[architgupta]

Empirically, the way to do really big things seems to be to start with deceptively small things. Want to dominate microcomputer software? Start by writing a Basic interpreter for a machine with a few thousand users. Want to make the universal web site? Start by building a site for Harvard undergrads to stalk one another.

http://paulgraham.com/ambitious.html

[davidw]

> Empirically, the way to do really big things seems to be to start with deceptively small things.

Well, to really pursue that argument, you'd also want to look at how many "deceptively small things" stayed small and never amounted to much of anything.

[facorreia]

Apparently the key is in being a "deceptively" small thing, not plain small...

[davidw]

And the best way to tell is to look back from 20 years hence and see...