Ask HN:How do you cope with frustrations in single person startups. While starting up I'm sure all of us have times when we are frustrated or dejected. With n-person startups you usually have someone to listen to/help you. What do you do when you are a single person startup and specially when you are not very comfortable with people around you ? |
When we were first married, it took her a while to get that when I started talking about a new project or idea (and this was before I could even program), that it didn't mean that I was actually going to do it ... they were more mental exercises. But once she figured out how I think, she's rolled with it. She challenges my ideas, forcing me to refine them, and making me develop better narratives for them. Occasionally, there'll be some project I think is a good idea that she doesn't share my enthusiasm about. Curiously, those are usually my weakest ones.
But even with her support and counsel, I definitely wish I had a cofounder or two I could work alongside every day.
Anyone know if something like this exists?
I take a walk and observe nature, the smallness of myself and how little control I have over the rest of the world - yet everything keeps going. Go to a cafe, go to the supermarket - even a DVD is good for a change in a sense of place. Making progress on 'unimportant' side-projects is very encouraging. Making progress on little utilities (like bash techniques) is very satisfying, and even marginally justifiable. Make time to do things that you think are really cool. Credit yourself for each little step of progress you do make, by comparing with where you were before that step - you did that! (when focussed on the big, distant goal, it's easy to not notice the progress that we do make. But the journey of 10,000 miles is made of steps.)
I also got a lot of help from business communities online. Listening and learning from others that have been successful.
The single biggest factor was getting paying customers. This validates your product/service, and gives you a huge boost of energy and confidence. This is one reason to cut back requirements and get your MVP out the door as soon as possible. Also if you are stuck (or in a rut technically) pick something on the fringe of your project that is small and that you can quickly do. Making progress helps ease the frustration.
- Take half a day off and try not to think about your startup for the first few hours
- Go watch a movie
- Go sailing or any other outdoors sport
After a few hours I usually start seeing my problems in a different light. That helps a lot.
No, really.. I think that being able of finding / attracting a great co-founder is one of the "need to have" features of an entrepreneur.
You can't do everything but being a single founder you will, so do it as you need to.
At times your progress will creep along, if at all, take no mind of "Oh here's an app I built over lunch have a looky" posts.
Just keep going, don't give up.
It´s not only important to keep morale up, it´s also important to get other people's feedback early stage!