DISQUS

john · 1 year ago

hypomania... gosh, that is so true.

oroebuck · 1 year ago

Someone needs to pass this article out to all of the business guys in Silicon Valley.

Orlando · 1 year ago

It is thus crucial to note that the entrepreneurial function can be combined into the same package as a techie (Bill Gates), a sales guy (Mark Cuban), a UI maven (arguably Steve Jobs), or a financial guy (Mike Bloomberg). And that it is the critical piece that ultimately (if things work out) gets the big bucks.

I agree, for the most part. But, I think you are using "techie" is bit loosely. What do you mean by techie? Designer? Developer? Front-end? Back-end? Two? Three? All? There are all different skillsets and typically use different technology. The whole motivation behind Flex was to make Flash(a designer's tool) more accessible to developers. However, that doesn't mean that the developer automatically aquires "design" skills. I previously exchanged emails with Darron Schall, who I'm sure you know. When asked how his design skills were, he humbly replied something alon g the lines of "not good".

Software development is not rocket science. A good entrepreneur must asses his/her weaknesses and fill them. Someone once told me that, "Business is a team sport", and I agree. Given that the UI is the only part of the application that the customer sees, it's imperative that it shine. As an entreprenuer, if you can't do it...find someone who can. And, work on another part of the application...if you have your medication :-)

evbart · 1 year ago

I know David has already read this one (more than once?), so I wanted to share it with the rest...

The Hypomanic Edge
http://www.hypomanicedge.com/

I think the idea was that multiple people can come together to meet the "Execution" requirement. It doesn't mean you have to have one super human person (though it is possible) that can do databases, front end, sales, marketing, etc