I wasted $40k on a fantastic startup idea (2020)
I loved story. And you wanna know what? I like people with a pulse. The guy tried something out. He took a chance. He tried to make his own luck. And you co-re-discovered some foundational truths along the way that the experience has made more immediate and penetrating for him. Which helps us/me because he can convey it with conviction.<p>I wanted to riff of a couple of points:<p>'“Yeah okay that’s great but nobody cares about this math crap. You need doctors.” Goddamnit he was right. If nobody could be bothered with the math, then I was no better than Gwyneth Paltrow hawking vagina eggs. To build trust I needed to get endorsements from trustworthy people.'<p>This slightly miscommunicates how it works; it's even more annoying. True you need the people usually first. But one day it will come down to math/science. And if you don't have that right the same people will roll their eyes at that too even if they can't spell math.<p>And "Occasionally I like to disconnect from the IV drip of internet pseudoknowledge and learn stuff from books. I know, it’s weird—maybe even a bit hipster. But recently I read Wharton’s introductory marketing textbook, Strategic Marketing Management."<p>I'm sending this in from the engineering cheerleading club: Never apologize or down play reading (a book) or writing. It's good! The other side doesn't get it? That's why you need a pulse so not to care about such things.<p>In the alternative? Get a 12-pack and re-watch the 'Breakfast Club' with the other side. In the end we all play more than one roles and we all could use help on the way.