Startup Advice for College Students
In response to Ask HN Question: Startup Advice for College Students
"What are things you wish you had been told while you were in college? Things that would have prepared you better to found a startup, or at least seriously maim the status-quo."
My Response
Many people are going to tell you university is a waste of time but I couldn't disagree more. I hated school, but the two most valuable lessons I've ever learned were at university. They were time management and organization. Let me ask you a counter question, what do you really want to do? If your answer is I want to be an entrepreneur, stop. What do you want to do? What do you want to make, what do you want to change, what do you want to explore?
Starting a successful startup is like playing one game of chess against 1000 of the best chess masters to ever live. You are doing more than just creating something, you're managing it. The things that do not matter are: people doing the same thing as you and having the greatest idea.
Things to consider: what am i trying to accomplish, who will use it, who will fund it, who will build it, who will maintain it, who will support it, who will talk about it, how do I market it, where will it be located, how dedicated to success am I, can I take advice and what will I do when I want to give up (and you will want to give up at one point or another).
These are all questions you have to answer, however, answering them is not enough. You need to have a plan to discover the best solution. There is a key difference. A solution implies trial and error until something is how you want it, even when its functional, being willing to invest in making it better over time. There is never just one answer.
So figure out what interests you, write a list and start checking things off. My #1 recommendation is to go and copy the questions from the YC application to startup school. Paste them in a text editor of choice and start answering them. Then, find smart young lady from the student writing center who is willing to tear it apart and rewrite it WITH you. Be flexible but fight for your words to produce the best document possible. You will understand more about your business idea than anyone when you're finished. Then go find your programmers and make it happen.
In response to Ask HN Question: Startup Advice for College Students
"What are things you wish you had been told while you were in college? Things that would have prepared you better to found a startup, or at least seriously maim the status-quo."
My Response
Many people are going to tell you university is a waste of time but I couldn't disagree more. I hated school, but the two most valuable lessons I've ever learned were at university. They were time management and organization. Let me ask you a counter question, what do you really want to do? If your answer is I want to be an entrepreneur, stop. What do you want to do? What do you want to make, what do you want to change, what do you want to explore?
Starting a successful startup is like playing one game of chess against 1000 of the best chess masters to ever live. You are doing more than just creating something, you're managing it. The things that do not matter are: people doing the same thing as you and having the greatest idea.
Things to consider: what am i trying to accomplish, who will use it, who will fund it, who will build it, who will maintain it, who will support it, who will talk about it, how do I market it, where will it be located, how dedicated to success am I, can I take advice and what will I do when I want to give up (and you will want to give up at one point or another).
These are all questions you have to answer, however, answering them is not enough. You need to have a plan to discover the best solution. There is a key difference. A solution implies trial and error until something is how you want it, even when its functional, being willing to invest in making it better over time. There is never just one answer.
So figure out what interests you, write a list and start checking things off. My #1 recommendation is to go and copy the questions from the YC application to startup school. Paste them in a text editor of choice and start answering them. Then, find smart young lady from the student writing center who is willing to tear it apart and rewrite it WITH you. Be flexible but fight for your words to produce the best document possible. You will understand more about your business idea than anyone when you're finished. Then go find your programmers and make it happen.