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PG

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

Startups are very counterintuitive, and you cannot trust your intuitions all the time; if you follow your instincts, they will lead you astray.

Video

YC

Before the Startup with Paul Graham (How to Start a Startup 2014: Lecture 3)

@ Y Combinator

Before the Startup with Paul Graham (How to Start a Startup 2014: Lecture 3)

03/19/17

Related Takeaways

PG

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

If you remember nothing else, remember that startups are so weird that if you follow your instincts, they will lead you astray.

PG

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

Startups are as unnatural as skiing, and there is a list of counterintuitive things you have to remember to prevent your instincts from leading you astray.

PG

Paul Graham

03/19/17

@ Y Combinator

Counterintuitive ideas contradict your intuitions, which is why founders often ignore them; they seem wrong at first.

BS

Bipul Sinha

06/06/25

@ The Logan Bartlett Show

In high-risk activities like starting a business, you must rely on your own intuition rather than others' judgments, as the future is inherently different from the past.

BS

Ben Silbermann

10/25/13

@ Y Combinator

There are a lot of different ways to succeed in startups; you need to trust the data, the users you have, and your own instincts about what is right for your company.

YC

Y Combinator Cast

04/18/24

@ Y Combinator

Founders without industry experience should be cautious about trusting their gut instincts, as they may lack the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions.

SA

Sam Altman

08/30/18

@ Y Combinator

Inexperience can be a blessing for startups, as it allows them to pursue ambitious ideas without being held back by conventional wisdom.

RH

Reid Hoffman

11/05/14

@ YC Root Access

You can only fully understand the challenges of a startup by engaging directly with the process, as initial hypotheses may prove incorrect.

MS

Michael Seibel

11/29/18

@ Y Combinator

If you're not irrationally motivated to pursue a startup, the experience can be frustrating and you may not grasp the risk-reward balance.