Great article, but it raises something I've been ruminating on for awhile.
It's funny that in the IT industry we need to define ourselves or our businesses so that we stand apart from the rest. I rarely see other industries say that Company X is just a lifestyle business or Company B is a startup. No, they are both businesses. Plain and simple.
A great many businesses would never be able to start operations if they had no profit motive, but in the IT industry it is admired and act as inspiration. What Clint shows is that the old, boring[1], and profitable businesses can still get a bit of attention among the new businesses we see on HN.
[1] I'm using the term loosely and without insult here.
The IT industry is one of only a very few that can leverage technology so successfully. This allows for some unique opportunities (like "lifestyle businesses") that you don't see parallels to in other industries.
One guy with some skill, a computer and a marketable idea can build a business for himself and live very comfortably. If he wants to work at the beach for the day, he can. If he wants to work out of a coffeeshop, he can. That degree of freedom and ability to leverage technology isn't found in many other industries. That's why you don't find any parallels.
It's funny that in the IT industry we need to define ourselves or our businesses so that we stand apart from the rest. I rarely see other industries say that Company X is just a lifestyle business or Company B is a startup. No, they are both businesses. Plain and simple.
A great many businesses would never be able to start operations if they had no profit motive, but in the IT industry it is admired and act as inspiration. What Clint shows is that the old, boring[1], and profitable businesses can still get a bit of attention among the new businesses we see on HN.
[1] I'm using the term loosely and without insult here.