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How I stay motivated as a solo creator

herman.bearblog.dev

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Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#41

Post by ttymck »

Scubabear68 wrote: post #28

I think it’s interesting that the author has the following mindset about non-solo jobs: “You're going to work. The choice has been made. The structure around that work, and the underlying purpose are set by others and you just need to make it happen”. This is not always the case. For example, I work in a midsized consulting firm at a fairly senior level. While I have a line manager, he’s only there to give me corpora…

This is really enticing. Any chance you've written more about your career path somewhere? Or any other reading you would suggest to get a better sense of the work you do and how to seek it out?

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#42

Post by Aurornis »

gagege wrote: post #19
whartung wrote: post #2

First, I'm easily distracted. But, the real issue in working on something, for myself, that is engaging, and pushing back the "WTH are you wasting time on this for?". It's all very fleeting. It's not like I have some other burning passion to work on instead, some "if you do this you'll make lots of money instead of those toys you make thing". I don't. But, especially being older, it can be a trick at times to perseve…

I have the same problem. I see all these hackers out there making (something like) the millionth travel blog and sticking with it for years and somehow ending up making a decent income off of it. But I'm sitting here wondering if my potentially cool game idea that has never been done before is something that the world really needs, then I quit after about a week because of those thoughts. What drives people?

I went through a phase of following a lot of “indie hacker” people on Twitter when everyone was posting their growth numbers and other stats in public. It was fun to watch them try different things and experiment.

Then slowly, nearly all of them stopped. Some got jobs at big companies. Others quietly stopped posting after numbers flatlined or declined. This includes a lot of people whose projects were “Ramen profitable” and then showing huge month over month growth, which was supposed to be the start of something bigger.

A disappointing number of them have pivoted into personal brand building and selling courses. It’s a lot of “follow me/subscribe to my newsletter for more advice” which turns into “sign up now for an exclusive spot in my new course” after a half a year. It’s like a switch flips after a certain number of followers where they realize it’s going to be easier to sell courses/content than to build their project into a successful company.

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#43

Post by quickthrower2 »

gagege wrote: post #20
thewizardofaus wrote: post #5

A crucial point the post misses is the distinction between motivation and discipline. Ultimately it's easy to work on things when they are fun and exciting; but motivation will only last for so long... once that happens it's the discipline that needs to take over for you to keep progressing forward.

I can have discipline, if I'm doing something for a purpose. Losing weight, getting a job, etc. My problem I always lose what the purpose of my solo project is. Or, I shoot so many holes in my own idea that I can't imagine it being useful to anyone.

I do this too. And the flipside is many audiences dont care about the idea or do but find one problem and churn off. So external feedback is hard. tricky one to solve. scratching your own itch can keep you motivated but doesn’t answer the demand question. The other way is to go full mom test and just do full time market research and product hat for months and only then build.

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#44

Post by quickthrower2 »

nuancebydefault wrote: post #3

> I'm not on traditional social media so don't have that eating away at my attention, but Hacker News is pretty good at derailing my day. How relatable! " - Coffee and a walk with my partner - Gym for about an hour - Journal and write - Work block 1 (about 3 hours) - Lunch and chill - Work block 2 (also about 3 hours) " That looks fantastic!

With kids: vague set of goals; expect chaos! Some must haves such as getting dressed and coffee

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#45

Post by rfrey »

6stringmerc wrote: post #26

I do not approve of the use of the term “creator” here when they may believe they are creating but they are actually working inside a box (machine) or job parameter which inherently is derivative. As in, I can whistle a song I created on the guitar because I pull it out of thin air - can he do the same with his “creation” as it were? Stay in your lane.

It's unclear to me precisely what your definition of creator is, but it seems like one nobody else shares. It has to be something made without constraints? Or something that can be effortlessly reproduced later? Or something that is 100% non-derivative?

Do you really believe the songs you write on the guitar are non derivative?

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#46

Post by polishdude20 »

thewizardofaus wrote: post #5

A crucial point the post misses is the distinction between motivation and discipline. Ultimately it's easy to work on things when they are fun and exciting; but motivation will only last for so long... once that happens it's the discipline that needs to take over for you to keep progressing forward.

Discipline is another way of saying habit. If you have no motivation to workout but you have the discipline, it's because you've made it a habit. It doesn't help to make a distinction because discipline is not something that is separate from motivation.

You get motivation to do something, run on that motivation as long as you can and hope it lasted long enough to make it a habit.

It's investing in your future self while the going is good. Like, build that habit while you're motivated because it will go away and you'll be left with it as a habit.

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#47

Post by rwhyan »

gagege wrote: post #19
whartung wrote: post #2

First, I'm easily distracted. But, the real issue in working on something, for myself, that is engaging, and pushing back the "WTH are you wasting time on this for?". It's all very fleeting. It's not like I have some other burning passion to work on instead, some "if you do this you'll make lots of money instead of those toys you make thing". I don't. But, especially being older, it can be a trick at times to perseve…

I have the same problem. I see all these hackers out there making (something like) the millionth travel blog and sticking with it for years and somehow ending up making a decent income off of it. But I'm sitting here wondering if my potentially cool game idea that has never been done before is something that the world really needs, then I quit after about a week because of those thoughts. What drives people?

It's hard to be accountable to oneself. But it's easier to be accountable to others.

So, feedback from others motivates me.

Seeing people visit my website, even if only a few dozen or hundred, is motivating.

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#49

Post by ChrisMarshallNY »

packetlost wrote: post #8
whartung wrote: post #2

First, I'm easily distracted. But, the real issue in working on something, for myself, that is engaging, and pushing back the "WTH are you wasting time on this for?". It's all very fleeting. It's not like I have some other burning passion to work on instead, some "if you do this you'll make lots of money instead of those toys you make thing". I don't. But, especially being older, it can be a trick at times to perseve…

Same boat here. I've yet to find something that I feel warrants full attention. It's sort of opposite to the common SV "throw shit at the wall and see what sticks" attitude. Maybe I'm just too distractable and pessimistic.

I have a very definite demographic that I understand very well (being in it, myself), and write software to Serve it.

Problem is, no money. I don’t mind, really.

But I treat every one of my free, open-source (or proprietary) projects as if I am delivering for a Fortune 50 corporation.

Lots of boring bits, but the results speak for themselves.

There was a Show HN, some time ago, where someone made a Web site that cataloged existing markets, with insufficient software.

It was a good idea, but not for me. I like to be heavily invested in the use cases for my work.

Re: How I stay motivated as a solo creator

#50

Post by camhart »

Aurornis wrote: post #42
gagege wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have the same problem. I see all these hackers out there making (something like) the millionth travel blog and sticking with it for years and somehow ending up making a decent income off of it. But I'm sitting here wondering if my potentially cool game idea that has never been done before is something that the world really needs, then I quit after about a week because of those thoughts. What drives people?

I went through a phase of following a lot of “indie hacker” people on Twitter when everyone was posting their growth numbers and other stats in public. It was fun to watch them try different things and experiment. Then slowly, nearly all of them stopped. Some got jobs at big companies. Others quietly stopped posting after numbers flatlined or declined. This includes a lot of people whose projects were “Ramen profitab…

You're painting a picture as though they've all switched. Thats not accurate, still plenty of indiehackers hacking away. Only a small percent successfully, but thats always been the case.
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