The artist way to do startup

I had a chat w/ dad the other day and he said he didn’t expect me to do business - startup. Not the usual reasons you would associate with Asian parent. :) My dad wants me to pursue art. My dad was an artist.

How does an artist do startup?

There are many ways to do startups and there are many startups. Each has a reason to exist. Each has its unique way. My way is the artist way.

Since I moved to Bay area from NYC, I learned a lot - lean startup, methodologies, tactics which I’ve already tasted the sweetness and some of them really works well. But recently I realized I need to remind myself where I came from. I was an artist. I am still an artist, only the tools and media I used have changed, from wood, cello, hand saw to web technology. But the spirit should stay.

As an artist, there are 2 things I hate the most: completely copying and not thinking out of the box ( without a grand and original vision ) . I would do anything, anything to avoid that cuz if I want to be who I am. But sometimes, doing startup (business) needs to be patient as there are stages that will appear not thinking out of the box or looking similar to others. It is physics. It is nature. I can’t control that. But I would do anything to shorten that time - anything, like working 25 hour/day, or digging extremely deep faster like a raccoon :) to reach to the vision faster.   

Soon, Clipular will reveal its grand vision. 

Advices to you are to myself

My friend was driving me up along high way 101, and he mentioned the product he gave birth to and is leading right now. I can immediately see myself using it. He also told me the challenge this product is facing. I suddenly got an idea while we were chatting and enjoying the scenes along 101. btw, I like to brainstorm casually and randomly with cool people for cool products/projects. That’s an old habit. Nothing new.  

But I discovered something new later on. 

After we arrived, I started working on Clipular.  Sitting inside a sort-of-famous building facing the bridge/water front, thinking about my own product - Clipular, I suddenly realized what I suggested to him and his team is actually what could benefit Clipular and Clipular users as well. But how come I never thought about it before?   

Advices to others are sometimes the best reflection of what I myself need the most, I just don’t realize or notice that. It is subconscious. Now I discovered it and I hope its magic doesn’t wear out.