Hello fasteners,
My name is Aram. 37 year old male. This coming Monday marks 1st anniversary of my FTE. What a crazy year it has been. This is a quick recap of what has happened in the past year and how I got to this point, and I plan to document my journey here.
Quick background
I come from engineering background. In my last job, I led an engineering team at a biotech startup in Boston (which has been my dream since childhood). I thought that I would be changing the world if I got to this point but I quickly found out the reality of Slowlane and profit driven venture capital world. Around this time last year, I was laid off without any prior hint. While I was devastated feeling sorry for myself, my wife recommended that I read The Millionaire Fastlane and wow how it changed how I see the world.
After reading the book, my first action was to reorder my priorities. I needed time and space to think and execute. First, my wife and I optimized our monthly spending and cut down everything that wasn't for our health or our development. This allowed me to find a lower level engineering job that doesn't tire me out during the day but still support our family.
1st attempt (May2024-June 2024)- Failed
It was around May of last year that I was able to start focusing on the Fastlane. I tried listing a bunch of ideas and opportunities, but it was really difficult. I found that it was really hard to move away from self-centered perspective to put others' needs first. I felt like I had to try something to learn about the process, so I chose the lowest hanging fruit that didn't require much effort and investment. I tried making accessory items using manufacturing processes that can be automated and scaled. It got good feedbacks from friends and family, but I learned hard lessons when I listed it for sale on etsy.... It doesn't even show up in searches! Then, I read in many places that first sale takes weeks and months! so, I ended up 1 sale after a month (which was bought by me to simulate the sales and shipping process haha). And the process of packing up and shipping took more effort than I imagined (especially at low profit margin). I learned the hard lesson that overcoming the challenge of reach customers and separating time from scalability is super Important.
2nd attempt (June 2024-October 2024) - Halted
While applying for a new job, I noticed that a lot more companies were asking for a portfolio of previous projects which is a trend I started seeing around 5 years ago. I found that there was a lot of value being able to see pictures instead of 1 page resume. I also noticed the trend online forums like reddit and other places. As I was putting one together myself for my job, I wasted a lot of time with google slides trying to piece things together and I was thinking wow this really sucks. Then, the idea of my next project was born.
For many engineers (other than frontend software engineers) doesn't need fancy template. It just need to look clean and concise & most of them do not know how to build a website. Why don't I build something that will allow them to just enter their information in the form, and the web app takes care of the template.
I didn't know anything about web development, so I started learning. I learned the basic HTML/CSS/Js but I wanted to build something quick to validate the market, so decided to use the no/low code tool (flutterflow) to validate the market quickly in parallel and also to see if there is demand for mobile application.
Came October, the MVP for the portfolio builder for engineers (create.show() - Portfolio Builder for Engineers) was ready for demo!
It still looked like an amateur made it but I wanted to get some feedbacks, so I found 15 people on reddit who were willing to try out so I was very excited to launch. Then came a big curve ball of year 2024.
Discovering brain tumor + Baby girl (October 2024 - December 2024)
While checking for something minor completely unrelated, a 1" wide tumor was discovered in my brain. Fortunately, it was caught before causing serious problems like vision loss or stroke. At 37, having always been healthy, it felt surreal to face such a major issue with my body. I thought I can always push thru anything. But also thru a wild turn of events that seemed like a miracle, the very next day I met someone who connected me with a neurosurgeon specialized in my type of brain tumor. Within a couple weeks, I underwent a successful surgery to remove the tumor. I am expected to make a full recovery. I'm grateful to God that I am still alive and my cognitive functions remain intact. This is a reminder that your health is wealth. Taking care of our body takes first priority.
Also in December, we welcomed a baby girl Ellie. Now we have 2 wild boys and a girl. Even more motivations for me to keep going! I am apart from my family now due to my recovery and other family events but we will be reunited in March, so I gotta get moving!
Restart (Jan 2025 - Now)
As I returned to work on my project and listen to the beta users, I learned a few lessons.
