Ask HN: How to get with a startup early stage

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9832361

by KG1 • 11 years ago

1 2 11 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

My question is pretty simple I am looking to get involved with a very early stage startup. I want to help out and learn to build something with a team of people. I am currently am in Upstate NY and looking to move to Palo Alto area, so I have a better chance of meeting like minded people. I don't have any programing experience I just want to make a change in my life. Currently 27 college grad with Bachelors in Business working part time at a retail job I hate and freelance as an assitant to a manager for musician. I still live at home and I am looking to make a change in my life. I am pretty much self taught everything I do graphic design, marketing, currently learning UI UX design so I have some tech skills to bring to table. If anyone has any suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.

calcsam• 11 years ago

http://www.quora.com/How-do-I-find-non-technical-job-opportu...

sova• 11 years ago

Coding is pretty easy to learn for the intelligent and is really just a matter of learning the specifics of a language. You're doing a smart thing to start learning UI/UX but I would really recommend just getting a few blank notebooks and drawing things out. If you have any ideas for sites or services that would be useful, you can draw them screen-by-screen and see where that leads. Even if you have no coding experience, if people see that you are passionate about it they will be happy to help you. Offer to buy people a coffee and sit and chat with them about it. You can learn a lot watching how other people approach their problems and how they creatively think about things.

In terms of programming languages, you'll at least want to know how to use javascript html and css to manipulate things in a browser. That stuff is not too hard to pick up (google be your guide) and will open up the door of potential in making user interfaces and mockups.

If you want to get with a startup, I suppose you could move to Palo Alto, but an "early stage startup" is really "that guy with his awesome idea and his friend who is helping him code it." So you should plant some seeds by helping people find good friends to work with. Resulting fruit can come indirectly and in a variety of shapes/configurations so don't be too picky on the form it takes.

Above all, the key to contentment and succeeding in any field is to rejoice in your small attainments and progresses. If you draw a cool design down today or think of a fun logo, be happy you did. If you helped someone with their job interview, rejoice. If you were able to hook someone up in a helpful way, even with just a kind word, or show them a new approach to a problem, be happy that you did so.

Develop the habit of learning enough so you can start to play around with it yourself for a while. It's like sculpting or playing chess. You could read books all day but until you sit down to do it, the process won't _really_ sink in. I saw a nice image earlier about 'how to design in increments' ... you can't start with 1 wheel and then 4 wheels and then immediately have a car. You start with a skateboard, you go to a scooter, then a bicycle, then a motorcycle, and then a car. Each step is useful in its own way, and I think it helps illustrate how one should go about learning new "tech" i.e. coding skills: learn enough to tinker around on your own for a while/as long as possible, and then learn more.

Nobody was born speaking perfect English, Shakespeare had to learn everything he was capable of. It all takes practice but with dedicated, happy effort (Quality practice, not quantity), you can make huge strides quickly.

Most startup people really want someone to share their idea with, at least someone who _believes_ in their idea. Providing this validation is super important, and I think you'll find that if you encourage people in their pursuits, you will experience great rewards just as a matter of life.

Ask HN: How to get with a startup early stage

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