Cultural differences on what is important

In one of those sit downs (I use sit down here because our relationship was strained) I had with J, he tried unsuccessfully to dissuade me from leaving and starting my own business. I don’t know if it is because he is trying to persuade me to stay or because he is trying to belittle me. I’d go with the latter due to my understanding of his cynical nature. The conversation went like this:

J: I am hearing that line a lot. My own son is saying it.

Me: Oh awesome. What does he want to start?

J: He is getting a PhD

Me: He is getting a PhD to start his company?

J: Yeah.

Me: Burning money on tuition? But it is part of his startup plan?

J: Yes

Me: Good for him

J: Another person is also saying the same thing

Me: Oh. That’s great. It’s the age to start a company

J: You will be competing against those two. Do you think you can win against them? They are younger and more energetic.

The tone is lost in translation but imagine someone who think very little of my abilities.

In my mind, I never saw them as competition. Not to discount their achievements as I have worked with them and know that they are hard workers. But succeeding in a Startup has less to do with hard working and more to do with everything else. Hard work is just a prerequisite. What stroke me as amazing is what is used to value chance of succeeding in starting a company: a degree, youth and energy. Experience and track record never factored into the equation.

I just nodded in agreement and smiled because there’s no point in burning the bridges. I will not need to see him again after this meeting. Little did J know that I have already succeeded.