Comments on: START-UP SCARS: 10 Times I’ve Fallen On My Face http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/ web entrepreneur | obsessed music fan | b-lo forever! Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:24:06 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Michael St. Hilaire http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-591 Michael St. Hilaire Fri, 17 Aug 2007 16:33:00 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-591 Your first startup reminds me of the idea I had back around 1996-97 to sell custom PCs. I even had ideas for a website where people could custom-configure their pc-s to order, and a few friends signed up to help me paint them various cool colors. At the time, it was very hard to get a good rate from a credit card company for a website, and I was looking at giving up most of my profit margin in paybacks to them. Also the website was going to be super-cool, but was going to take a long time to build, and I had a full time job to maintain. Eventually I decided the time commitment wasn't worth the risk, and quitting my job for this startup didn't seem like the prudent thing to do either. I still wonder if I could have been a Dell Jr. if I had just stuck my neck out a bit more. Your first startup reminds me of the idea I had back around 1996-97 to sell custom PCs. I even had ideas for a website where people could custom-configure their pc-s to order, and a few friends signed up to help me paint them various cool colors.

At the time, it was very hard to get a good rate from a credit card company for a website, and I was looking at giving up most of my profit margin in paybacks to them.

Also the website was going to be super-cool, but was going to take a long time to build, and I had a full time job to maintain. Eventually I decided the time commitment wasn’t worth the risk, and quitting my job for this startup didn’t seem like the prudent thing to do either.

I still wonder if I could have been a Dell Jr. if I had just stuck my neck out a bit more.

]]> By: Katie Martin http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-590 Katie Martin Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:37:09 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-590 Steve, you are an inspiration. Kudos for sharing your life lessons with us. There is one word to summarize this... innovation. Innovation is rapid reitteration. Trial and error. Learning from your mistakes. One of my favorite quotes to live by (and forgive me for I cannot recall the source), "Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time." Like Colin said, we commend you for cutting your losses quick. You know when something's not working and you learn from those experiences... now only if we could all figure that out! Steve, you are an inspiration. Kudos for sharing your life lessons with us.

There is one word to summarize this… innovation. Innovation is rapid reitteration. Trial and error. Learning from your mistakes.

One of my favorite quotes to live by (and forgive me for I cannot recall the source), “Stupidity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results each time.” Like Colin said, we commend you for cutting your losses quick. You know when something’s not working and you learn from those experiences… now only if we could all figure that out!

]]> By: Steven A Bristol http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-589 Steven A Bristol Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:08:47 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-589 Thanks for sharing your "scars" with us :). I just found a website that let's people share there own scars and mistakes. And learn from others. http://weareonlyhuman.com I have been spending way to much time just going from story to story, it's really cool. Thanks for sharing your “scars” with us :) . I just found a website that let’s people share there own scars and mistakes. And learn from others. http://weareonlyhuman.com I have been spending way to much time just going from story to story, it’s really cool.

]]> By: Dennis http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-588 Dennis Mon, 26 Mar 2007 02:44:16 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-588 Great stories. I really love the one day of fame idea. You should reallllly go through with that project even if its on a casual level. On another note, we'd love for you to post some of your stories on our site: http://www.weareonlyhuman.com. Its a site for just these types of lessons. Great stories. I really love the one day of fame idea. You should reallllly go through with that project even if its on a casual level.

On another note, we’d love for you to post some of your stories on our site: http://www.weareonlyhuman.com. Its a site for just these types of lessons.

]]> By: Jimmy http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Jimmy Sat, 24 Mar 2007 07:59:38 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-586 Steve, I commend you for sharing your experiences. One of my favorite quotes is "Failure is the blueprint to success." On my new blog, I will be starting to chronicle my startup (one that has been in the works for a few months) and share it with readers that might be interested in following it in a case study style. I've also posted something about embracing failure as long as you learn from it ( http://founderscafe.com/?p=22 ). I've enjoyed your blog tremendously and wish you nothing but the best. Steve,

I commend you for sharing your experiences. One of my favorite quotes is “Failure is the blueprint to success.” On my new blog, I will be starting to chronicle my startup (one that has been in the works for a few months) and share it with readers that might be interested in following it in a case study style.

I’ve also posted something about embracing failure as long as you learn from it ( http://founderscafe.com/?p=22 ). I’ve enjoyed your blog tremendously and wish you nothing but the best.

]]> By: Graydon http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-587 Graydon Sat, 24 Mar 2007 05:06:21 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-587 I was inspired... http://ideas.marlincreek.com/content/view/126/1/ That's a follow up to my comment from above. I was inspired…

http://ideas.marlincreek.com/content/view/126/1/

That’s a follow up to my comment from above.

]]> By: Graydon http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-585 Graydon Sat, 24 Mar 2007 03:49:26 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-585 re #9 - aboutcodes - How 'bout this... while watching tv through your "to be named set top box" you see something that looks interesting... just click on the "bookmark" button on the remote... what happens next I'll have to think about, but much easier than calling some number. re #9 – aboutcodes – How ’bout this… while watching tv through your “to be named set top box” you see something that looks interesting… just click on the “bookmark” button on the remote… what happens next I’ll have to think about, but much easier than calling some number.

]]> By: Steve Poland http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-582 Steve Poland Fri, 23 Mar 2007 22:04:16 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-582 @Chris -- not sure really :) There's a way to do it without charging money too -- what I'm thinking now. Maybe the more people you get to sign-up/visit the website, the more points you accrue -- and whomever has the most points at X point of the day, gets featured the next day. Something's there... [to make it viral]. @Chris — not sure really :) There’s a way to do it without charging money too — what I’m thinking now. Maybe the more people you get to sign-up/visit the website, the more points you accrue — and whomever has the most points at X point of the day, gets featured the next day. Something’s there… [to make it viral].

]]> By: Chris http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-581 Chris Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:48:11 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-581 I liked the One Day of Fame idea for sure - what stopped you on that one? I liked the One Day of Fame idea for sure – what stopped you on that one?

]]> By: Laura http://blog.stevepoland.com/start-up-scars-10-times-ive-fallen-on-my-face/comment-page-1/#comment-580 Laura Fri, 23 Mar 2007 21:11:58 +0000 http://stevepoland.com/?p=176#comment-580 Some of my favorite business mantras are about failure: "Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently." Henry Ford and "If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate." Thomas Watson, Sr (former IBM president) We only about a year apart in age (based on your time line), and I can produce a similar list. Be proud of it. :) Laura Some of my favorite business mantras are about failure:

“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently.” Henry Ford

and

“If you want to increase your success rate, double your failure rate.” Thomas Watson, Sr (former IBM president)

We only about a year apart in age (based on your time line), and I can produce a similar list. Be proud of it. :)

Laura

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