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You Won’t Believe What Running a Startup is Really Like

…until you’ve actually done it.

If you’re running a startup, or thinking about it, or have an inclination that some day you want to, or you work at one, go read Paul Graham’s latest essay, What Startups Are Really Like.

For me it reads like my “startup autobiography”. He’s publishing a list of “surprises” that he asked Y Combinator members to send him about startup life. Nearly every single one of them is something I’ve experienced. And I can guarantee you that’s the same for most startup founders.

  • People can tell you all they want about what it’s like to run a startup (including me!), but until they’ve done so themselves, they really don’t know.
  • And on top of that, you won’t really listen anyway – until you’ve jumped in, started a company and you’re off to the races. Then, as you experience these “surprises” you’ll remember what you were once told (or read) about startups, and hopefully benefit from that knowledge.

But you have to experience it to believe it.

If you enjoyed this post, please share it!

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October 27, 2009 Posted in Startups by

  • http://www.franchisebuzz.com.au/franchise-opportunity/own-a-car-wash-franchise/ Car Wash Franchise

    That is so true! When I first started my business no one could tell me what to do, and it wasn't til later that I realised I should have listened.

  • http://www.lastellablu.com/ Baby Slings

    Running a start up business is way more work than anybody can imagine. However the ability to take ownership and move it in any direction makes it so rewarding.

  • http://www.cheapcard.org/ Saturn _ prepaid calling cards

    thanks for the extremely useful link to Paul Graham’s latest essay you're giving here, this essay added some new ideas to my not too big experience :)

  • http://claimid.com/nl-marketing Next Level marketing

    I have been there…

  • oweeng2

    I totally agree with this article. Thanks for the useful info.

  • http://www.autoinsurancecomparisonsonline.info/ Zoo

    Like in life,anything that you are new at,it's hard in the beginning

  • http://www.aqua-spas.com/ Hot Tubs Wales

    Starting your own business is hard work, you have to be multi skilled and always willing to learn. You will also have to put more hours in compared to a regular job.

  • http://jrab.etsy.com/ Jeremy

    Very nice to see small Web entrepreneurs sharing their knowledge. The days of “Get Rich Quick” books & tapes are long over…people are too saavy.

    http://jrab.etsy.com

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    I am agree with you.Really it is a very tough job.

  • http://muislife.com/ Pelabuhan

    Very good article, give more inspiration to manage my blog

  • ghananews

    I totally agree with this article. Thanks for the useful info.

  • http://www.finexo.com/ Forex

    Running a Start-up in this financal climate – what a challanging task. I've been a part of an online company that had so many difficulties…

  • http://needcube.com/ Gery

    I have been there too and I am that stage again. It is way harder than working for a multinational company…:)

  • http://wbsonline.com/resources/owner-s-checklist-for-starting-a-new-business/ WBS

    That is a great list. Even working for a startup is a unique adventure that you have to experience to understand. It may be harder than working for an established company, but being on the ground level of something exciting can be really rewarding.

  • http://www.fatboybeanbags.ie/bean-bags.html Bean Bags

    Thsi really resonates as I started up my online Bean Bag company earlier this year in June. The amount of advice I got from so called experts telling me how to go about it was phenomenal. Unless you get your feet dirty in the trenches you will never know how much work is involved.

  • http://www.findblogideas.com/ Blog Ideas

    This is very true, I've seen that situation first hand, Its a very hard thing to accomplish.

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    However, the legislator in Turkey has lately acted cunningly to circumvent this above referred provision of the Turkish Constitution.

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    Pretty good information glad to see something wit comun sense are writing this articles, this way we can avoid lies.Thank you <a href=” http://www.cuidatumiembro.com/alargamiento-pene/“> alargamiento pene

  • http://www.deadale.com/ deadale

    youre right..
    this is a very interesting post..
    great!!

  • http://www.tiensshop.com/ Tiens shop

    I believe starting a startup business is so difficult and entails a lot of hardwork.So one has to be perseverant if you want to suceed.

  • http://www.tiensshop.com/ Tiens shop

    I believe starting a startup business is so difficult and entails a lot of hardwork.So one has to be perseverant if you want to suceed.

  • http://www.tiensshop.com/ Tiens shop

    I believe starting a startup business is so difficult and entails a lot of hardwork.So one has to be perseverant if you want to suceed.

  • http://www.tiensshop.com/ Tiens shop

    I believe starting a startup business is so difficult and entails a lot of hardwork.So one has to be perseverant if you want to suceed.

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About Ben Yoskovitz
I recently joined GoInstant as VP Product. GoInstant changes how we use the web, making it shareable like never before.

I'm also a Founding Partner at Year One Labs, an early stage accelerator in Montreal. Previously I founded Standout Jobs (and sold it). I'm a hands-on startup guy, helping companies grow successfully from the idea forward. You can reach me at byosko at gmail dot com.

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