Over the past decade and change, the story of entrepreneurship has been conflated with the story of the capital-S Startup. You know, the one that goes for VC dollars, launches itself at "the moon" (if not some equally recognizable celestial landmark), and belts out the heroic hymn of unbound (and unbounded) ambition.
Patrick's writing and experience have offered us a refreshing counterpoint to that narrative. I don't know if Patrick set out specifically to provide that counterpoint, or to be a poster child for small software business in general. Regardless, he's kinda sorta become one. Which is cool. He reminds us that there is an interesting, livable life to be had running one's own business(es) and not grooming oneself for unicorndom.
It also helps that he's contributed sensible, detailed, thoughtful, honest commentary throughout his tenure in this community -- be it about BCC in particular, or about any other topic he comes across.
Finally, he's been at this slowly and steadily over the course of however many years. That authenticity contrasts very starkly to, e.g., the legions of folks who pop into HN every so often for the explicit purpose of marketing themselves. Patrick's HN fame is a side effect of his contribution to this community, and not the result of some calculated campaign to achieve it. That's awesome for Patrick, and Patrick's presence has been awesome for HN.
I'll stop now, as this was not meant to be a hagiography. I don't know Patrick from Adam. For all I know, he once refused to help an old lady cross the street. Maybe he grabbed an extra slice of pizza from the high school cafeteria once when no one was looking. Who knows. But from what I can tell of him, he seems like a stand-up guy. :)
Patrick's writing and experience have offered us a refreshing counterpoint to that narrative. I don't know if Patrick set out specifically to provide that counterpoint, or to be a poster child for small software business in general. Regardless, he's kinda sorta become one. Which is cool. He reminds us that there is an interesting, livable life to be had running one's own business(es) and not grooming oneself for unicorndom.
It also helps that he's contributed sensible, detailed, thoughtful, honest commentary throughout his tenure in this community -- be it about BCC in particular, or about any other topic he comes across.
Finally, he's been at this slowly and steadily over the course of however many years. That authenticity contrasts very starkly to, e.g., the legions of folks who pop into HN every so often for the explicit purpose of marketing themselves. Patrick's HN fame is a side effect of his contribution to this community, and not the result of some calculated campaign to achieve it. That's awesome for Patrick, and Patrick's presence has been awesome for HN.
I'll stop now, as this was not meant to be a hagiography. I don't know Patrick from Adam. For all I know, he once refused to help an old lady cross the street. Maybe he grabbed an extra slice of pizza from the high school cafeteria once when no one was looking. Who knows. But from what I can tell of him, he seems like a stand-up guy. :)