1. There were LOTS of bugs even though I thought I tested everything. I will need a little more strategic approach to this next time.
2. The most common complaint was that they didn't like they had to input information manually which was a big surprise to me. They requested having an import function either from linkedin or resume which I think was reasonable.
3. 90% of the beta users started the page but did not finish it. I think this is a RED FLAG. What this told me is that this is a vitamin supplement, not a painkiller. People only apply to new jobs on average once a year-few years. Between then, this is a database for recruiters at best.
I can continue making the site better but because of the reason #3 I see a need to pivot. While listening from my beta users and others online, I kept noticing these comments:
" I am interested in getting into x space but I don't know how to get started"
" I am a mechanical engineering student, any recommendation on which project to work on for my portfolio?"
" I have good grades but I don't have any internship experience and I can't get any interviews"
This got me thinking, the biggest problem is helping the users input great knowledge and experiences that can be put into the portfolio not the portfolio itself. I do agree that higher education is important, but they are massively outdated and irrelevant. Many graduates do no have practical knowledge or skills. Only a few who had internship experience because they were either top students or knew an uncle who know someone get recruited.
So I've decided to tackle this challenge. I think the portfolio builder is still a nice thing to have, but the main offering will be the guidance and teaching the students to get started with the basic practical skills.
This is how I am envisioning it.
Target Audience: high school to early professionals who want to experience what it is like to work in a certain engineering field and a role and find a job in that field.
Differentiator: Unlike following youtube videos or online courses, it will not just be follow-along what I am doing but I will be creating a simulated working environment for people to learn practically. It will be like an internship that people can sign up based on their interest in a marketplace. And with each update, they will get critical feedbacks from industry professionals (me and maybe a few friends).
I still need to figure out what this will exactly look like but I am still worried that I don't know the market enough. I am thinking about the best way to confirm that this is actually something people will pay for.
How can I validate the market early?
If possible, I want to be able to differenciate betwen interest and commitment.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
My name is Aram. 37 year old male. This coming Monday marks 1st anniversary of my FTE. What a crazy year it has been. This is a quick recap of what has happened in the past year and how I got to this point, and I plan to document my journey here.
Quick background
I come from engineering background. In my last job, I led an engineering team at a biotech startup in Boston (which has been my dream since childhood). I thought that I would be changing the world if I got to this point but I quickly found out the reality of Slowlane and profit driven venture capital world. Around this time last year, I was laid off without any prior hint. While I was devastated feeling sorry for myself, my wife recommended that I read The Millionaire Fastlane and wow how it changed how I see the world.
After reading the book, my first action was to reorder my priorities. I needed time and space to think and execute. First, my wife and I optimized our monthly spending and cut down everything that wasn't for our health or our development. This allowed me to find a lower level engineering job that doesn't tire me out during the day but still support our family.
1st attempt (May2024-June 2024)- Failed
It was around May of last year that I was able to start focusing on the Fastlane. I tried listing a bunch of ideas and opportunities, but it was really difficult. I found that it was really hard to move away from self-centered perspective to put others' needs first. I felt like I had to try something to learn about the process, so I chose the lowest hanging fruit that didn't require much effort and investment. I tried making accessory items using manufacturing processes that can be automated and scaled. It got good feedbacks from friends and family, but I learned hard lessons when I listed it for sale on etsy.... It doesn't even show up in searches! Then, I read in many places that first sale takes weeks and months! so, I ended up 1 sale after a month (which was bought by me to simulate the sales and shipping process haha). And the process of packing up and shipping took more effort than I imagined (especially at low profit margin). I learned the hard lesson that overcoming the challenge of reach customers and separating time from scalability is super Important.
2nd attempt (June 2024-October 2024) - Halted
While applying for a new job, I noticed that a lot more companies were asking for a portfolio of previous projects which is a trend I started seeing around 5 years ago. I found that there was a lot of value being able to see pictures instead of 1 page resume. I also noticed the trend online forums like reddit and other places. As I was putting one together myself for my job, I wasted a lot of time with google slides trying to piece things together and I was thinking wow this really sucks. Then, the idea of my next project was born.
