Recap: What Startups Are Really Like by Paul Graham

Paul Graham is amazing! If you do not know who he is, click Here. He is one of the founders of Y Combinator. I found out about him from a post on twitter RT @expert20: What Startups Are Really Like. The post had a link to an essay that Paul wrote on startups. Read the article here.

To recap, it’s his categorization of the responses he collected from an email he sent out to the founders of startups that Y Combinator had funded. The question he posed was what surprised them the most about starting a startup. His article provides an explanation on each.

1. Be Careful with Cofounders
2. Startups Take Over Your Life
3. It's an Emotional Roller-coaster
4. It Can Be Fun
5. Persistence Is the Key
6. Think Long-Term
7. Lots of Little Things
8. Start with Something Minimal
9. Engage Users
10. Change Your Idea
11. Don't Worry about Competitors
12. It's Hard to Get Users
13. Expect the Worst with Deals
14. Investors Are Clueless
15. You May Have to Play Games
16. Luck Is a Big Factor
17. The Value of Community
18. You Get No Respect
19. Things Change as You Grow

I have experienced many of these, if not most. I am hoping 16 and 17 will happen soon.
If you have thought about a startup or know of a friend how is, read the article. I am sure you will enjoy it and find it very useful.