NASA Problems and LEGO problems

NASA problems require many years and massive teams to solve. It took us over 10 years and 21 manned missions to gain enough knowledge and experience to send a man to the moon. That’s a lot of work.

Making a rocket of out LEGO, comparatively, is trivial. Even if it’s a really big one - like 5 feet tall - it would take maybe 8 hours if you had a few friends. It maybe even will feel like a lot of work. How many times do you sit down and do something for 8 hours straight? Sheesh!

But compare the LEGO rocket to the NASA rocket. It took 24 man-hours to build a rocket out of LEGO. It took us millions of man-years to build a real rocket that could take people to the moon.

Too many startups think they’re solving NASA problems when they’re really solving LEGO problems. When you’ve never run a company before, everything seems like a massive challenge which has never been surmounted before. You feel like no one else could ever surmount that same mountain you did. But you’re wrong. They will - as soon as you start making real money, they’ll come in droves.

Don’t lie to yourself. If you’re solving LEGO problems, the competitors will come. Better to be ready.

edit: Screwed up the NASA stat, sorry! Also, I am told that the plural of LEGO is not LEGOs. My childhood is shattered.

edit 2: I’ve added a followup post here.