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Ask HN: How can I become a Forbes 30 under 30?

by dorcy on 8/31/22, 3:54 AM with 13 comments

As a kid, my goal has always been to be on the Forbes list of 30 under 30, and I have 10 years left to achieve this goal. But I keep asking myself if I am doing enough.

4 years ago, I taught myself how to code and got started instantly, mostly contract jobs that turned out into big opportunities.

3 years ago in my first year of college at 17, in order to get more contracts, I created a software development agency and made websites for local businesses in my area.

1 year ago I transitioned from the agency business into my first marketplace company, an auction marketplace. I was losing money on small sales from payment processors and ads, as I had promised the users a 0% buyer's premium. I was also the main seller, so I was selling at a loss when the auction closed. The business was closed at the beginning of this year.

This year, I transitioned from the auction marketplace, to create a market research app that's based entirely on polls and the data we gather from people voting. Then I also got a job to keep funding these projects.

What should I be doing better to hit my goal in 10 years, I feel like I am on the right track but missing something else entirely.

  • by emccue on 8/31/22, 4:19 AM

    Look man, it's fine to have irrational goals. Hume's guillotine never stopped dropping.

    But you have to remember that Forbes, the magazine, is run by a bunch of actual human beings. You can find out what criteria they use by asking them or observing their behavior or a million different ways.

    You can then craft yourself to fit that to a T. You very clearly have enough money to have the time to make a plan and execute it. Rather than unachievable, impressing a handful or so of people is absolutely table stakes.

    ---

    That being said, there is clearly something deeper going on here. I'm not gonna nail it first try and I'm sure if you get other comments they might make a stab at it too, but why do you want this?

    Like hard facts, most people do not give a teleporting fuck about that list. Even looking at it and seeing the faces of some schmucks I still - yep - don't give a shit.

    If you think it could open some specific career path or be a useful bit of leverage or whatever...ok? Your plan to get on the list of people "good at business" is effectively right now "be good at business". Seems like a Catch-22 in that for folks they list the publicity of the list probably wouldn't make or break them.

    Are you trying to impress some particular people?

    You need to not have this as a goal. It's only loosely correlated with being a business success which is in turn only loosely correlated with your happiness.

    > I feel like I am on the right track but missing something else entirely.

    Memento Mori dude. You have a fucked set of priorities

  • by groffee on 8/31/22, 4:56 AM

    Cynical answer, just pay the journalist who writes the list. It really is that simple.

    But your goal really makes no sense at all, and it would seem like you're looking for external validation. Go see a professional therapist.

  • by tlb on 8/31/22, 4:56 AM

    Magazine editors don't go out and pound the pavement to discover unknown people for their top lists. They make up the list by reading their own magazine, and other magazines, and reading pitches from PR people they know.

    So: hire a PR agency to get several positive stories about you in Forbes and other magazines. (This is assuming there's something interesting about you to write. If not, it's a whole different problem.)

    After a couple years of this, have the PR agency pitch Forbes on what a great 30/30 candidate you'd make. Cost might be $10k/mo for 2-3 years, though you can probably do it for less if you have your own source of media exposure, like a popular podcast or something.

  • by jareds on 8/31/22, 4:15 AM

    Research how many people are under 30 and general info about randomness. then decide if this is still a goal worth having.

  • by GianFabien on 8/31/22, 5:00 AM

    If you go back and look at the past 5-10 year's of Forbes 30 under 30, you might discover what those prior people did to get on the list. You might also have to consider that the prevailing global financial conditions are always changing and what worked well in the past might not be as effective in the future.

  • by cratermoon on 8/31/22, 3:54 AM

    How much money do your parents have?

  • by dotcoma on 8/31/22, 4:06 AM

    > I feel like I am on the right track but missing something else entirely.

    A life ?

  • by yuppie_scum on 8/31/22, 4:33 AM

    Ivy League or Stanford/MIT degree and/or a successful (eg unicorn) startup will do the trick. Easy peasey right kid?

  • by King-Aaron on 8/31/22, 4:30 AM

    Win the lottery like, eleven times