Note to anyone who just skimmed it: Read all of it.
This part stuck with me:
"Level out the highs and lows. [...] For me this is the toughest part of startups because I find it emotionally draining but I also appreciate that right now I'd find it incredibly difficult to return to a 'normal' life. I'm hooked on this way of doing this now."
agreed. I loved the detailed post. I am now reading "Demo Day":
http://mealticket.wordpress.com/2007/02/13/demo-day/
"..when you think of Facebook as being one of the most exciting companies in the Valley right now and then you realize it's being driven by a young team it makes you question a lot of assumptions. So my 'intended' career path had been law - where your pay and rank is determined purely by the number of years you have worked at the firm for. When you hit a certain age maybe you make partner and maybe you don't. But the point is that age and experience rule in that culture and not raw ability. Why do we have to assume that we can measure the ability to perform well purely by the number of years someone has worked in a particular field? Mark Zuckerberg doesn't have 10 years experience of running companies worth $1 billion but he's doing a pretty good job of it so far.
Why does someone who has spent 10 years analysing financial markets have a better chance of making a success out of an idea we live and breathe everyday? The attitude in the Valley is that your age is determined by the number of startups you've gone through - there are people here my age who have already started and scrapped a couple of companies. That gives them experience and all the 'grey hair' they need."
Good reflective piece on Y Comb. It seems like being around people that were also highly motivated entrepreneurs really pushed you guys to work harder to create a great product.
I also agree with the hiring issue. Reminds me of a popular book called "The Tipping Point". It's all about finding the certain characteristics others might have that'll get your concept to become an epidemic.
"The benefits of being around other startups and founders simply cannot be described properly in words. If you are stuck somewhere trying to do things by yourself without any other startups you only have one choice. Move."
Ahh Harj knows that there were other startups in the neighbourhood ;) what he really means is to be in an environment where the density of people who are better at starting companies than you are is greater. This is certainly what all London based young internet entrepreneurs crave. Undoubtedly SV trumps London esp when one considers the 18-25 aged entrepreneur bracket.
To clarify I wasn't referring to London here. I was referring to real startup dead spots like Missouri or Alaska or other places that literally have no startups there. In those cases you have no option but to move.
In places where there's a fledging startup scene, the decision is tougher but ultimately we still decided to move as that was the best decision based on our circumstances.
Certainly a good insight into the overall, but I'd love to see some more of the details of what people are going through- Almost Triumph or the Nerds style..
Maybe follow some of the YC teams for a Documentary?
This part stuck with me:
"Level out the highs and lows. [...] For me this is the toughest part of startups because I find it emotionally draining but I also appreciate that right now I'd find it incredibly difficult to return to a 'normal' life. I'm hooked on this way of doing this now."
Thanks Harj.