Ask HN: Am I crazy?
I have known for some time that there's something different in the brain of an entrepreneur that changes the way they see the world, and I want to find out what that is.
So I want to set out to find entrepreneurs, either through appointment or serendipity, and spend a little time with them. Just get to know how they decided to do what they do, what keeps them going, what their hopes and dreams are, etc. I posit that there's commonalities to be found there and a lot of insight to be gained from those commonalities. My contacts are somewhat slim, and it would probably be reasonable to spend a few years building up more, but something tells me now is the time to do this and it's getting harder and harder to ignore.
I spent some time as a freelance writer, so I believe I can make the result compelling and interesting. But there's a lot of things I need to work out, and this is where I need your help: - Do I have enough money to do this long enough to produce anything of substance? (numbers at the end of the post) - How should I publish this? It could be a blog that I update regularly, an ebook that I put together as I go, a physical book (leaning away from this for many reasons) or some combination thereof? - Can I somehow monetize this as I'm working on it so as to extend my trip? - How should I pitch the project to potential subjects? Free publicity? Altruism?
Numbers: A trip from Chicago(where I live) to NY, boston, New Orleans, Austin, SF, Seattle, back to chicago is 7695 miles. I'm thinking $700 for gas, oil changes, and some other tune-up stuff before I leave/along the way. If I eliminate the west coast, this drops to around 4000 miles, If I just do SF and Seattle (this is probably what I'll end up doing) I end up with around 5000 miles.
I have no aversion to couch surfing, sleeping in my car or camping, all of which I've done plenty of. With around 5 days of pure driving, I can spend a month doing this at just over $20/day to spend on food/bribery.
My hope would be to get around 15-20 case studies of at least an hour or so interview time, plus maybe shadowing and secondary interviews. Though this is flexible. I think this would be enough for a worthwhile product.
So. Am I crazy? Should I do it? Suggestions? Volunteers? Donations...?
Also, you can email me at alex |at| mohrslaws.com
94 comments
[ 2.6 ms ] story [ 160 ms ] threadSounds like fun.
As for the validation that you're seeking, I've seen people do much crazier things that have turned out well. Which is all to say that, yes, the idea is crazy -- maybe even just crazy enough to work if you are committed to it. It sounds like the downside risk to you is pretty minimal, so why not?
To get you started, here's your first tip from an entrepreneur: don't be too attached to the outcome you have planned now. Just like in a startup, once you start on your adventure, you may find that going in a different direction looks more promising. Take the first step, then go where opportunity leads you.
Worst case, you lose the $1500 and end up looking for a job. Not so bad, is it?
You should start blogging about your plans (your route, what you're taking with you, who you want to talk to, etc.) immediately...it won't bring in any revenue, but it will (hopefully) get you in touch with enough people willing to help along the way. Video might also be helpful. Once you're actually setting out, you might be able to get enough traffic to bring in some cash. The blogging process is also good for other things...it makes you a better writer, and if you get some traffic it might catch the attention of a publisher or magazine editor.
Also, you can crash at my place when you get to Silicon Valley, if you like.
I think it's a great idea, but there's no way you've got enough money to do this and take it to the point where it's publishable or monetizable. $1500 is like one month's rent in SF. While you can stretch that out by couchsurfing or camping, there'll be a lot of other expenses (gas? car breaking down? cell phone bills for all the calls you'll need to setup interviews?) And you'll need a lot of time to condense your interviews into something worth reading, and then more time and money to publish it (even if just online).
Again, I think it's a great idea, and it could work well if your parents don't mind you bumming around the house while you collect your notes and make it into a book or blog series or whatever. But if you don't have their support, it may be better to spend a year or so working and save up $10-20k first.
My degree is in Political science with concentrations in computer science and economics. I also have about half a degree in physics and a whole lot of coursework (around the reqs for a minor) in math, english, and music.
shoot me an email and let us host you for a few nights in palo alto, no costs -- jared /at graffitigeo /dot com
I personally got a degree in math with a minor in philosophy and a large number of credits in computer science and several very random credits in other fields, but that came about from changing my mind about my major a couple of times.
we have a tent you can borrow for a few nights if you'd like, won't charge. look up the palo alto hacker house and if interested email me (jared /at graffitigeo /dot com). we have people who have dropped out of school, left jobs, etc. and would probably be open to letting you profile a bit.
If you are happy about your idea, do it without a doubt.
~Matt (met my wife while travelling and ended up in the USA)
If I understood correctly, you plan the trip so that 1500$ pays for the trip. So on day 1 after the trip you have 0$? Then what?
That aside it is a good idea, probably you'll be invited to lots of things, get donations, maybe even some chances to work.
And a really good story.
One problem is timing. It's not sufficient to turn the interviews into enough money, you have to make that happen at the right time.
I think that your budget is a bit low, but that doesn't mean that this will be more doable later or that it's not doable now.
Hopefully, I could offer enough exposure to present an incentive, but this only really works for the less established.
Even those that get seed capital are usually interested in talking with interesting people... and if you do this right you will end up with a lot of contacts, and thus be a very valuable person, even without publicity. There is a lot of value to be had in saying "oh, I talked to this other guy last week who was doing something that would complement your product or service."
I suspect that you'll get better stories from folks who didn't get VC funding. Lots of writers try to get stories from people who are likely to become famous or already are, but the others are likely to have better stories.
Also, many people want their story told, not for biz reasons, but because the think that their life has something useful to show other people.
The guy who wrote "The Soul of the New Machine" says that some of the managers said later that having someone around to chronicle the effort improved the experience. He wasn't sure if they were joking when they said that they were going to try to arrange to have a writer around the next time.
In other words, think bard.
Good luck, and definitely do it.
(as long as you do not mind my creaking roof - ear plugs provided!)
I would set aside enough money to take Greyhound back to wherever you plan to call home afterwards (from the furthest point away, so you cannot get stranded), then plan out cost to ride Greyhound from place to place. This should give you cheaper day to day costs, but puts you at the mercy of where you're going.
This is where the blog/donate will help out. Put at least a week's notice of what date you plan on being in which city, look for folks to interview and a spot to crash. Ideally you'll be able to "tail" someone for a day or two to really see how their business goes while you're interviewing them. This also would provide for a very interesting read (a day in the life of a entrepreneurs, and not just 1 famous guy, even just in the trenches never heard of them before entrepreneurs). And along the way, share what you've learned with readers and subsequent interviewees.
And even if everything goes smoothly you can find yourself at the end of your adventure with no money at all. Of course you can set up a donations site but you never know how much donations you will get.
A good way to hang out with entrepenurs without risking your neck would be to get a job with a start-up or a small company. Or you can start a consulting biz that helps small companies (such as website creation, fixing setting up computers, etc.)
If you make it to Austin, you can probably sleep on my air mattress and I might be able to introduce you to a couple of people.
but it sounds like fun. if you make it to silicon valley be sure to check out the hacker dojo in mountain view: http://hackerdojo.pbworks.com/
Do start a website, and make sure you give your sponsors plenty of publicity. But make the project cool.
If I wasn't spending every penny I can on hardware, (or if I wasn't selling out faster than I can get new servers up) I'd buy some advertising. As it is, I'd be happy to give you some hosting, if you don't have any, and if you make it down here I'll buy or make you dinner.
You should pitch it as "I'm doing this really cool thing, and I think you are really interesting and would add something cool to the project" which should be true. Be aware that respondents will be motivated both by being part of something cool, but mostly by the publicity. But then, it's not good publicity unless it's cool, right?
You probably want to setup the website and build some excitement ahead of time.
so go out and make something cool.