Ask YC: Startup regrets?

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=295973

by bdotdub • 18 years ago

5 4 18 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

This question may be out of place here, but ...

You always hear that startup founders never thought about quitting and have no regrets about what they've done, even if the startup fails. I'm curious to hear from people who HAVE regrets about starting a startup or feel like they would have been better off not doing it. It's hard to imagine NO one having regrets about taking such a high risk.

Anyone hear of any stories like this?

noodle• 18 years ago

i have my own personal regrets about a start up i cofounded.

the idea was great, but we were bootstrapping ourselves in addition to working a full-time job. the other founder was flaky, but they were the business end of it and i didn't need frequent input to do the tech work. the flakiness eventually lead to lengthy delays and two years later, we were beaten to the market by a very similar product that is making plenty of money now.

my regret isn't about the high risk or financial loss, its about the substantial time lost on a project that is now, essentially, not even worth putting on a resume. in retrospect, i could've done so much more with that time if i'd have followed some of my other ideas instead.

tstegart• 18 years ago

I think the regrets come later, when people realize the time they have missed with other things, like friends or family.

ndr0id• 18 years ago

the regrets are slowly building a voice inside me. usually along the lines of get out, have fun, get married now, start a family while you're still young, etc. but i'm addicted to working hard and succeeding, hence i keep going.

don't get "caught in the middle" - you either go for it or you don't. commit to one path and make it happen.

xiaoma• 18 years ago

It's like doing a back flip -- go half way and you get hurt.

Ask YC: Startup regrets?

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