How could this be perceived as anything but a massive failure in today’s world? Would Stripe even be investable today? Which investors would ever think that only launching after two years of work and with 50 users would ever be the beginning of something gigantic?
I can’t see how anybody would be happy with this today. And yet, almost imperceptibly, Patrick and John were painstakingly laying the foundation for something that was built to last and built to grow strong and immovable like a Sequoia. How can mushroom growth rates produce anything other than mushroom longevity?
I’m not saying that real value CAN’T be built quickly. But I think it’s far more common than we like to talk about that founders work for two, three, four, seven, even fifteen years before something extremely valuable is born into the world and really takes off.
James Dyson worked on the design of his vacuum cleaner for 5 years before he got to a working prototype and 8 years before it became a commercial product.
Dylan Field worked on Figma for four years before launching a *closed* beta.
Tim Leatherman worked on his idea and prototype for 8 years before he had his first multitool design that was ready to sell.
Palmer Luckey spent about 7 years from the time he began working on VR prototypes before Oculus released the first consumer headset.
Jensen Huang started Nvidia in 1993 and it wasn’t until 4 years later in 1997 that they had their first major commercial success with the RIVA 128.
Steve Wozniak was the fastest and went from an idea for a personal computer in 1975 to the Apple II release 2 years later in 1977.
Time and again the reality is that great things take time to build. I’m not saying it doesn’t take hard work. I’m definitely not saying it doesn’t take determination and extreme focus. But it does take time. I think we try and pretend that it doesn’t take time and lift up the seeming exceptions to the rule.
Why not be honest and instead focus on the determination and extreme grit that it takes to keep building for years before any outward success arises or glory is received?
I hope we can be honest with young founders and repeat these stories again and again so that they learn to work thanklessly for years before the outward vindication comes, because that’s what it really takes.
@CaryCheshireTX Why the hate? The LDS humanitarian arm has maintained a formal, decades-long partnership with Catholic agencies for international projects, clean water programs, and food security. Why can't we all just love and defend each other? That's what Jesus did. He lead with compassion.
@andrewglynch My husband and I went to a movie, ate popcorn, were highly entertained. We came home talked, and laughed and then went to bed at 11:30pm. We don't do this every night. Usually we are routined. But we live life for each other, not for ourselves. That means ditch routines sometimes
@hthieblot Yes. I think that is why many female entrepreneurs were former athletes. Bc in sports, we have weeks, months & years of 2 a-days,practices,off season prep & conditioning all to get to the game. Resilience and belief is born in us. We play it out in sport first,then our businesses
I think the challenge is that everyone can now build apps
But
1) almost nobody has distribution (like an audience), or
2) the money to pay for distribution (ads or UGC), or
3) the creative genius to get distribution for free (classically called guerilla marketing)
The weirdest thing about this, is #Hegseth is comparing the brave alliance troops storming the beaches, to "invading migrants"... and saying Europe should be more like the Nazis to defend their beaches. Ignorant indignation and superiority = face plant
@signulll Instead of saying people we like and communicate well should be President (and I do like Hunter) why not say he should be running communications for the Dems. That's where he would thrive.
I agree with this. Policing is essential. Investment in social good is essential. NYC, Baltimore and others have proven carceral strategies alone, fail.
Entering month 6 of the Mamdani mayorship of NYC and Robberies are down 11%, Retail theft is down 19%, and Murder is down an astounding 21%.
And he did so without "Adding 5000 new cops" to the streets. Instead, he's invested in public safety with free childcare, accessible infrastructure, and better funded schools and libraries. He's proven once again that if we want safer communities, we must invest in People—not Punishments.
Last week, I was proud to welcome New Yorkers as they moved into their new apartments at Willets Point in Queens — the city’s largest affordable housing project in forty years.
Earlier that day, I met residents whose NYCHA homes in Brooklyn will finally receive the repairs and renovations they deserve through the Public Housing Preservation Trust.
We're building the affordable homes our city needs, preserving the affordable homes we already have, and investing in public housing in every borough so that working people can continue to call this city home.
Trump tells @annmarie the idea of the gov't owning AI companies excites him, that the specific AI companies he's interested in the gov't owning are all of them, that his economic views aren't far from Bernie's, and that Bernie voters are Trump voters.
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