1) Slashed expenses. I traded the '03 bimmer for a '96 Minivan, pawned off the bachelor pad, moved in with some friends. Upside: total freedom. Downside: Asking a girl out when you drive a minivan sucks. Then again it's really good at filtering out materialistic women and I've gotten a lot closer to women who care about big ideas instead of impressing their other materialistic friends. This was incredibly painful to do. It was only AFTER I got rid of my stuff that I realized how much bondage I was in and how much I was buying into the same consumer bullshit that I pretended to hate.

2) Stopped moonlighting. I saved up some money and have resisted every urge to accept contract work. That just makes you lazy. As much as it stresses me out I create as much financial pressure on myself that I HAVE to make this startup profitable as quickly as possible.

3) Picked one idea. I'm an idea person. I have too many of them. Idea's are not the problem, it's commitment and focus. So just pick your best idea and don't think about anything else. Limit brainstorming unless it relates to how you are going to reach profitability.

4) Got a friend to go hardcore with me. When you are a subversive little jackass trying to do a startup that nobody gives a rip about it's easy to get discouraged. I don't think I could be doing this without a friend who is drinking the kool-aid.

5) Read founders at work. On a daily basis I'm flooded with uncertainty about direction and focus. Knowing that everyone is on the same rollercoaster between im-a-genius and im-an-idiot is really helpful.

I just sent out the first two invoices this morning... woo!

I know, it's pretty hard to work on something alone. Sometimes you feel great, but sometimes you simply feel discouarged. A friend is also quitting hist job now, but he still has to prove that he has the skills to join me, as he once remarked he already wants 50% equity from the start. (Idea, prototype, first to quit etc nautrally all come from me :-))

Oooh god, please let cofounders rain! ;)

You know how people talk about discovering yourself? I thought it was a myth, but when you go to a country alone and don't know the language, it really changes you.

I'm more focused now, more determined, more careful and by God, the money is just rolling in.

Erstwhile, as a generalisitic answer from someone having been in a similar situation I would say try and implement a few ideas in your spare time. See which ones you enjoy and which ones take off. Often the elements of business you least consider are the most fun and vice versa. Perhaps try and do so consulting work at other places, if possible, to build your exposure to business in general if you have not worked at many places.

Once you have been exposed to more activity and have experienced mre things you will often find yourself in a better position to determine what is right for you and the problem, if any, you want to tackle in your business/startup.

Business/startup for the sake of it may not be the answer. We cannot know until we find out more about your sceanario.

This may sound very soft and general advice, but I hope it helps and if you can elaborate further I am sure I and the many others here will try and give sound advice to the best of our ability.

Thanks.

Provide some more information as to your current (as well as past) work experience, education, interests, etc. and I am sure the community can be more concrete with suggestions.

That's a good idea. I'll probably post another Ask YC with more specifics.

And don't worry about coming up with a genius idea, most startup ideas aren't genius. Its usually just another social network or travel site

I would also recommend you to move outside of NYC, since you are most likely paying 3-4 times in rent compared to outside of the city. Like everyone said your goal now is to cut your costs dramatically.

Or have you considered grad school abroad at a suitable university (ideally, where the academics meet your rigor and exchange rate is favorable)?