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lem72

106 karma · joined October 26, 2009

I built a business and sold it. I built another business and it failed. Took a job at a huge company and am working on another idea in my (minimal) spare time. Say hi, I love meeting people. - http://www.gregharrison.ca
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lem72··on Google launches Uber rival RideWith
I agree, ride sharing with self driving cars is going to be pretty normal in the near future.

What will be cool is once they are self driving, they will be able to auto calculate quickest routes to pick people up, drop off, etc while being able to re-calculate to pick up people along the way.

lem72··on Wanted: a cofounder willing to move to a Moroccan surf town
Cool! I am doing something similar in Nicaragua. Best of luck to you!
lem72··on America’s new aristocracy
I envision that Space is the new "west" or final frontier.
lem72··on Why people leave companies
I didn't really read it that way. I read it more like treat people with respect, don't force them to create work that is a nice or should when they should be relaxing... but people who love their job will be happy to go the extra mile, work weekends, etc when there are Must or Mission Critical things that need to get done.
lem72··on Lecture 3: Counterintuitive Parts of Startups, and How to Have Ideas
I love these transcripts! Thanks for posting
lem72··on I'm Leaving Mojang
In this situation, It sounds like he got more out of life by following his original goal of hanging out with his family since they all die in the end anyways.
lem72··on Our First $37,800 in Annual Recurring Revenue
Agreed to mailing list... but "oh well" is what I say to that. If it's easy to implement then great, but there is a cost to him for even 1 of your customers.

I would focus on the businesses that can pay $20/month (even for 1 month) to test something to see if it's for them than worry about someone who may need it in 4-6 months down the road, if there product doesn't go under before they "roll out major client work".

I am not trying to sound harsh but my guess is his money and time is better spent acquiring users who can pay $20 from the start. It's just basic marketing: How much would this cost to acquire a customer from. If he pays the girl $30 an hour to call delinquent accounts and she can call 10 an hour then that's a cost of $3 per delinquent customer of yours that it costs him and you are asking for a free tier that is incredibly low of ONLY 10 customers which actually = $30 of free value he is giving away. My guess is a Google Adwords campaign could get him paying users for less than that easily.

It's just not worth it to go after customers like you... yet..is my guess and I have been in his shoes... the people wanting free shit scream the loudest but bring in the least value.

lem72··on Our First $37,800 in Annual Recurring Revenue
I am sure this is what you are already thinking, but I wouldn't spend to much worrying about a free plan.

We made this mistake on our last startup, we got a ton of feedback saying, oh it's too expensive, I'd never use it.. make something cheaper/free.

The truth is... until those businesses are making more money that justifies $20 a month, you probably don't want them as customers... they will take up a TON of time, with adding little to no value and will have no problem jumping ship when you say, hey, you reached the size you said you were interested in paying $20 and we would like you to upgrade.

People want the world... focus on customers that find $20/month to be a huge value to them.

lem72··on Google Shopping Express
if you want to see what is offered zip code 90211 works
lem72··on Confessions of a startup: all our numbers, insights, everything
I would love an article about what investors were looking for when you spoke to them about "What's your go-to-market strategy"
lem72··on Ask HN: Save my dying company. Android dev team for hire.
I didn't receive it. greg at gregharrison.ca
lem72··on Ask HN: Save my dying company. Android dev team for hire.
Hi, I am also in BC and am currently vetting some freelancers for a web dev project. My email is in my HN profile.

It wouldn't be a 20k project but up to possibly half that (is the offers I am getting so far).

Talk soon, GH

lem72··on Ask HN: How do you get and stay in the "zone"?
According to this, Yoga burns more calories at all intensity levels: http://www.weighttraining.com/features/burning-calories
lem72··on Facebook acquires Oculus VR
Oh come on. I can think of a hundred applications Facebook could use the technology for and I am not a smart man. Just because Facebook does a few things well doesn't mean they can't... you know... grow and adapt with new technology. Facebook as a whole is probably a lot smarter than you and wouldn't spend 2 billion dollars on something without a "clear" route.
lem72··on Ask HN: I can't work anymore. Burnout? I have no idea. What can I do?
+ 1 for exercise. I was in this headspace, started regularly exercising and have been on a massive productive boost.

