Orian Marx's Blog - Latest Comments in Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Dane Findley — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:02:31 -0000

One of the most important things anyone can do is accept personal responsibility for past challenges and say, "If I had it to do over again, I would..."

That you are taking time to reflect on this past adventure -- its joys and sorrows -- and establish what the lessons were, bodes very well for you.

I respect your process!

{ twitter = @danenow }

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Jeff Widman — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:42:18 -0000

Excellent stuff--great link-outs too!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Richard — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:44:22 -0000

Thanks for sharing your story.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Kalpesh Khivasara — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:46:43 -0000

Great series of posts, Orian. It's rare to find someone to "conduct a post mortem" in public and owning up to the mistakes. One attraction of startups is that they are so unfathomable, you never know what's in store. Thanks for shedding light on these topics.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

saad0105050 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:09:03 -0000

Yeah...
"If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,"

Startup days are full of waves of elation and frustration. But I will hang on.

Thanks for your note.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Orian Marx — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:51:56 -0000

I like that quote... I should put it up on my wall.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Orian Marx — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:49:58 -0000

Yes I've read the poem, and I think there are a lot of things in it that I can't claim to live up to yet but are worth striving for. Thanks for mentioning it.

I wish you luck with your application, let me know how it goes. Uncertainty is extremely difficult and I think most people would prefer to settle for a clear situation that isn't all they'd hoped for than to aim bigger but risk disappointment. I'm sorry your girlfriend is stressing you out... but on the other hand it's good to have that other perspective. It's easier to convince yourself of something than other people, so, think of it as a challenge!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

saad0105050 — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:29:24 -0000

Hi,
I have read the whole series, and its about time I've shared something.

Have you read the poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling? If not, go google it out.

I am working with four of my friends in a startup for ten months. We all quit our jobs ten months ago with a dream to "build something people want", obviously we were (and are) greatly inspired by Paul Graham. Details (and bad days) aside, we have developed a simple web application that we are hopeful about trying at YC winter 2008.

I live in Bangladesh, and living the startup life (and dream) is more tough than in USA (or other places).

I completely agree with you on the following points:
1. Conviction
2. Talking to people about what you are doing
3. Leadership and decidability. I remember a quote from another startup postmortem that they lacked "a leader to say that the buck should stop here".

You didn't mention the mental support you got from your family and girlfriend, which I believe is a very important bolster for a startup. My girlfriend is pissed off at my startup thing. She says she can't take such uncertainty. I could be more productive if things would be otherwise. My parents are giving me wonderful support, without which I couldn't last long.

I believe, and still believe, someday I will build something that will establish my entity in the Internet. Pray for me. I wish you good luck, and success.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Peter Marks — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:50:43 -0000

Really enjoyed reading about your team dynamics. Thanks for putting this together!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Gannon Beck — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:05:30 -0000

I've been through a lot of this myself. I'm going to reread everything when I have more time. I have to say that the lessons you learned seem spot on. A word of caution about this statement:

"At the end of the day though, I still believe he and I could have been a great a team and could have pulled this thing off."

I had a great friendship ruined because I felt this way. We did a business together and things didn't work out. I rationalized that a second time would be different -- that the first business wasn't the right fit, we'd learned from our mistakes and so forth. When we did another business the EXACT same problems showed up. We were great friends but lousy business partners. Now, do to the second business (but not the first) we are no longer friends. Maybe your situation is different, but I thought I would share.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Workpost Foreman — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:37:57 -0000

"If you’re building something and you need something to be fearful about, be fearful of what the world would be like without it."

That's a.. different way to look at what a startup is or is not doing. Thanks.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

mindreframer — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:17:14 -0000

It will take some time to sink in, but this experience is a very valuable one. You learn more from failure, than from success. I hope, there are some lessons, that you learned and will apply in your future. Dont give up, just keep on doing, what you can do. To quote Brian Tracy:
'Just keep on throwing. Even if you're a complete idiot, eventually you'll hit the bulls eye.'

Good luck and thank you for your openness.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Zishaan — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:26:23 -0000

Good series!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Robbert — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 08:20:22 -0000

Great posts... I wish you luck in the future!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 05:28:19 -0000

All your arguments sound like everyone else was wrong.

Your "mistakes" sound more like what people say during an interview when they get asked about their "faults".

From reading the series the only failure seems to be you.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Noah — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:06:05 -0000

i'm early and hopeful in my startup career, so i'm sure i don't fully realize the value of what you've written. but it was fascinating and, even without as much context as i'd like, deeply informative. thank you!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Dave P — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 20:51:34 -0000

thanks for sharing your mistakes and outlook on the past. it's been truly valuable to read your thoughts. best of luck in the future!

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

anonymous — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:02:01 -0000

hi Orian,

Very enlightening series of posts and also very very well written, IMHO. I couldn't help admire your clarity of thought and your lucid writing style while reading. You mention your remark to your family about screwing up: If I were your father, despite that you have indeed failed, I would be proud of having a son who is so capable of taking all that has happened in an admirably mature way and is so capable of dissecting, analyzing, reasoning about and also relating them with such clarity of thought. Don't worry, FWIW, for me these series of posts very clearly indicate that you have the basics to be successful eventually; so don't despair and keep trying.

Re: Reflections of a Y Combinator Dropout: Lessons Learned

Aaron — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:39:47 -0000

Excellent series of articles. Best of luck in the future!