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Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

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Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#51

Post by bdickason »

edw519 wrote: post #44
bdickason wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely have those customers and although I am 100% CSR oriented to start, I end up snubbing them a few months in because they become so pushy.

I end up snubbing them a few months in because they become so pushy. You may not want to hear this, but you just answered your own original question: you lose interest because you don't care. I can't imagine "snubbing" anyone, much less my own customer. And I know lots of people that would give almost anything for a customer. You may not realize it now, but the "pushy" customers are the best ones, especially when you…

Sure, let me rephrase, because you're righ. I do care.

I definitely set unrealistic expectations for my customers, as identified below. In the past I've been bad about overpromising and then spreading our dev resources thin, which definitely contributes to this feeling that customers are pushy (because they don't get what we've promised).

This is something I've gotten better at recently, but still remains a major pain point: Keeping customers happy with the CURRENT featureset rather than promising new things.

I would say it's one of my greatest weaknesses.

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#52

Post by flatline »

bdickason wrote: post #34
edw519 wrote: post #32

Find a customer whose hair is on fire. They won't let you lose interest until you solve their problem. The problem is that your projects are things you're interested in and you're obviously too easy on yourself. Do something for someone else. The meaning you'll be making together will keep you interested until you finish, no matter how long it takes.

I definitely have those customers and although I am 100% CSR oriented to start, I end up snubbing them a few months in because they become so pushy.

While there may come a point at which you have to say "no" to a customer, I would go to almost any length to not snub them. Why be rude or lose your temper if someone is that passionate about your product/service? It's a professional relationship after all...

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#53

Post by bdickason »

cturner wrote: post #45
bdickason wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely have those customers and although I am 100% CSR oriented to start, I end up snubbing them a few months in because they become so pushy.

because they become so pushy Can you give some more details about this? Is it possible you're not managing expectations, and then that's killing your motivation?

Good call. See right above this.

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#54

Post by bdickason »

jacktang wrote: post #36

are these projects related?

Nope, completely unrelated. Could be a work thing (website) or a new startup (website or otherwise) or a musical venture, etc.

A few things I'm noticing I don't do after reading the responses in this thread and thinking alot are: 1) Setting reasonable goals to start 2) Communicate my goals clearly w/ the others involved 3) Don't spend every waking moment thinking about it

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#55

Post by gruseom »

bdickason wrote: post #7
patio11 wrote: post #4

Could it be a fear of success? Or of stretching outside of your comfort zone? Or of the long stretch of hard work after the bloom is off the rose? You're better informed about your psyche than I am, but I suggest pacing yourself, staying grounded to the other things in life which matter to you in addition to this startup, and carrying it through to completion.

I don't know if it's fear of success, but I think the stretch of hard work is a good one. Perhaps it's also a result of an unrealistic roadmap? i.e. I want A, B, and C to happen in X amount of time (hoping i can use that description w/ all the nerds here) and we're barely scratching the surface of A. I think that accepting that it take 6 months to get anything decent STARTED is a good place to start :)

I want A, B, and C to happen in X amount of time

Perhaps this is your problem. If A, B, and C haven't happened by X, then what? I'd examine my reaction there if I were you. If you're doing something purely as a means to an end, and the end doesn't happen when you expected it to, then you're in trouble. I've found two things make a big difference here.

1. Do something that isn't just a stepping-stone to a desired goal, but which you also enjoy doing for its own sake. It's ok if there are extrinsic goals too, as long as they don't dominate.

2. Multiply your time frame by an order of magnitude. That is, accept that it may take 5 years to do anything worthwhile. It doesn't have to, of course, but psychologically the point is fundamental. If you're not ok with it, I'd try to find out why, since the answer to your question is probably in the vicinity.

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#56

Post by binarymax »

I have a job that lets me be this way. The development style is rapid application development. We spend 6-9 months on a certain module for a larger software suite, and once it is released we may enhance it, but usually we move on to building the next module. Its all part of the same overarching project but the needs of each specific module differ significantly.

The places you will find this kind of project are in emerging markets. The market doesn't know what it wants yet and you can help shape it.

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#57

Post by kyro »

I'm exactly the same way and it's been irritating me since I can remember. I think the issue for me is being so convinced initially that the idea I'm executing is my ticket to billionaire-dom, that by the time a product is built and the real work is required, finding customers, reality sets in that maybe your idea isn't as amazing as you once thought, lowering my level enthusiasm and making me less willing to really put in the effort to see if the idea has a chance.

I don't know how to fix it, but what has helped is waiting some time after I've come up with an idea to let whatever get-rich giddy emotions subside, allowing me to arrive at more realistic projections of how far an idea can be taken (with proper research of course). And like edw519 says, find a customer that is really interested in your idea. Having that validation from an already-acquired customer will probably give you the motivation to continue since your idea has been validated by someone other than you.

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#58

Post by anatta »

edw519 wrote: post #44
bdickason wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I definitely have those customers and although I am 100% CSR oriented to start, I end up snubbing them a few months in because they become so pushy.

I end up snubbing them a few months in because they become so pushy. You may not want to hear this, but you just answered your own original question: you lose interest because you don't care. I can't imagine "snubbing" anyone, much less my own customer. And I know lots of people that would give almost anything for a customer. You may not realize it now, but the "pushy" customers are the best ones, especially when you…

The haughtiness is really unhelpful in gaining insight from a dilemma that many people encounter to various degrees. He's mentioned that this issue is applicable to his endeavors in general, not just startups. People can be involved in business and startups for various reasons, not just a personal sense of ideological purity.

Re: Ask HN: Why do I lose interest in every project after 6 months?

#59

Post by jheriko »

I have this same problem often - maybe not even six months. I have several techniques that seem to work to combat this well

1. When you do have the enthusiasm for the project try to do the "dull" or "chore" work first. That way the fun and exciting bit will keep you going for longer - they lose their motivational benefits once they are done after all.

2. Make sure you can come back to the project and work on it later - this way taking a two week break won't be fatal, and it is necessary to take breaks to refresh your enthusiasm for the project and avoid burnout. Some of this is design, some is management and some of it is attitude.

3. Make promises to other people. I find it so much easier to finish something that I told someone I would finish for them, than something I want to make for myself. Be careful not to promise too much though...

4. Learn how to force yourself to do work. I find when I start doing even a small piece of work on a project, a good proportion of the time the rest of the project will "draw me in" and I end up doing more than I intended.

Hope it helps. :)

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