For many engineers (other than frontend software engineers) doesn't need fancy template. It just need to look clean and concise & most of them do not know how to build a website. Why don't I build something that will allow them to just enter their information in the form, and the web app takes care of the template.
I didn't know anything about web development, so I started learning. I learned the basic HTML/CSS/Js but I wanted to build something quick to validate the market, so decided to use the no/low code tool (flutterflow) to validate the market quickly in parallel and also to see if there is demand for mobile application.
Came October, the MVP for the portfolio builder for engineers (create.show() - Portfolio Builder for Engineers) was ready for demo!
It still looked like an amateur made it but I wanted to get some feedbacks, so I found 15 people on reddit who were willing to try out so I was very excited to launch. Then came a big curve ball of year 2024.
Discovering brain tumor + Baby girl (October 2024 - December 2024)
While checking for something minor completely unrelated, a 1" wide tumor was discovered in my brain. Fortunately, it was caught before causing serious problems like vision loss or stroke. At 37, having always been healthy, it felt surreal to face such a major issue with my body. I thought I can always push thru anything. But also thru a wild turn of events that seemed like a miracle, the very next day I met someone who connected me with a neurosurgeon specialized in my type of brain tumor. Within a couple weeks, I underwent a successful surgery to remove the tumor. I am expected to make a full recovery. I'm grateful to God that I am still alive and my cognitive functions remain intact. This is a reminder that your health is wealth. Taking care of our body takes first priority.
Also in December, we welcomed a baby girl Ellie. Now we have 2 wild boys and a girl. Even more motivations for me to keep going! I am apart from my family now due to my recovery and other family events but we will be reunited in March, so I gotta get moving!
Restart (Jan 2025 - Now)
As I returned to work on my project and listen to the beta users, I learned a few lessons.
1. There were LOTS of bugs even though I thought I tested everything. I will need a little more strategic approach to this next time.
2. The most common complaint was that they didn't like they had to input information manually which was a big surprise to me. They requested having an import function either from linkedin or resume which I think was reasonable.
3. 90% of the beta users started the page but did not finish it. I think this is a RED FLAG. What this told me is that this is a vitamin supplement, not a painkiller. People only apply to new jobs on average once a year-few years. Between then, this is a database for recruiters at best.
I can continue making the site better but because of the reason #3 I see a need to pivot. While listening from my beta users and others online, I kept noticing these comments:
" I am interested in getting into x space but I don't know how to get started"
" I am a mechanical engineering student, any recommendation on which project to work on for my portfolio?"
" I have good grades but I don't have any internship experience and I can't get any interviews"
This got me thinking, the biggest problem is helping the users input great knowledge and experiences that can be put into the portfolio not the portfolio itself. I do agree that higher education is important, but they are massively outdated and irrelevant. Many graduates do no have practical knowledge or skills. Only a few who had internship experience because they were either top students or knew an uncle who know someone get recruited.
So I've decided to tackle this challenge. I think the portfolio builder is still a nice thing to have, but the main offering will be the guidance and teaching the students to get started with the basic practical skills.
This is how I am envisioning it.
Target Audience: high school to early professionals who want to experience what it is like to work in a certain engineering field and a role and find a job in that field.
Differentiator: Unlike following youtube videos or online courses, it will not just be follow-along what I am doing but I will be creating a simulated working environment for people to learn practically. It will be like an internship that people can sign up based on their interest in a marketplace. And with each update, they will get critical feedbacks from industry professionals (me and maybe a few friends).
I still need to figure out what this will exactly look like but I am still worried that I don't know the market enough. I am thinking about the best way to confirm that this is actually something people will pay for.
How can I validate the market early?
If possible, I want to be able to differenciate betwen interest and commitment.
Any suggestions would be appreciated
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