Totally agree with your last bit. "sometimes you have to iterate at a higher level of abstraction".
I think, anyone who wants to start a business should look at things on higher level. They shouldn't limit themselves on idea-level. Instead, they should look at business and life as one. That way, probably the advice of "never give up" sounds more relevant.
If having your own business is one of the goals in life, then, probably the only time you are pronounced failed (and should give up) is when you die (end of your runway). Otherwise, running out of cash, work on failed idea and things like that, for me, is just a temporary obstacles and you still have chances to keep playing with the knobs.
Probably this link below illustrate the point better.
http://tinyurl.com/bjh8wd
When we start looking at things in this high-level, i think the case of FamSpam to GitHub sounds more like another dial on the knob.
I think, anyone who wants to start a business should look at things on higher level. They shouldn't limit themselves on idea-level. Instead, they should look at business and life as one. That way, probably the advice of "never give up" sounds more relevant.
If having your own business is one of the goals in life, then, probably the only time you are pronounced failed (and should give up) is when you die (end of your runway). Otherwise, running out of cash, work on failed idea and things like that, for me, is just a temporary obstacles and you still have chances to keep playing with the knobs. Probably this link below illustrate the point better. http://tinyurl.com/bjh8wd
When we start looking at things in this high-level, i think the case of FamSpam to GitHub sounds more like another dial on the knob.
Just my 2c. :)