Very good essay with lots of wisdom. A couple of nitpicks, only because they keep popping up when I discuss this with people
1. The beginning has an overly technical explanation of wealth in relation to hours worked. Sort of PG's law of conservation of effort. I don't think the relationship is that precise. In all likelihood, what you work on (market opportunity) matters more than the quanta of hours. You can work 16 hours/day every week for two years and have a failed startup while you can have a pretty good success with putting in 10-12 hour days (putting aside efficiency considerations).
2. 'Make something people want' is perhaps not the most helpful way to frame what you should be doing in a startup. I mean it is true at a top level way (surely, nobody would want to work on something nobody wants). However, it seems like an end result of 'x' things that should be done so you get to making what people want.
"Number 2 will not work without ample advertisement."
I disagree, if people already want something bad, there is no need for ample advertisement, it will advertise itself on social media, word of mouth, free press articles etc (other people will talk about it, if it really is a promising solution).
Comments
Very good essay with lots of wisdom. A couple of nitpicks, only because they keep popping up when I discuss this with people
1. The beginning has an overly technical explanation of wealth in relation to hours worked. Sort of PG's law of conservation of effort. I don't think the relationship is that precise. In all likelihood, what you work on (market opportunity) matters more than the quanta of hours. You can work 16 hours/day every week for two years and have a failed startup while you can have a pretty good success with putting in 10-12 hour days (putting aside efficiency considerations).
2. 'Make something people want' is perhaps not the most helpful way to frame what you should be doing in a startup. I mean it is true at a top level way (surely, nobody would want to work on something nobody wants). However, it seems like an end result of 'x' things that should be done so you get to making what people want.
Number 2 will not work without ample advertisement. And you also have to think which people do you want to want your product.
"Number 2 will not work without ample advertisement." I disagree, if people already want something bad, there is no need for ample advertisement, it will advertise itself on social media, word of mouth, free press articles etc (other people will talk about it, if it really is a promising solution).