Jackmar
New Contributor
Hey there,
I'm a 33yo software developer(self taught). I've been designing, building, rebuilding, websites and SaaS products for clients (and various full time gigs) for the past 7 years. It's good money. Really good actually, but there is so little freedom in building for others.
I have complete confidence that can build pretty much anything. Yet, despite my ability to build for others, I can't build anything for myself. I can build a product that crushes the competition, but the mind can be a strong foe, and skill is absolutely nothing without the ability to execute.
I've built, and built, and built, but I've never launched.
My story and how I've come to this place: (TLDR I know, just read the bold parts if you want to skip to the end)
Quit my 6-figure job:
About 2.5 years ago I quit my 6-figure job to travel the world and 'find my way'. Despite decent pay and a cushy downtown apartment, I was depressed and aimless. Money is nothing without freedom. So, I found myself some clients as a contract developer on the side who where willing to work with me as I traveled, and I quit. Honestly... it was AWESOME. Not only did I quit my full time and gain freedom, but I was able to take on much bigger projects with more responsibility and much more potential to learn and grow.
Became jaded with the whole 'work from the beach' thing:
Despite the initial awesomeness of working from a beach in southern Thailand, I learned an important lesson: "Freedom" is boring without a mission. (Not to mention the fact that I was not actually "free". Trading time for money on a beach, in the end, is not much better than trading time for money in a very comfortable chair in a climate controlled office with no mosquitos.)
Found The Millionaire Fast Lane and dedicated 5 months of my life to building a product out of a dirty $127/month apartment in Vietnam:
So, about 3 months in on my journey, I realized this was not what I wanted. I realized I will be unsatisfied and unfulfilled if this was the final destination. Through some googling I came across The Millionaire Fastlane . It changed my life completely right there on the spot. Now I was going to build a SaaS, and free myself from the bonds of traded time.
So I found the best way to stretch my savings so I could stop taking client work and focus on the product. I got myself a $127 a month apartment in Vietnam on a 6-month Visa.
I worked 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week for 5 months, researching ideas that fulfilled c.e.n.t.s , validating, designing, and bringing my product near completion. I actually worked so hard I ended up freaking out and having a full blown break down and ended up sedated in a Vietnamese health clinic.
Came home with a nearly finished product, and a year and a half later I have nothing to show for it:
At the end of 5 months... The parents were constantly pressuring me to come back (using my dog as leverage to bring me back). I was running out of money and had dropped all my clients. So back I came, with a nearly finished product, and here I still am, more than a year and a half later with a nearly finished product, working as a contractor.
I should have finished and launched more than a year ago. Something deep in my mind is preventing me from breaking through, theres some fear that distracts me and detracts me to want to build other 'shinier' products. Its so bad that I've now created 2 additional (smaller scale) SaaS products. Same story with all of them. Bring them close and then get distracted with a new shiny business idea.
Looking for some advice from the fine people on this forum:
The worst part is that I know my product can and will sell. The market is enormous and its a real, demonstrated business need (I actually have people in the industry contacting me regularly to check the progress).
It probably sounds crazy. It probably is crazy. I'm not sure its lack of commitment. I've committed my whole life to this. Perhaps there is a fear somewhere I haven't fully uncovered. Needless to say it's depressing to put so much blood and sweat in and be blocked by self doubt and hidden fear.
Does anyone have a similar experience? Any advice for pushing through these barriers?
Ive recently re-read TMF and it brought me here. The energy and and drive on this forum is amazing. Looking forward to learning and getting to know you all.
I'm a 33yo software developer(self taught). I've been designing, building, rebuilding, websites and SaaS products for clients (and various full time gigs) for the past 7 years. It's good money. Really good actually, but there is so little freedom in building for others.
I have complete confidence that can build pretty much anything. Yet, despite my ability to build for others, I can't build anything for myself. I can build a product that crushes the competition, but the mind can be a strong foe, and skill is absolutely nothing without the ability to execute.
I've built, and built, and built, but I've never launched.
My story and how I've come to this place: (TLDR I know, just read the bold parts if you want to skip to the end)
Quit my 6-figure job:
About 2.5 years ago I quit my 6-figure job to travel the world and 'find my way'. Despite decent pay and a cushy downtown apartment, I was depressed and aimless. Money is nothing without freedom. So, I found myself some clients as a contract developer on the side who where willing to work with me as I traveled, and I quit. Honestly... it was AWESOME. Not only did I quit my full time and gain freedom, but I was able to take on much bigger projects with more responsibility and much more potential to learn and grow.
Became jaded with the whole 'work from the beach' thing:
Despite the initial awesomeness of working from a beach in southern Thailand, I learned an important lesson: "Freedom" is boring without a mission. (Not to mention the fact that I was not actually "free". Trading time for money on a beach, in the end, is not much better than trading time for money in a very comfortable chair in a climate controlled office with no mosquitos.)
Found The Millionaire Fast Lane and dedicated 5 months of my life to building a product out of a dirty $127/month apartment in Vietnam:
So, about 3 months in on my journey, I realized this was not what I wanted. I realized I will be unsatisfied and unfulfilled if this was the final destination. Through some googling I came across The Millionaire Fastlane . It changed my life completely right there on the spot. Now I was going to build a SaaS, and free myself from the bonds of traded time.
So I found the best way to stretch my savings so I could stop taking client work and focus on the product. I got myself a $127 a month apartment in Vietnam on a 6-month Visa.
I worked 10-12 hours a day, 7 days a week for 5 months, researching ideas that fulfilled c.e.n.t.s , validating, designing, and bringing my product near completion. I actually worked so hard I ended up freaking out and having a full blown break down and ended up sedated in a Vietnamese health clinic.
Came home with a nearly finished product, and a year and a half later I have nothing to show for it:
At the end of 5 months... The parents were constantly pressuring me to come back (using my dog as leverage to bring me back). I was running out of money and had dropped all my clients. So back I came, with a nearly finished product, and here I still am, more than a year and a half later with a nearly finished product, working as a contractor.
I should have finished and launched more than a year ago. Something deep in my mind is preventing me from breaking through, theres some fear that distracts me and detracts me to want to build other 'shinier' products. Its so bad that I've now created 2 additional (smaller scale) SaaS products. Same story with all of them. Bring them close and then get distracted with a new shiny business idea.
Looking for some advice from the fine people on this forum:
The worst part is that I know my product can and will sell. The market is enormous and its a real, demonstrated business need (I actually have people in the industry contacting me regularly to check the progress).
It probably sounds crazy. It probably is crazy. I'm not sure its lack of commitment. I've committed my whole life to this. Perhaps there is a fear somewhere I haven't fully uncovered. Needless to say it's depressing to put so much blood and sweat in and be blocked by self doubt and hidden fear.
Does anyone have a similar experience? Any advice for pushing through these barriers?
Ive recently re-read TMF and it brought me here. The energy and and drive on this forum is amazing. Looking forward to learning and getting to know you all.
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