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Ask HN: Should I be more entrepreneurial?
9 points by larve on Oct 28, 2011 | hide | past | favorite | 5 comments
3 years ago, I started a one-man company building electronic hardware for artists. I did everything myself: electronics, software, manufacturing, accounting, marketing, music. The only thing lacking was any business sense whatsoever: I quickly burnt out after 2 years, realizing that I just worked 90 hour weeks making 10$ an hour.

Rethinking my priorities, I figured out that I actually had already reached my “4 goals in life” (to use new-agey self-help blog-terms): make art, make technology, having friends and family, enjoying life. I also realized what I don’t know how to do: managing people, understanding people, being business-savvy enough to make money. I have done the crazy stuff I wanted to do, and at age 29 feel like I’m actually retiring, doing stuff that is just like watering my plants.

Since me slowly shutting my electronics venture down, I’ve been quite happily freelancing halftime without trying very hard (doing electronics and software), making about 60k-80k EUR per year (living in a very low-income part of east germany, which makes me pretty much cresus), and pursuing my other projects on the side. I don’t miss the excitement of having a company, and am usually happy doing one-man projects.

I know I’m completely underselling myself as a freelancer (I work for 50$/h at the moment, although I had gigs for 100 EUR / hour this year as well), which I understand as me not actually caring. However, I think I miss the possibility of being able to pay a smart developer to develop a compiler backend for me, of having a design agency design some custom cases, of having a company in china produce a few thousand devices. Business-like endeavors that are more driven by a love for art and technology than market, which I learnt is a recipe bound for failure.

I know that I’m quite sharp and pick up things easily. I also have a laser-like intensity, as well as enough self-discipline to reach my goals, even if they take a few years of hard work. That is, as long as I don’t get bored, which is as soon as I feel that I’m not learning anything anymore. Would you recommend me to:

* Chill out, relax, and enjoy what I have

* Look for someone to manage me, keeping 80% off my 20% but allowing me to have a bit of a bigger scope

* Manning up, study business, finance and marketing, play the game and make some serious $$$ for a few years

* Slowly ramp up my revenue, getting more consulting gigs rather than codemonkey gigs, getting a suit and upselling myself

* Slowly building up a few “moneyprinting” endeavours (a few iphone apps, a few webapps), either slowly building up a revenue stream or actually turning into something that someone would like to take over or nurture to $$$.



I think that entrepreneurship shouldn't necessarily be an end, but rather a means to an end. For some it is th end goal but I'd wage that this isn't the norm ( outside hn of course ).

Figure out where you want to be in the long term and find the best way to get there for _you_. Entrepreneurship might just not be th best way to get there. And I think that's alright as long as you get where you wants be.


Are these the only options? Is it just about money and business?

Do you have a family? Maybe you should start one. Or is there a neighborhood kid that could use some mentoring? Teach a seminar, or write a book. These things may not make you rich, but it may make you happy.

All I am saying is make sure you're asking yourself the right question, because of you're not, the answers you get aren't going to help you.


Nobody but yourself can answer this.

There's no point in starting a big new venture if your heart isn't in it.

Having said that:

- Don't look for someone to manage you, rather look for a business savvy partner

- You earn 60-80k and don't own a suit?! That's quite impressive ;)

Personally, I like the sound of the last option and am hoping to do something similar. But that's me.


Obviously, I'll have the last call :) All the 5 options are things I am considering, and I was wondering if someone had been through the same thing.

Cons for each approach:

a) a lot of my ideas won't see the light of day although they could. b) i don't know jack about people, so I'll probably end up with the wrong kind of person c) i'm gonna get bored, or it will clash with my ethics d) getting a suit e) i am gonna get bored, and would need someone to handle the bottomline, back to b)


Fair enough, it's difficult. I'm sensing a lot of hatred for suits here though :)

I'm not sure what to say about choosing who to work with. It's difficult, but frankly you have to trust people now and again or you'll have a rubbish life. I suggest you try working with someone on a small project and see how it goes.




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