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by Bostonian 2418 days ago
'Let me mention some things not to do. The number one thing not to do is other things. If you find yourself saying a sentence that ends with "but we're going to keep working on the startup," you are in big trouble.'

Since many start-up ideas are bad ones, it often will be rational for start-up founders to quit and do other things.
2 comments
ErikAugust 2418 days ago
I don't know. Ideas are overrated.

If the startup is able to execute on building things of unique value, I don't necessarily think it is rational to stop.

So often however, the startups don't build anything unique, and many don't seem to build anything at all.

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buzzkillington 2418 days ago
>I don't know. Ideas are overrated.

A good idea doesn't mean you won't fail. A bad idea does mean you will fail.

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ErikAugust 2418 days ago
I still don't even believe that. A bad idea, as long as it produces an asset of value, is okay. You can move your asset to a more viable market. That is what a real pivot is. Pivoting is not "we have nothing but an idea, so we change our idea."
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badestrand 2418 days ago
> A bad idea, as long as it produces an asset of value, is okay. You can move your asset to a more viable market.

Sorry but it sounds to me that you are not speaking from experience but just from reading many "startup culture" posts. In reality there just are many startups that have ideas and build products that never get to profitability. Most even have users that love the product but that doesn't help you if you can't get enough money.

And ideas matter a lot. Some are just almost impossible to execute to profitability while others are a relatively easy win. I have seen both and no, you can not just "move the asset to a more viable market".

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ErikAugust 2418 days ago
Do you care to share what makes an idea matter? Do you have a framework?

Is Uber a bad idea, given it is not profitable?

Feel free to share your experience, since you are implying you have any.

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marcosdumay 2418 days ago
> A bad idea does mean you will fail.

Or pivot. If I'm remembering it right, PG has an entire essay about pivoting.

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UserIsUnused 2418 days ago
A quit is different from a "will do it on the side."
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