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Comment by tmoravec | Hacker News Reader

It's so refreshing to read an article about a problem in the nature without pointing finger at the humankind.

I left this article with a very distinct impression that a comparison could be made with so many human activities, particularly entrepreneurial in nature, and that the purpose of this article being posted to HN was, perhaps, allegorical.

One wonders how many of us in this particular HN ocean are rigorously guarding our eggs over a seep that is no longer providing nutrients, yet we nevertheless have glued ourselves here and are committed to the end...

People look at me like I’m crazy when I say an important entrepreneurial trait is the ability to recognize and quit what isn’t working. “Fail faster”, as the saying goes.

“No, you must press on and never give up!” they claim, acting as if they’re providing me with some special sage insight.

A lot of people “never give up” until things utterly fall apart and they’re devastated, financially and emotionally, unable to then try anything else. “Well, at least I gave it my all”, they will say, in an effort to soothe their disappointment and absolve any blame.

Rather sad how much activity is more focused on whether it makes us feel good and bolsters the ego rather than whether or not it works.

You just read an article about octopuses and then started talking about tech entrepreneurship

Maybe you don't know what allegory means? What relevance do octopus have to the average HN reader, if it isn't to find an allegorical method to apply to their technological world?

Or, are there a lot more marine biologists in HN than one might at first, think?

Be the squirrel.

You just read a comment about entrepreneurship and then started talking about tech entrepreneurship.

Started? No, ibidibi did that.

I think it's a balancing act between obsessive persistence and failing fast with a bunch of luck thrown in. For every Walt Disney and Colonel Sanders there are probably thousands of people toiling away in their workshops for years on a product that will never see the light of day. And how many budding entrepreneurs are on the cusp of amazing products only to be side tracked by life's other demands (finances, family, etc)? Throw in the herd mentality of the VCs/Funding Sources and it's a wonder any worthwhile company actually gets off the ground and thrives in today's market.

>For every Walt Disney and Colonel Sanders there are probably thousands of people toiling away in their workshops for years on a product that will never see the light of day.

Or a product that will be credited to someone else.

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