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Ask HN: Am I qualified to start any startups?
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
- JonathanWCurd 15y agoPick 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 15y agoWord hard and iterate. The biggest obstacle is yourself. Good luck!
- edwardshui 15y agoYou are right @g0atbutt! I am my own enemy! Thanks
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks @JonathanWCurd! Will definitely pick something small to start with!
- JonathanWCurd 15y agoSolving 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.
- edwardshui 15y agoAbsolutely! Thanks a lot @JonathanWCurd!
- petercooper 15y agoEspecially 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.
- edwardshui 15y 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 15y agoHi, 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.
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks @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 15y 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 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/ http://www.catb.org/~esr/writings/taoup/html/
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks a lot @bootload for your tips and resources! You have brought me one step closer!
- allanchao 15y agoThis 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 http://paulgraham.com/notnot.html
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks @allanchao! Another resource for me to read.
- JoshKalkbrenner 15y agoYou don't need to know how to build it, rather how to explain what need be built. Oo yeah.. cash helps too!
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks @JoshKalkbrenner.
- seancron 15y agoFriendly 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.
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks a lot seancron for your tip! Didn't know this at all!
- ZackOfAllTrades 15y agoI 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.
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks! I definitely work hard at sucking less.
- myearwood 15y agoNo,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.
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks a lot for the motivation indeed!
- naithemilkman 15y agoDon't forget that the code is merely a tool for your business.
- edwardshui 15y agoThanks. I definitely need both sound ideas and decent code to do the job.