[staunch]

Well, I've been rejected 4-5 times now (various projects). I'll still keep applying but I'm certainly not relying on it by any means. My last project is still progressing and is an actual business. I can feel myself getting far better with each attempt. I've explored a lot of what not to do. At some point I'll either look good enough for YC or I'll succeed on my own. I'll keep applying so that the YC door is open, at least from my side.

Also, I have become better at dealing with professional rejection as a result of YC. It was one of the few things I've ever "applied" for, really wanted, and not gotten. So that alone was a powerful and useful learning experience.

Keep learning. Keep trying. Keep applying.

[mikeurbanski]

Applying to YC actually forces you to think about the things that you need to do to make a project work.

If you keep at it eventually you become more capable, start to find traction on your own, and you find that you've gained most of the skills that you thought you needed something like YC to teach you.

I spent my 20's grasping for something that was just out of reach, and I'm better for it.