Before you read the YC email or answer PG call, read this.

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=69228

by rokhayakebe • 19 years ago

31 34 19 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

Your success or failure are both in front of you. What will happen is just a matter of choice. You chose success. You left the safe and secure land of corporates and you are sailing towards the uncertain, unknown land of startups. Unlike most people who live according to the past ("it has always been done this way" ) you are one of the few on this earth who let the unknown future guide you ('well I am gonna do it a different way"). While on your journey you will add passengers who won't pay you, and will keep asking for more comfort on your ship. If you do not deliver, they will suddenly disappear. i do not need to tell you that 9 out 10 who sail never come back. They become lunch for the sharks, but your hard-headed nature pushes you to go. You only fear staying in safe-mode. I admire your courage and your seeking attitude, which is why when the sharks and pirate show up, when your boat is sinking, when your passengers are disappearing, when you loose one of your sailor or think about going back, do not be afraid as we are all here to support you. We will fight the sharks, fix your boat, recommend passengers, recommend loyal sailors, and we certainly will not let you go the opposite way. Do not give up if you do not make it to YC. Help is here, just ask for it. Keep paddling. Never Ever Ever Give Up.

yrashk• 19 years ago

I personally believe that submitting an application to YC is an experience itself and whether we will be invited or not, it gave me few minutes to step back to look at a big picture and get more inspiration to continue working.

cherif• 19 years ago

I agree 100%. Writing that app was extremely beneficial in itself. It is an excellent forcing device to stop and think about the difficult questions.

rokhayakebe4• 19 years ago

Indeed it is an experience.

dottertrotter• 19 years ago

More hackers should become writers.

falsestprophet2• 19 years ago

Friend, this post is very, very poorly written. Hackers need to open up a book first.

dfranke• 19 years ago

To continue the metaphor for a bit, here's some apropos consolation for any who don't get good news tomorrow:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Skye_Boat_Song

 Chorus:
 Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing,
 Onward, the sailors cry.
 Carry the lad that's born to be king
 Over the sea to Skye.

 Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
 Thunderclaps rend the air,
 Baffled, our foes stand by the shore,
 Follow they will not dare.

 Chorus
 
 Many's the lad fought on that day,
 Well the Claymore could wield,
 When the night came, silently lay
 Dead in Culloden's field.
 
 Chorus

 Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep,
 Ocean's a royal bed.
 Rock'd in the deep Flora will keep
 Watch o'er your weary head.

 Chorus

 Burned are our homes, exile and death,
 Scattered the loyal men.
 Yet ere the sword cool in the sheath,
 Charlie will come again.

 Chorus

sbh• 19 years ago

This is getting creepy, I'm getting out of here.

pg2• 19 years ago

Yeah, it is, a bit. Don't get too worked up over this, guys. We're just trying to cook up a new model for seed funding, not starting a cult.

DanielBMarkham• 19 years ago

Does this mean I have to tear down my PG posters and little statue I built?

testapplication• 19 years ago

Back away, SHARK!

rokhayakebe4• 19 years ago

Guys. I apologize to anyone who felt this is too serious for this audience.The item wasn't focused on YC, but to whatever you are seeking. What I am saying is that in every journey they will come decisive moments, but what is more important is how we react to those moments. I wasn't suggesting that you should eat, drink, sleep and breath startup (although I do, but then again, I am no role model) as in a cult but really simply showing people what I have experienced here http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47232. In other words there is more to YC then being accepted

jkush• 19 years ago

I apologize if yesterday's post sparked some sort of mushy reflection on rejection. Not my intention, honestly.

falsestprophet2• 19 years ago

Well, Y Combinator is lead by a guru who possesses arcane powers and who recruits young boys over the internet to travel far away from their homes to live in the YScraper (aka The Compound) and work for below minimum wages with the promise of epic wealth and enlightenment.

davidw• 19 years ago

Idea: you mentioned starting a city in the past. This summer when I was driving my wife and her parents around Oregon[1], we happened to drive through the ex-Rajneeshpuram[2]. If you could get a decent internet connection happening, that would be a great place to build a hackerville - it's beautiful country, has a lot of facilities already there, and hey, maybe you can start your own collection of Rolls Royces. I don't want to have to dress up in orange though.

[1] http://padovachronicles.welton.it/articles/2007/08/31/the-wi...

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashneeshpuram

rokhayakebe4• 19 years ago

you have been around for 20 days only. You will see a lot creepier. Here and on your way to success. If you run away from YC because of my 15 lines, I doubt how you will do as a startupreneur. EDIT: Sorry sbh i shouldn't comment on the 20 days. that was a lil mean.

nostrademons2• 19 years ago

Most of the successful entrepreneurs I know are firmly grounded in reality. To my knowledge, none of them have suffered by avoiding crazies.

Alex3917• 19 years ago

At least no one has yet publicly threatened suicide, unlike most other web forums.

trevelyan• 19 years ago

Especially creepy for those of us just here for the news. It would be useful to be able to distinguish between posts and linked news articles from the front page.

garbowza• 19 years ago

You can, just look at the domain (or lack thereof).

JohnN• 19 years ago

I found it hilariously creepy, couldn't stop laughing.

dzorz• 19 years ago

Little (useless) trivia: if we assume that a startup has 10% chance of succeeding (regardless of one's experience/whatever), then there is a 52% chance that your 7th (or maybe earlier) startup will succeed.

diamondtearz• 19 years ago

Unless you believe what they say about Statistical Independence which says that you are therefore still one of the startups that had a 10% chance of suceeding the other times "regardless of on's experience".

adrianwaj• 19 years ago

You know you have been eaten by a 'shark' when you become one yourself. The only way out is through.

german• 19 years ago

"Before you read the YC email or answer PG call, read this."

This is a great title, rokhayakebe is a marketing genius! I think every single YC user have read this thread!

rbrisita• 19 years ago

Aye, it was a good title and it did catch my eye.

And just to pass on another link: http://www.foundersatwork.com/1/post/2007/10/what-no-means.h...

Good luck to every one who applied. Keep your fingers-crossed, I know mine are.

wensing• 19 years ago

I love the reference to 'safe-mode'. Subtle! Really subtle!

Xichekolas• 19 years ago

You know, I tried about five times to read this before I finally gripped the edge of my desk and forced myself to finish it.

Not sure what the point of this was, but it comes off as trying to sound 'deep' and actually saying nothing.

So the only reason I'm bothering to post this is to say: use paragraphs so it's at least easier to get from the right side of the line to the left side of the next!

Before you read the YC email or answer PG call, read this.

Related Stories