[will_pseudonym]

-please put up an email address in your profile if you want people to contact you. And trust me--if you're starting a business, email just became your new best friend.

-read everything @patio11 has ever written. Use your brain and research ability to understand his wisdom. Ignore this advice at your own peril.

-start high end markets first. Better margins, better customers.

-think about what products suck! Talk to affluent friends, ask them that question. If you don't have affluent friends, go make them. Your life and this endeavor will be amazing if you do. Trust me on this. Just make sure they're good people. If you can't tell the difference, that's your side job. Learn how to tell the difference.

-bite your tongue. I'm serious, literally bite it. Listen to what ppl are telling you--it could be your next product! Biting your tongue is like a phones mute button. You should be using both to become a much better listener. I started an interruption/swearing jar with my fiancé to break myself of those habits faster. It's tough but super rewarding.

-learn sales. Frank bettger (how I raised myself from failure to success in selling). Dale Carnegie (how to win friends and influence people).

-improve yourself. Sleep 8-9 hours. If you use an alarm clock you're doing life wrong :D, diet (quality and quantity. Whole > processed * 1000. no sugar.) exercise. Move fast, lift heavy things. Sign up for Charlie Hoehn's anti anxiety course. Assuming you're a guy, check out The Mating Grounds and Helping Joe. They'll help you improve your life immeasurably. Sign up for talk therapy. If strapped for cash, group therapy is very effective and inexpensive.

-pay attention to the world around you. The problems to solve will present themselves.

-Don't force anything. It'll hurt to get the round peg into the square hole, and you might lose a finger in the process. NB: Your finger is your happiness.

-cut out negative people, but don't create a Hooli yes-man echo chamber.

-watch randy Pausch - the last lecture. And Randy Pausch - time management.

-email if you need help! I'm an extremely generous person.

[orthoganol]

There is probably some valuable information there but anyone who recommends Tucker Max seriously should be taken with a grain of salt (if not simply disregarded).

People love to posture like they know it all (usually not the tech founders that HN funds)... Look for little things like recommending Tucker Max that suggest maybe they are in fact posturing, because they're trying to grow their brand here or whatever reason. Sorry to sound so harsh.

[will_pseudonym]

If you don't mind me asking, what is wrong with Tucker Max?

I was, perfectly honestly, hurt by your harsh words. I'm trying to search to figure out what I've done to wrong you, and I'm struggling. Can you help me understand what our shared goal is in this conversation so I have the right frame of reference to continue this conversation, if we are to have it?

EDIT: added comma for clarity

[Chris2048]

Damn sealion...

http://wondermark.com/1k62/

[will_pseudonym]

That's hilarious. :) I'll continue to play my sea lion role as necessary though. As the manatee was born to be gentle and kind, so shall I kindly respond to close minded internet commenters. Like an Internet Amish, I shall turn the other cheek.

[pc86]

I agree with most of your advice but I couldn't survive without an alarm clock. I've spent the last few years waking up between 4:25 and 4:45 but can't get up before 7 without an alarm.

[jgorn]

Thanks for sharing, some really useful resources here that are new to me.

[will_pseudonym]

You're welcome! Thank you for the appreciation! So glad I wrote it out and posted--always a risk of getting shouted at by negative nellies when it comes to HN. :)