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Need some advice before going "all in" on my start up project

9 points by tbergeron ↗ HN
Hi,

My name is Tommy and I'm 24 years old. I've been a hacker since I was 14 and an analyst programmer/software engineer since I was 21. I'm a school drop-out (I was actually studying languages and my passion brought me back to programming). I'll try not to turn this into a wall of text ;-)

[edit: I forgot to mention, I'm from Québec, Canada but I can speak both French and English very well.]

Since about three years, I have in mind to start my own thing but I've been waiting for the right idea, the right people and the right tools. Now I have the right people and the right tools, I have plenty of ideas but none of them are in my opinion "worth of being paid for".

What I'd really like to do is to create an online service that would fix a problem in our world right now, something that people would use to help get their work done (I really LOVE productivity tools). But it seems everytime I find some "good" idea, there's already someone who's already doing it right. (I know I shouldn't block myself because it already exists but I know we could build something really amazing).

We are a two very passionate, skilled, focused, and open minded persons, I really believe in us but I really need lots of advice (I've been asking over and over again about it, I always need more advice). I read a lot of books and blogs about startups and entrepreneurship and I always want more.

Here's some question you could help by answering:

1) Is there any good resources / way / book / movie you could suggest to open my eyes a bit more to find new out-of-the-box ideas?

2) Is there any experiences you could share, do's and dont's that would be useful for a young "entrepreneur" such as me?

3) Who are your idols / who do you think succeeded with his/hers ideas that I could get inspiration from?

I'm open for any suggestions or criticism. I believe criticism is the best way to gain wisdom.

Thanks very much and have a wonderful day!

- Tommy

11 comments

[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 43.9 ms ] thread
tablet
1 there are many book on creativity techniques, you can find many of them in the web. I can recommend Thinkertoys: a handbook on creative-thinking techniques. Business Model Generation is also a good one.

2 get the idea and start as early as possible. Don't waste much time on idea generation, a month or two will be enough. When you start, you will learn. And knowledge is the most valuable thing in your first product. Be ready to start over with new skills and wisdom. But it may happen that the first idea will bring good revenue. Be ready for that as well :)

3 I like Steve Jobs. From what I read his thinking style is cool.

tbergeron
Thanks for the suggestions, I'll check those out for sure!

I like Jobs as well, kind of hard on people but he had an idea and followed it to the end and that's remarkable.

Exposure101
I'm 25, and I'm in the same boat kinda. Read the book Rework, it is amazing.

As far as the out of the box ideas, don't think about making ideas to make money, solve problems...sometimes, try to solve problems people don't even know exist yet.

I just quit my job to do...whatever I'm going to do...full time. I've been saving money, and I just decided...I'm smart enough, dedicated enough, it's time. Do I suggest this for everyone? No, not really. I've been working at night on projects for about 9 months and I'm just ...ready.

I suggest more savings, more planning, and more working at night until you really decide its time. Run your own company, on your own time, until you get that ...urge. It may be 3 months from now, or 3 years. Either way, as long as you can pay your bills and eat, either with savings or side jobs. Do what you love, make tools you want, learn as much as you can, and change the world. Email me whenever you feel like. Tyler.Exposure (a) gmail.com

tbergeron
Haha I didn't read Rework yet but I read Getting Things Done which is by Jason Fried & DHH as well, amazing book.

[sometimes, try to solve problems people don't even know exist yet.]

This is an amazing and interesting advice, thanks for pointing it out!

[No, not really. I've been working at night on projects for about 9 months and I'm just ...ready.]

This is where I'm heading, it's been 6 crazy months working at night, with the software engineer job I currently have on the day. But the time is coming soon, I feel more and more ready everyday, I have faith in me and my peers are pushing me to it as well, timing seems excellent I really can't wait! Focusing on my day job is becoming really, really hard hehe.

Thanks a lot, this is very helpful and I'll sure email you soon! Thanks again!

aorshan
When I'm trying to come up with new or interesting ideas, I like to turn to Science Fiction. I rewatch a movie or reread a book, thinking about what technology and cool ideas they have, and see if there is anything that could be made.
tbergeron
This is very interesting! I never thought of this before, thanks for sharing!
digitalWestie
I think you should look for instance where people use tools in a way that their creator did not intend.

I wrote a blog post about this actually: http://makingideasreal.eu/post/3701390062/how-to-discover-or...

tbergeron
This is a very nice way of thinking! I always find myself using tools in non-conventional ways to get my work done.

Maybe re-inventing the wheel isn't bad after all, just need to re-invent it for those who weren't using it as a "wheel".

Thanks for sharing! Very good article!

briholt
In general, I'd say you're right that the fact that "some one else already does it" shouldn't stop you from taking on a project. Almost every successful site on the Net was NOT the first to do what they do (Google, Facebook, Basecamp, MailChimp, SurveyMonkey, Woofoo, WordPress, etc.) yet they're all pretty amazing. The largest factor of your success/failure will probably be your determination, so just go ahead and pick the thing you'll be most likely to love doing for the next X years.