I now have a chip on my shoulder | Hacker News Reader

I now have a chip on my shoulder

andrewcross.ca

41 pointsvolandovengo22 comments

This can be pretty powerful motivation. I left law school a couple years ago, and the decision was pretty universally viewed as 'stupid'.

Proving that label wrong really motivated me for the first year. I accomplished more than I ever have.

I sometimes wish I still had that urgency, but on the other hand, my life is more balanced now.

My challenge now is finding a way to be as productive as I was then, but without letting work be everything in my life.

It's amazing how fired up you can get with a little adversity. What were you working on after you quit law school?

A book. I'm an LSAT instructor. Originally these were sold through an affiliate (still are) and this year I published it.

http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-LSAT-Explanations-Official-Dia...

I also built up a local LSAT tutoring business.

Congrats!

I find it a little hilarious that the Amazon product page doesn't even explain the LSAT acronym. (Had to look it up)

Then again I'm from Germany and couldn't be less interested in Law Schools - but is that really such common knowledge in countries where it applies?

Yes. I dropped out of high school in the US and I know it.

Fairly common knowledge amongst college-educated 19-30 year olds in the US and Canada. Not well known outside of those groups.

My book is only of interest as a companion to a specific set of LSAT tests. So if someone doesn't know what the LSAT is, my book is completely inapplicable to them.

Pretty niche, but not a bad niche.

Feel a bit guilty about training others to get into law school, which you hated?

I would be careful.

I don't recommend continuing a startup when the primary motivation is to show up others who didn't believe in you. You should be working on your idea because you believe it will be successful and ultimately help people.

A day may come... it might take a few months it might take a few years. When you realize that your startup has very little chance of success but you think "I can't quit... If I do then those who didn't believe in me won!"... I think generally that's not a good idea.

Yes, there have been countless success stories... "When I was 12 my teacher said I wouldn't amount to anything!" And while yes that motivation can (rarely) drive a company to success, it can more often than not lead to misery.

YMMV

Thanks for the warning. By no means is showing up others my primary motivation, but it will be very useful when the times get tough (which they will).

In the world we live in? YMMV only becomes an issue once you start travelling. Whatever gets you to shrug off that initial inertia, count your blessings and take it.

If you're smart, you'll figure things out along the way.

This is an important point. When I was writing my book (mentioned in the other comment), I didn't commit to it without proof that it was profitable, first. It was written in stages.

So once I knew I had something, my drive to prove myself right drove me on. But there would have been other ways to prove myself right if my project failed any of its tests.

Am I the only one who was expecting an article on electronic implants?

Nope I did too.

Noted. That would have been awesome.

I expected a similar pun. Maybe someone will now have a chip on their shoulder to have a chip on their shoulder.

Without commenting on your product I'd like to be frank about why this mentality can be unhealthy.

Motivation is great, but sometimes the fuel that motivates you isn't always healthy. The way that your article reads comes off as having a point to prove because you were rejected.

Analyze the psychology of that for a second. You're indirectly implying that you will make decisions because of rejection. Your problem solving and decision making will now gravitate towards whatever bias that "chip on your shoulder" created.

This may seem obvious, and you may be thinking you're impervious to such a fallacy, but let me point out a few warning signs in your article.

1) "... Investors look for it since it’s an indicator of persistance. When you’ve got something to prove, you’re more likely to blast your way to success. But how do you actually get this fire?"

Do investors really look for this? These statements come off like a confirmation bias.

2) "And with a chip on my shoulder, I find myself more focused, thinking more clearly and getting stuff done."

Can you quantify why?

I've been in analogous situations a few times in my past and observed it in many colleagues. I've rarely seen healthy work come out of it.

In summary, while there is room for personal bias and creative preference when building a startup, you shouldn't take your motivational fuel lightly. It's really easy to let the ego get in the way of doing what's right for your company.

Interesting take, I'll provide a bit of extra clarification. All good points to raise though.

"The way that your article reads comes off as having a point to prove because you were rejected."

In order to prove a point, my understanding is that I would have to have been rejected or given negative feedback. If it was a positive response, everyone would be in alignment and I wouldn't have a point to prove.

"Your problem solving and decision making will now gravitate towards whatever bias that "chip on your shoulder" created."

The chip on my shoulder/bias is a pure desire to succeed. The rejection was an implicit statement that all the other companies appear to have a higher chance of success. I see this desire to succeed as a very good context to make decisions from.

"1) "... Investors look for it since it’s an indicator of persistance. When you’ve got something to prove, you’re more likely to blast your way to success. But how do you actually get this fire?"

Do investors really look for this? These statements come off like a confirmation bias."

Mark Suster wrote a whole article on it. http://www.bothsidesofthetable.com/2012/05/17/what-to-do-abo...

"2) "And with a chip on my shoulder, I find myself more focused, thinking more clearly and getting stuff done." Can you quantify why?"

I don't track my time so I don't have any quantitative numbers. With that said, I find I'm able to fight distractions more effectively with an "I've got something to prove" mindset.

How is this different from FlightFox (YC S12)?

maybe you should think about why you're doing your startup again if rejection is what you need to get more passionate or fired up about it.

We don't always know what we need to get fired up until it happens; it's often different for each person. There are plenty of famous people who do credit rejection as giving them the kick they needed; Michael Jordan does very clearly, for example. Or, "Can't sing. Can't act. Can dance a little.". That one worked out okay too.

Finally.

I'm back in town in Jan, lets meet up...just say if I can help.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com