Ask HN: Is being hungry enough to win?
8 comments
I recently unpacked this idea a bit and wrote about it, so it's fresh on my mind. I definitely think that success in business can be a game that is a combination of luck and of skill, and most people will say that you need the former more than the latter. Without a little bit of luck, your skill means nothing, because you will perpetually put it to use in a way that never results in success. But I think that's not the full picture, and success can also be a game of skill and determination.
Personally, I've been very unlucky in business. If you asked me if there was a catapult for my success, I would say there was none, though I tried to build multiple, and still do. They all failed, because like I said, I'm perpetually unlucky. But I've been very determined -- hardheaded, even -- and after nearly 10 years, I'm quite successful. Not quite above 7 figures yet, but that's really just a function of time -- and determination, of course.
Sometimes you may even feel unskilled simply because you feel unlucky, but time has usually shown that to be a false assumption. Waiting on luck would've made me give up a long time ago, while skill with relentlessness determination has paid off for me.
However, a hunger is not enough. You do need some skill, or at least some luck.
Personally, I've been very unlucky in business. If you asked me if there was a catapult for my success, I would say there was none, though I tried to build multiple, and still do. They all failed, because like I said, I'm perpetually unlucky. But I've been very determined -- hardheaded, even -- and after nearly 10 years, I'm quite successful. Not quite above 7 figures yet, but that's really just a function of time -- and determination, of course.
Sometimes you may even feel unskilled simply because you feel unlucky, but time has usually shown that to be a false assumption. Waiting on luck would've made me give up a long time ago, while skill with relentlessness determination has paid off for me.
However, a hunger is not enough. You do need some skill, or at least some luck.
> do you believe some people are just naturally lucky and everything they touch turns to gold?
No. What I do believe is that all of us are surrounded by opportunity of all sorts, all the time, and we generally don't even see it. The trick is to be able spot the opportunities that are relevant and interesting, and to be able to follow them. Some people are much better at this than others, and that can look like luck.
> are you a firm believer that with enough resilience and perseverance you'll finally make it?
Resilience, perseverance, luck and skill are all necessary ingredients to success, but success is never guaranteed on any time scale.
> how much would you say luck or natural privileges make their way into someone's success?
Not sure how to answer that. Luck has significant impact, as does whatever additional resources you can bring to the table. But I don't think those are determinative. There are a ton of variables that go into this.
> do you think you could build a successful business above and beyond 6-7 figures just by working hard and not giving up?
No. You also have to be alert, perceptive, flexible, smart, and lucky.
No. What I do believe is that all of us are surrounded by opportunity of all sorts, all the time, and we generally don't even see it. The trick is to be able spot the opportunities that are relevant and interesting, and to be able to follow them. Some people are much better at this than others, and that can look like luck.
> are you a firm believer that with enough resilience and perseverance you'll finally make it?
Resilience, perseverance, luck and skill are all necessary ingredients to success, but success is never guaranteed on any time scale.
> how much would you say luck or natural privileges make their way into someone's success?
Not sure how to answer that. Luck has significant impact, as does whatever additional resources you can bring to the table. But I don't think those are determinative. There are a ton of variables that go into this.
> do you think you could build a successful business above and beyond 6-7 figures just by working hard and not giving up?
No. You also have to be alert, perceptive, flexible, smart, and lucky.
As much as people want to believe that there is a tried and true formula for success, there isn't one. Many self-help books and videos want their customers to believe there is one, but if you get 100 determined and talented individuals to try their formula; you may get 100 different outcomes.
There are certainly traits and tactics that can enhance your chances for a good outcome, but nothing is guaranteed. Every story of success or failure is just another anecdote.
There are certainly traits and tactics that can enhance your chances for a good outcome, but nothing is guaranteed. Every story of success or failure is just another anecdote.
Things lining up (aka luck) is important but people who work hard create more opportunities for that to happen.
I don’t think it’s luck. I think it’s access to resources and strategy.
> or are you a firm believer that with enough resilience and perseverance you'll finally make it?
Well, I am a good example for this being total nonsense. I have wasted 10 years working on a project where I thought that time would make up for lack of money and employees. It did not. I just wasted a DECADE. Sure, I have learnt a ton, way more than I would have in any job. But still, a decade lost is a lot of missed opportunities.
