Ask HN: How do you deal with professional jealousy and getting older?

Re:Ask HN: How do you deal with professional jealousy and ge... by airmondii on Wednesday April 08, 2015 @10:08AM (#9340840)

Most successful businesses are not the result of passion projects. OP's problem isn't that he lacks ideas (so he claims), it's that he has the common affliction of not being able to follow through on them. Even if we all want to be Steve Jobs, most of us won't be.

But we probably do agree that constantly comparing oneself to others is not good for emotional well-being.

My advice to OP: don't focus on outcomes (ie, 'this 22 year-old did X, why haven't I?), focus on the process. Your goal should be to each day do work and spend your time in a way of which you would be proud. Avoid the hot and cold cycle of overwork / burnout and procrastination.

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Re:Ask HN: How do you deal with professional jealousy and ge... by llSourcell on Wednesday April 08, 2015 @11:28AM (#9341364)

> Most successful businesses are not the result of passion projects.

I would argue against that statement. What makes you say that? Passion is the necessary driving force to keep someone motivated enough to follow through.

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Re:Ask HN: How do you deal with professional jealousy and ge... by airmondii on Wednesday April 08, 2015 @11:58AM (#9341667)

Was Rockefeller passionate about oil? Sam Walton about discount pricing? I think most successful entrepreneurs are just natural-born businessmen, and the specifics of their industry are mostly incidental.

You're probably looking at this from inside the SV bubble, but I could make a similar case there, too. Plenty of apps just ride the latest trend, and would pivot in a heart beat if it made if it makes business sense.

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