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Comment by natch | Hacker News Reader

The chances your idea is both unique and useful are essentially nil.

It's probably not new. Just enjoy the thought "won't it be cool when somebody starts a company that does X" and realize that you are not that person (skill / life stage mismatch).

But you could also develop the idea quietly on the side while in school. If not the tech, then the legal aspects and some market and competitive research. Then if the opportunity is still not taken by others in a couple years, do more.

Also you should read some lists of business/tech ideas others have already had. There are plenty of such lists out on the interwebs. For example pet sitter for after you die, ok, whatever. If you find your idea on these lists, that tells you something... maybe there are better ideas. But if you don't, the converse is not necessarily true (it doesn't mean your idea is good).

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Maybe not unique, but useful (I think). Nothing's really that new under the sun. I, personally, think it's hiding in plain sight. All besides the point. It's an idea, and I'm just looking at the best possible angle to tackle execution. You've probably met many people who have said they have "The next Facebook/Google" [insert mega company]... I'm by no means saying that, so there's no reason to put so much effort into trying to convince me my idea is horrible and/or has been done, thought of, etc. Maybe my idea is absolute garbage, I won't even know for sure until it actually flops, though.

I also never said it was unique in the sense that it's a brand new concept. It's not. It's simple, and there are derivatives out there (kinda, ish, but not exactly), but i think there's an opportunity here for something (sorta) new.

"my idea" there's the problem. You are elevating it to a higher status than it deserves. It's "an idea" not your idea. One of many you'll have if you stay open minded. Don't fixate on it, that's all. There are billions, trillions, maybe more, ideas, many of them great. Just focus on preparing yourself to execute on any idea. I'm speaking as someone who has had many ideas, and time and ability to execute very, very few of them.

What the hell are you even talking about? "There" is not the problem. Nowhere did I say anything close to what you're alluding to. That I'm closing off potential future ideas? You've run off on a series of tangents since your original post, none of which, of course, addressed anything I had been saying or asking.

Saying "my idea" is "the problem"? That's the position you want to stand by?

and using those words doesn't (by ANY measure) indicate I'm elevating it to a "higher level than it deserves." 1. You don't know what level it "deserves to be." 2. It is in fact, an idea that I have come up with, independent of anyone else. This is not to say that the idea isn't out there or original in and of itself, but it is okay for me to say it's "my idea." It also happens to be "an idea", as well. They aren't mutually exclusive.

I'm fixating on my (or an, if you prefer) idea to the extent it's the one I have and want to execute on at the moment. Yes, I have had (and will have) more ideas. That means nothing.

Whoa OK yeah maybe I laid it on a little heavy. I wish you the best with it.

Nothing you said was heavy. You just didn't say anything [or much] that seemed to be on track to my (or apparently your original) point. Thanks, though.

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