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Your analogy is apt. What you (like a lot of programmers) fail to realize is that selling a painting is extraordinarily difficult.

They didn't coin the phrase "starving artist" for fun.



The problem is unless you're guy kawasaki, kevin rose, or some serial entreprenuer/misc luminary what proof do you have that you can outsell someone who can program?

(hypothetically if this is the case:) it's really hard to convince someone of your value if you can't even sell it to an angel or vc, and have cash as proof


Have you ever seem most programmers give a presentation?

Enough said I think. :-)


Have you ever seem most managers give a presentation?

Enough said I think. :-)


Well,I wouldn't want a manager giving a presentation either. I'd want a sales guy.


Fair enough, but read the original comment. It talks about providing the idea, not the sales expertise.


that's a stereotype that not all programmers fall into... especially the ones that do it out of the necessity of seeing their idea come to life as opposed to love of puzzles alone

not all business people are too proud to step outside of their comfort zone and learn something new...


I didn't say all, I said most.

From my own observation, programmers can and do have a very difficult time both understanding what people are willing to pay for, and getting them to pay for it.

Some hackers are great salesmen, and a few business folk are decent programmers, but if you're going to use the painting analogy the way the GP did, you can't discount the act of selling as something that'll just happen.


"I didn't say all, I said most."

if you don't provide a counter example - it's almost the same as saying all

if you think most programmers are pizza box hermits, i think you need to spend some time with more of them. the stereotype has some basis in some parts of the country, but i think it's largely overblown

I'm not discounting the act of selling... it's just from my personal experience most business people aren't great at presenting or selling either - it's only a few (saying something is very different from doing - this relates to my view on ideas too), hence the need for proof (or your cash)


Why can't I upmod run4yourlives on this? There are no mod arrows on his comment?


Maybe you already did?


Maybe. (Damn you, short attention span.)


Sorry, I was just experimenting with my remote jedi mind trick on you.


PG should skip the co-founder requirement on you if you can pull off the DEMO on that one.


NO need for startup when I can use my powers for greater evil ;)




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