Its probably a throw-away line, but<p><i>Do you think I could fit all that and still get straight As and have lots of time left over for playing World of Warcraft? No.</i><p>spoke to me. I gave up World of Warcraft to start my business. The business pays rather substantially better and takes up much less time.<p>I sometimes wish I had enough graphical talent to bling out my UI with incremental visual rewards ("purple pixels") for various accomplishments, as a means of self-motivation. Charts help, but if it were charts and little icons of e.g. "2k visitors in a day, have a new blue Boots of Modest Traffic!", well, you'd probably have to bring a crowbar to get me away from the business.<p>On second thought... no trophies.
The same way an Ivy League degree doesn't guarantee success, a top tier VC doesn't either. With the economy as it is now and general investor sentiment; one needs to highlight the sheer value of determination, experimentation, the art of minimizing and of course resourcefulness. I think the article does a great job of pointing out that the "lack of" time had more to do with one's self comforting through excuses rather than the actual tasks at hand. I sincerely believe that the next 18 months will result in amazing, cost effective innovations not only in tech but healthcare, the consumer world, finance etc. Should be extremely exciting; and it's up to us to encourage those that our there hustling and trying to launch their dreams.
The undergrad years are definitely a great time to spend getting projects done. Not only projects, but exploring all the technologies that interest you. Luckily, I've never played World of Warcraft or else I would probably be in a different boat than I am right now.
Depends on how much you want to do. This year i want to (a) eat, (b) marry, and (c) get my degree. The first goal demands a little time to earn money. The seconds one demands mostly time, since debt is inevitable. To get the degree i have to learn.<p>I'd also like to work (d) on my project ideas, but there isn't enough time left after (a)-(c).
I think that another key is being accountable to somebody else, if only informally. I'm all for self-motivation -- and I've accomplished plenty that way -- but I find it far easier to work when I know that somebody else cares about whether or not I complete the project. Maybe a business partner, maybe a coach of some sort.
I actually failed two classes in college (high school dual enrollment) as I was working on like two-three contracting projects simultaneously.<p>I thought I was doing it wrong but now I see that I'm not the only one who sacrifices school to do something that they like.