>> This is cool. I've been using it mostly to explain APIs to me when I'm too lazy to dig through docs.
I’d be careful with this. I maintain docs for a project and asked ChatGPT how to implement a feature. The answer is in the docs obviously. It returned a really compelling step by step guide including code samples. Like a great StackOverflow answer. The problem - it was completely wrong. The code samples called API’s that didn’t exist and the whole explanation was based on the premise they did.
It’s definitely wrong a lot, but that doesn’t matter since it usually points me in the right direction at least. And in some cases, I can tell it that it’s wrong and it will try again and give a better result.
Compared to google/SO, I’d say that the amount of wrong/inaccurate answers are about the same, but GPT requires a lot less effort.
The first reply is pointing out that tweet is inaccurate and the response is “I didn’t let the facts get in the way of a good tweet. Second most cited.”
So, the title here is also inaccurate. According to the tweeter in their follow up it’s actually his second most cited and they lied in the original tweet to get eyeballs.
My understanding is that bootstrapped and lifestyle are different things. A lifestyle business should be able to run on autopilot with minimal involvement from the founder (hence they can focus on living their life, rather than working). A bootstrapped business is one built with your own capital - it doesn’t necessarily have to become a lifestyle business.
This seems mostly correct to me. We wouldn't call 37signals a "lifestyle business" but a bootstrapped business.
I wouldn't say that a "able to run on autopilot" is necessarily the defining feature, but rather the attitude towards growth. The simply, the goal in starting and running the business is to support a work-life balance that is more strongly weighted towards life. As such, growing a lifestyle business beyond a certain point is counter productive since that leads to a more responsibility and less time for other stuff.
A bootstrapped business does still have growth as a primary goal and there is intention to reach a larger size and complexity.
While I'm not sure that I like the term "lifestyle" to describe it, I'm not sure what a better one is since "bootstrapped" means something different in this context.
> with minimal involvement from the founder (hence they can focus on living their life, rather than working).
I don't think this is right, most of the "lifestyle businesses" I've seen involve at least "normal" levels of work on their part, but are structured so that the work happens where & when suits other parts of their lives, or similar. At least the ones where that term made sense.
They are often located somewhere that causes some friction, or have opportunities to grow that they don't take on, etc.
You’re conflating your “entrepreneurship dream” with a very very small subset of entrepreneurs (indie hacker digital nomads). Entrepreneurs start corner shops. Sell physical products, digital products, provide services, etc. the number who build a SaaS alone and travel while doing it is very small.
Also - in regards to the indie hacker space there are important things to watch out for:
- Constant bragging about revenue but no talk of margin/profit.
- Lots of talk that the product would still be a success without the persons huge Twitter following.
- Lots of bragging about success that, when you actually look into it, is $1000MRR. That’s great but these people give off the impression that they are much more successful than that.
Finally, you have to love entrepreneurship because it fits your personality. The risk taking necessary isn’t for everyone (rightly so) and for some people a stable career is much more fulfilling. You sound like you want to be an entrepreneur because of the lifestyle you see from these digital nomads but maybe the reality of it (risk, instability, failure) isn’t actually what you want.
If I remember correctly Apple built the app in relative secrecy so that iPhone could open YouTube links at launch without supporting flash, and Google was okay with that because it drove growth in YouTube and Android was in infancy, but the arrangement ended in 2012:
>> I think a lot of this need also comes from other supposedly environmental choices. My work banned plastic cups and now has paper cups with PFAS which are more toxic. I think the plastic ones were the better choice if recycled properly.
Why do you need to choose between plastic or paper (PFAS)? Does your work not provide glasses? Ceramic mugs? Can you not bring your own reusable water bottle?
I think knowledge of the city is still much better than relying on GPS. The gap may have narrowed significantly but I'd still rather by driven by someone who knows the streets. One example I regularly encounter is Uber drivers following GPS down these extremely narrow (6ft I believe) bollard lined connecting roads. They are easily avoided if you know the area but every Uber driver will take them while we both hold our breath until we get through it.
There was a recent Tom Scott video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmWREtcDVBE) where he was using a GPS and Tom Hutley (a London cabbie) only relied on his London knowledge to get around, travelling the same distance after reaching certain landmarks. It was interesting to watch.
Google Maps regularly makes poor decisions to save two minutes. I was reminded of this just yesterday driving in New England where we've had some snow here and there. It took me on a more direct route to a location than I usually take but I let it do its thing. Lots of turns on very secondary roads some of which had some drifting and ice on the road. Nothing very bad but the more main route coming back was definitely better.
Snark for sure. But I wasn't aware if no tracking it's not necessary. Why do we need cookies for all these garbage sites anyway? I can understand anything requiring a sign in, but before you sign in do you really need this notice?
>> And if so, who cares? It seems like the internet is always up in arms about woke-ism but I honestly don't notice much of it in my daily life.
The only place I have noticed this is in the workplace. They allowed a small group ( < 10 people) to force everyone intro various DEI groups and meetings and events on a regular basis. As soon as the ringleaders left the company (just regular job switching, nothing dramatic) all of the DEI groups died. I'm onboard with most of this stuff because people deserve respect - but it is 100% a small vocal minority that makes all of this get way more airtime than it actually needs and than the majority want to give it.
I’d be careful with this. I maintain docs for a project and asked ChatGPT how to implement a feature. The answer is in the docs obviously. It returned a really compelling step by step guide including code samples. Like a great StackOverflow answer. The problem - it was completely wrong. The code samples called API’s that didn’t exist and the whole explanation was based on the premise they did.