So no, resilience is not the answer. It helps, but in the end it is just one of many things that are part of success. And let me tell you, and you will not like hearing this, but I have been alive for quite some time and seen how things work, and the sad and cold-blooded truth is that success is pure luck and your input matters very little. Some people take the "luck = preparation + opportunity" approach, but that is complete bs. Imagine you have Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Denzel Washington and Daniel Day-Lewis going for a role in a movie. What determines who gets the role? They are all prepared, experienced, confident.. but in the end, the director may feel more connection of Pacino with the character than Day-Lewis. Does it mean that Pacino is better than Lewis? No. It's just luck that Pacino got better chemistry with the director. You could say that ah, but the opportunity aspect of the equation matters. But dues it? Beside these aforementioned actors, there was open call and 500 actors came to read for the role. So how does opportunity have any input here? It does not. Just like preparation where a fool can find himself in a strange situation but is able to grasp that opportunity and make something out of it.
Luck is luck and we're merely it's subjects, like leafs in the wind. You are not guaranteed success in life. Instead, you should focus on the path, not the destination. You'll get there, somewhere, whatever there or it is. You have the power to pick the destination and walk the path, but you are not guaranteed you end up where you set out to.
Well, I am a good example for this being total nonsense. I have wasted 10 years working on a project where I thought that time would make up for lack of money and employees. It did not. I just wasted a DECADE. Sure, I have learnt a ton, way more than I would have in any job. But still, a decade lost is a lot of missed opportunities.
So no, resilience is not the answer. It helps, but in the end it is just one of many things that are part of success. And let me tell you, and you will not like hearing this, but I have been alive for quite some time and seen how things work, and the sad and cold-blooded truth is that success is pure luck and your input matters very little. Some people take the "luck = preparation + opportunity" approach, but that is complete bs. Imagine you have Al Pacino, Robert Redford, Denzel Washington and Daniel Day-Lewis going for a role in a movie. What determines who gets the role? They are all prepared, experienced, confident.. but in the end, the director may feel more connection of Pacino with the character than Day-Lewis. Does it mean that Pacino is better than Lewis? No. It's just luck that Pacino got better chemistry with the director. You could say that ah, but the opportunity aspect of the equation matters. But dues it? Beside these aforementioned actors, there was open call and 500 actors came to read for the role. So how does opportunity have any input here? It does not. Just like preparation where a fool can find himself in a strange situation but is able to grasp that opportunity and make something out of it.
Luck is luck and we're merely it's subjects, like leafs in the wind. You are not guaranteed success in life. Instead, you should focus on the path, not the destination. You'll get there, somewhere, whatever there or it is. You have the power to pick the destination and walk the path, but you are not guaranteed you end up where you set out to.
I disagree that success is simply good luck, and that input doesn't matter. I think you're biased because your attempt failed (which I sympathize with and I wish it didn't fail), but success is never promised. Sure, you were unlucky, but 99% of us are too. You didn't fail because of that. There was likely another reason, like a lack of product-market-fit. Misattributing failure to a lack of good luck, or bad luck, softens the failure by detaching it from you, but it also misattributes success as "good luck" when it shouldn't. I'll admit that I'm also biased, because my attempt didn't fail, but that doesn't change the fact that I'm perpetually unlucky yet still successful. Sometimes what we choose to spend our time on wasn't the right thing, and that's fine, but that doesn't mean spending your time on the right thing is always pure luck. We shouldn't collapse all uncertainty into a game of luck. If you asked the casting director exactly why they chose Day-Lewis over Denzel, you'd probably see that what looked like good luck from the outside actually wasn't luck at all.
Having questionable morals seems to help. Ruthlessly pursue profit or promotions and eventually someone, somewhere will sigh and relent.
I'm half joking. People with integrity and authenticity are too proud to commit wrongs. People with no conscience aren't inhibited by morals.
Though I'd prefer death before dishonor, personally.
I'm half joking. People with integrity and authenticity are too proud to commit wrongs. People with no conscience aren't inhibited by morals.
Though I'd prefer death before dishonor, personally.
or are you a firm believer that with enough resilience and perseverance you'll finally make it?
how much would you say luck or natural privileges make their way into someone's success?
do you think you could build a successful business above and beyond 6-7 figures just by working hard and not giving up?