I also find that if I write down little check boxes with the task broken down into smaller steps, it makes it easier for me to start and stay focused.

Good luck!

lem72··on Ask HN: What is the best way to find, Vet and Hire a Freelance Developer?
Cool, checking it out for sure. Thanks :)
lem72··on Even if the Feds Let Them Fly, Amazon's Delivery Drones Are Still Nonsense
I get the same feeling, especially because I know someone working on this and has a small working model already.

Here are a few ideas that could make this work easily. Self driving vans via google plus drones in the back that fly out when they pass the delivery location with the package delivers it and returns to the truck. That is a great starting point and then when drones become better, longer lasting, you start sending them from UPS delivery locations at airports.

This is like that Article about how Amazon is a dumb idea from the 90's. So narrow minded.

lem72··on Official press release on the Silk Road arrests
I'm kinda amazed that the support staff would risk their freedom for only 50-75k a year.
lem72··on Introducing Open Salaries at Buffer
They can adjust when it doesn't make sense for the company. Those unhappy with the changes can choose to stay or leave.
lem72··on Sent $35,104.11 USD to CoinBase. Never received Bitcoins
Yup, it wasn't as much, but I magically had 10k show up after I made a deposit through a bank teller that stayed there for 2 weeks before finally disappearing.
lem72··on One Woman's Dangerous War Against the Most Hated Man on the Internet
I have no idea if EFF would be down to help in this, but i wouldn't put it past them for helping in situations like this. https://www.eff.org/work

Definitely a worthy cause to donate to.

lem72··on Silk Road 2.0 Launches
But the Mom and Pop shop can now be anonymous and the evil druglord will have a hard time finding them since they can't go torture the street dealers that peddle Mom&Popshop & Co drugs.
lem72··on Rejected from YC? Here is what you're missing out on
We just started one of these within the company I work at. We are all working on a project on the side aside from our day jobs and I have to say it has been really helpful so far.

We only have 4 people so we take turns each week, 1 person brings a problem to the table and then we get 3 other peoples thoughts on it. That week is dedicated to the one startup... Because we work day jobs it works better this way as we won't have any astounding advances each week but each month we do.

lem72··on Dear Google, Thanks For Copying My Startup But You’re Doing It All Wrong
I stopped reading pretty quickly in and then scanned through it... It doesn't look like he gave any real takeaway and it came off as just a veiled insult to google to me.
lem72··on FeelBetterBot wants you to feel better
I am sure you are right but I gave a hug to a stranger and they held on for dear life and when I went to say bye they said the most sincere thank you I have ever heard. Sometimes when you need a hug, you just need a hug.
lem72··on Developer Bootcamps are Expensive. Learn Python Online with a Mentor for $99.
I'd like a Javascript mentor as well.
lem72··on The Pricing Model That Increased Our Free Trial Signups by 358%
Exactly.
lem72··on The Pricing Model That Increased Our Free Trial Signups by 358%
I started something around the same as Groove and I was told that our users only want to pay per ticket. After doing an AB test, it was clear that a small amount of people actually wanted this option but they were quite vocal about it.

My guess is that is what gives.

To add to this, even when we had implemented this for users, they were our worst customer by far.

lem72··on My self published book made $11,000 before I finished writing it
If this is the same Andrew Hyde, then Andrew is actually a pretty respected dude having worked for Techstars, starting startup weekend, Ignite, TedX boulder etc... I think he even worked on a startup that focused on linking people to design companies.

I think in a way though you have hit on a great point that while Spec Work haters may have some good points (Less thought, analytics, design principles go into the designs you get from things like 99designs) however, I think a lot of it is just fear.. "These people are willing to make a logo or book cover that I would normally charge $2000 for, for $350).

I think there is room for both parties and find it funny that someone so focused on innovation would be worried about the innovation in the design area. The people willing to pay $350 for a logo probably aren't the type of customers a design firm would want.

lem72··on Switch to HTTPS Now, For Free
This is my thoughts exactly.... Cue Conspiracy Theory
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