I agree with advice 1 ("Be good. Be very good."). But do you really believe you have to be -that- good to start an online business?
Also, I believe breadth of knowledge is also good (not only depth) - I've studied and worked in networking and most of the parts of the software platform, so when something fails I have a decent idea of where to start looking (I guess you cover that base with "Don't be the "front-end guy" or the "back-end guy"").
And you very likely won't get that knowledge from college - you have to learn it in the "real world" I agree with the other advice here about working in a challenging environment like another startup.
Also, point 2 - "the internet will bias you to think that the world is full of great people - this ain't so", I suspect that it's true as well.
Which brings me to point 3 - I'd do what's more comfortable for you and the way you want to live your life.
What I don't entirely agree is with not being worthwhile to start your own business unless your change is that dramatic.
I believe that wanting to be your own boss is a good enough reason (bringing a 1000% change TO YOU) - see the guy who quit Goldman Sachs for example: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1690001 .
Or doing something that eases a pain point to 10 users (say, bingo cards for teachers :) ).
Not everyone has to change the entire world :) (though it's good to try!)
Just my opinion, 4 years after college (and 8 years of corporate jobs).
Comments
(as someone who hasn't yet started a startup)
I agree with advice 1 ("Be good. Be very good."). But do you really believe you have to be -that- good to start an online business?
Also, I believe breadth of knowledge is also good (not only depth) - I've studied and worked in networking and most of the parts of the software platform, so when something fails I have a decent idea of where to start looking (I guess you cover that base with "Don't be the "front-end guy" or the "back-end guy"").
And you very likely won't get that knowledge from college - you have to learn it in the "real world" I agree with the other advice here about working in a challenging environment like another startup.
Also, point 2 - "the internet will bias you to think that the world is full of great people - this ain't so", I suspect that it's true as well.
Which brings me to point 3 - I'd do what's more comfortable for you and the way you want to live your life.
What I don't entirely agree is with not being worthwhile to start your own business unless your change is that dramatic.
I believe that wanting to be your own boss is a good enough reason (bringing a 1000% change TO YOU) - see the guy who quit Goldman Sachs for example: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1690001 .
Or doing something that eases a pain point to 10 users (say, bingo cards for teachers :) ).
Not everyone has to change the entire world :) (though it's good to try!)
Just my opinion, 4 years after college (and 8 years of corporate jobs).
Wanting to be your own boss is 100% enough to start a business. But not to start a Successful Business.
If you don't know what you are going to do and you just start because you want to start. Chances are more that you will fail.
Some people give an excuse, failure is necessary for success. Total BS. Crap.
Those people misinterpret the saying.
If you want to start a business of Restaurant, you should know what is the job of a Dish Washer.
Be Good != Be Good Technically.
You should be good at what your business is going to be.