“You don’t have what it takes,” I told the founder as he stared at me, crestfallen like a child who just found out that he didn’t make the team.
“I do, I’ve worked harder than anyone else…" he pleaded.
“It’s not about hard work, it’s about solving hard problems with the least amount of work,” I told him.
“So what should I do?” he asked.
“You should quit… and go work for someone who does have what it takes,” I told him, without a moment’s reservation or regret.
“You should do something that’s much easier and that allows you to refine your skills. Right now, you’re one of three people at a startup when you should be one of 200 people at a mid-sized company,” I added, ending the meeting.
Stone cold, Jason Calacanis, giving advice that 98 percent of us wantrepreneurs don’t like to hear.
There are too many Padawans right now and not enough teachers. The Galaxy is flooded with people who think they can do what founders do in their lives: sacrifice everything.
[ And let’s be honest here, it doesn’t always work out well for the most powerful Jedis. Luke left before his training was finished and lost a hand, and Anakin left his training and lost both legs and one of his arms. This Jedi business is ‘limb-losing’ business. ]
I have always loved the straight arrow ,point blank unapologetic shots as fired from Jason Calacanics(…and of course , Peter Thiel), there is a huge difference between motivation and capacity execute. Its even worse when the source of our motivation is based on reward, money and fame.
Typical of Africans…me too syndrome.
On the other hand, the top of the ladder guys also act like the champagne popping was actually the motivation …no blames.
Calcanis is talking out of his backside IMHO…In truth though, if you need someone else’s validation to prove to yourself that you have what it takes, then you don’t have what it takes.
There is a greater amount of luck involved in large scale startup success, than almost anyone is willing to admit. This notion of “sacrificing everything” has led many a founder astray whilst in search of start up glory.
If i were to summarize the advice I’d give any wannabe founder it would be:
Learn to Code
Start with something that already makes money, and make it better
Don’t be stupid OR work with a motive to make profit.
And you’ll already be ahead of 70% of the field…You can also make a solid living this way without sacrificing your health and finances for some startup Utopia that many will never get to
I agree with @nnanna that lots of luck is involved & that needing someone’s validation means that one isn’t even ready.
I’ll also add that the size & potential of the market and the strength of the distribution networks reduces the amount of luck needed for success. The latter can be fixed by proper acquisition & utilisation of funding. For the former, only time can fix that.
There are much more factors than “hard work” & “solving hard problems with the least amount of time”.
“Always amazed when someone gets a “big chunk of luck” in their life. This BCL affords them more opportunity than it should. All of a sudden they’re the guru/expert on everything business. It is luck in the same way being born in the US is luck.”
Everyone is an expert after a big break. Or rather everyone is god after any sort of break. All over Twitter, saying what you should do or not. Although helpful but nigga please.