have to iterate till you get it right.

notauser 17y ago
Plus you are probably in the process of running out of money and how long you get to tackle the problem(s) has more to do with cash flow than the state of the world.

10ren 17y ago

True, not every month, but every so often. It's more like punctuated equilibrium. In between, you might have something like 10-15 years.

sonofjanoh 17y ago

That also depends on the problem you're trying to solve. In a year or two there might be multiple solutions already and yours will be "yet another" one even if good but commercially not as successful. It's good to have these calming posts but deep inside there will always be anxiety and a fear of "missing the boat". Timing your product/service well is one of the many things you have to get right to be successful. And to get a head start by releasing early won't trigger the sleeping competition to overtake you in the early stages. You'll be the first and you can change along the way...it might be the wrong approach to solve the problem and you can have invaluable feedback along the way.