Ask HN: Am I qualified to start any startups?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2370715

by edwardshui • 15 years ago

7 24 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Hi HN experts:

I am a programming novice and have the passion to learn how to code in the hope that one day I could be ready to start my own startup or build my own apps.

The fact that I am a programming novice sometimes makes me think I will never be able to achieve what I just said above. Especially knowing the fact that there are some many great hackers out there who will definitely beat me to the punch.

Could you, great hackers, kindly give me some advice? I truly value yours as I have absolutely no one to ask for opinions and etc.

Many thanks for your help in advance!

Best, Ed

JonathanWCurd2• 15 years ago

Pick something simple to start with. Build it and get satisfaction from launching something and the confidence that goes with it. Then up the ante and repeat all over again. Before you know whats going on you'll be in the middle of it all.

g0atbutt• 15 years ago

Word hard and iterate. The biggest obstacle is yourself. Good luck!

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

You are right @g0atbutt! I am my own enemy! Thanks

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks @JonathanWCurd! Will definitely pick something small to start with!

JonathanWCurd2• 15 years ago

Solving a personal pain point is also a good place to find something to start with. Then design / build something you would use to solve the problem.

petercooper• 15 years ago

Especially knowing the fact that there are some many great hackers out there who will definitely beat me to the punch.

Let's get crude and say you're a mere 2 out of 10 on a fictional scale of aptitude. At what level do you think you wouldn't be "beaten" by anyone else? What about developers at 7 or 8? They could just as easily feel the same way.

You need to stop looking at this as an RPG-style skills game and one of the world/market being a massive place with opportunities for all. There are so many niches that you can find something productive to do. You just need to be prepared to fail over and over until you get a success.

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

@petercooper: you are right! I should never give up until I see some light!! And I won't give up!

Thanks a lot indeed!

rananth• 15 years ago

Hi,

To "build" a start-up in to something concrete, it takes more than a geeky programmer. Don't worry about who can beat you in programming or not. As long as you show the resolve that you will make your idea in to a real company, you are in business. Keep in good contacts with all of your non-technical buddies. When the right time comes, they will be your chaperones.

Trust me, I had the same fear when I started out last year.

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks @rananth! I will certainly give my all out to try! Despite not having much tech buddies (well, non-tech too!), guys/gals in the HN community are already my chaperones!

bootload• 15 years ago

"... The fact that I am a programming novice sometimes makes me think I will never be able to achieve what I just said above. ..."

start here with "How To Become A Hacker" ~ http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html

    To follow the path:
    look to the master,
    follow the master,
    walk with the master,
    see through the master,
    become the master.

then continue here "The Art of Unix Programming" ~ http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/taoup/html/

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks a lot @bootload for your tips and resources! You have brought me one step closer!

allanchao• 15 years ago

This is not directly related to your programming concern, but you might find the article useful. Paul Graham's Why to Not Not Start a Startup: http://paulgraham.com/notnot.html

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks @allanchao! Another resource for me to read.

JoshKalkbrenner• 15 years ago

You don't need to know how to build it, rather how to explain what need be built. Oo yeah.. cash helps too!

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks @JoshKalkbrenner.

seancron• 15 years ago

Friendly HN tip: You don't need to use @ (and it's considered good form not to) when replying to someone. We can see who you're replying to from the nested comments.

ZackOfAllTrades• 15 years ago

I am in the same boat as you.

The way I look at it is that I come to terms with what I suck at right now and then work hard at sucking less. Eventually I get really good at what I sucked at and move onto the next thing.

And you don't need permission to start something.

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks! I definitely work hard at sucking less.

myearwood• 15 years ago

No,you are not qualified to launch a startup.And the only reason why is because you don't have enough confidence in yourself.You might be a novice and you will make mistakes, but that should never stop you from launching a startup or working on a project that you are passionate about.

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks a lot for the motivation indeed!

naithemilkman• 15 years ago

Don't forget that the code is merely a tool for your business.

edwardshui12• 15 years ago

Thanks. I definitely need both sound ideas and decent code to do the job.

Ask HN: Am I qualified to start any startups?

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