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Should You Follow Your Passion? – Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel
13 segments available
Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel talk about solutions in search of a problem, whether or not to follow your passion, how to figure out what to work on, and how to motivate yourself. To create Rookies Mistakes we asked YC founders: Is there a simple fact you wish you knew when you started your company or a rookie mistake you wish you could take back? https://twitter.com/daltonc https://twitter.com/mwseibel Chapters (Powered by https://bit.ly/chapterme-yc) - 00:00:00 - Rookie mistakes 00:00:30 - Note from YC founder 00:00:53 - SISP - Solution In Search of a Problem 00:01:33 - Have an opinion 00:01:56 - != School 00:03:09 - How are you supposed to figure out what work on? 00:03:15 - What to do 00:03:36 - Follow your passion? 00:07:22 - No approval 00:08:42 - Motivators 00:10:33 - Traction 00:13:36 - New Passions 00:13:59 - Setting up motivators 00:14:59 - Game yourself 00:16:51 - Intrinsic motivators
Segments Timeline
The Secret to Passion
Michael Seibel introduces the concept of passion in startups, emphasizing that success, users, and revenue are what truly keep founders attached to their ideas. He shares insights from YC founders about the rookie mistake of pursuing technology without a clear problem to solve.
"guess what gives you passion you want to hear the secret guess what keeps you attached to an idea that damn thing working success users revenue numbers that makes a lot of these folks that have no par..."
Solution in Search of a Problem
Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel define the term 'solution in search of a problem,' explaining how many startups begin with a technology they find exciting but struggle to identify a market need. They discuss the historical context of this issue and its prevalence in Silicon Valley.
"in said we chose to create a company around a hot technology we were really excited about the tech we eventually raised funds because there were enough investors who were excited about it too but now ..."
The School Metaphor
Seibel draws a parallel between startup culture and school, explaining how founders often lack strong opinions about their market. He discusses how traditional education rewards task completion over opinion formation, leading to a superficial approach in startups.
"happens a lot with technologists that happens a lot with silicon valley where they start with the technology they think is cool and they try to find a market for it second now the core thing that i wa..."
Finding What to Work On
Caldwell and Seibel explore how to determine what to work on in a startup. They critique the common advice to 'follow your passion,' suggesting that many people misinterpret this guidance and end up pursuing projects without real-world problems.
"of what you're doing and kind of going through the motions versus the damn thing actually working you know we talked about the surface issues let's go deeper how are you actually supposed to figure ou..."
Real Problems vs. Theoretical Issues
The discussion shifts to the difference between real problems faced by individuals and theoretical issues that people feel they should care about. Seibel emphasizes the importance of addressing genuine problems that affect people's lives.
"part one there are people out there that have real problems that encounter real problems on a daily basis um they are passionate about solving those real problems and they can actually see even in the..."
The Genesis of Microsoft and Apple
Caldwell reflects on the origins of Microsoft and Apple, highlighting how their founders were driven by genuine interest in technology rather than market trends. This segment emphasizes the importance of passion in pursuing projects that matter to the founders.
"i'm happy to talk about the other things that you can trigger on if you don't have that real problem in your life but what do you think about the people who do have the real problem in their lives and..."
No Approval Needed
Seibel discusses the importance of pursuing projects without seeking approval from authority figures. He argues that true passion comes from working on problems that resonate personally, regardless of external validation.
"back to having an opinion or being passionate i think it's finding stuff that like you care about even if there was no money in it and that you're doing it even if there's no approval from it from aut..."
Motivation Beyond Passion
Caldwell and Seibel explore alternative motivators for startup founders, such as working with friends and enjoying the freedom of entrepreneurship. They discuss how these factors can sustain motivation even when passion for the project wanes.
"you can be passionate about in the context of startups that can motivate you to grind it out for years because like that's the bar right like what are you gonna work on when everyone thinks it's a gre..."
The Role of Success in Passion
Seibel highlights how success and user engagement can foster passion for a project. He shares insights from his experience with Twitch, illustrating how initial traction can lead to a deeper commitment to the work.
"what gives you passion you want to hear the secret guess what's keeps you attached to an idea that damn thing working success users revenue numbers that makes a lot of these folks that have no particu..."
Sports Analogy for Founders
Caldwell uses a sports analogy to explain how success breeds passion. He discusses how early achievements in a startup can motivate founders to invest more effort and become more engaged in their work.
"video online and i can't say that we were that passionate about streaming live video online but certainly when we put something out there we started people seeing people use it they were and even thou..."
Setting Up Motivators
Seibel emphasizes the importance of setting up psychological motivators for startup founders. He discusses how creating clear goals and metrics, such as revenue, can enhance motivation and lead to better outcomes.
"say hey look you got a team of two three four people um maybe you're gonna have one or two who are passionate about the problem because they've experienced it or because it's a life work or so and so ..."
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Caldwell and Seibel contrast intrinsic and extrinsic motivators in the startup world. They argue that while extrinsic motivators may lead to initial success, intrinsic motivators are crucial for long-term sustainability and fulfillment.
"motivators um like psychological motivators around you to intentionally game yourself like very intentionally the same way you would be you know training a pet or something you train yourself right an..."
Avoiding the Extrinsic Motivation Trap
The final segment warns against the dangers of relying on extrinsic motivation in startups. Caldwell and Seibel encourage founders to focus on intrinsic motivators and to pursue projects that genuinely interest them, even if they are not trendy.
"cool this is a this is the type of person who's thinking that there should be extrinsic motivators that startups are based on these extrinsic motivators the folks who are willing to work on something ..."