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I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
11–20 of 82 posts
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Get your health right first. Your side project will always be there, the time you spend with your daughter will not.
Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think). But yes, you're right, she is already changing so much everyday :-)! Either way, I need to find a better balance, is 3 months too young to teach her to code?!
Not true. Being the last mover is more important than being the first.
Also, having an established competitor is great as it allows you to research what customers say about their experience. An MVP with a slightly different angle can become obvious from that.
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
Really? it was a painful week the last time I tried. I will give it a go again.
Depends each time. First time I quit it was a week of headaches and two more weeks of sluggishness. Second time it was a day or two of headaches and a week of sluggishness. Second time around I did just accept that I was going to take paracetamol by default (so on a regimen and not reactive to pain) to take the edge off the headaches though so that could've helped.
[deleted]
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
Get your health right first. Your side project will always be there, the time you spend with your daughter will not.
Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think). But yes, you're right, she is already changing so much everyday :-)! Either way, I need to find a better balance, is 3 months too young to teach her to code?!
> Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think)
No knowing the first thing about your product or market, I'll still go out on a limb and propose that you're most likely wrong. If I had a nickel for every time I thought something was absolutely key, and it turned out to be a wrong assumption - well, I could probably buy a Starbucks latte.
Hey, by all means, work hard, push forward and do awesome stuff and win, I'm all for that - but don't lie to yourself, especially not if it's impacting your health and your family.
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think). But yes, you're right, she is already changing so much everyday :-)! Either way, I need to find a better balance, is 3 months too young to teach her to code?!
Not true. Being the last mover is more important than being the first. Also, having an established competitor is great as it allows you to research what customers say about their experience. An MVP with a slightly different angle can become obvious from that.
It depends a lot on the type of product and the particular market. You shouldn't underestimate the inertia of something that's 'good enough'. If you're not one of the early ones then something about your product will likely need to be significantly better in some aspect.
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#16This isn't just for startups. People end up burning themselves out as contractors or even in salaried positions in well established companies, in much the same ways. You think it will work out in the end, but usually it really really doesn't.
"Eyes on the prize" is actually the right attitude, but the prizes should be your sanity, health, and friends & family. Unless you are doing something truly earth shattering like you are close to curing cancer, the world is not going to remember your sacrifice for the cause. I'm close to leaving my nicely paid job in full knowledge that I'll take a hefty pay cut doing so, but the money isn't worth the effect the current environment is having on me, I'm almost done waiting for promised changes to happen, and other changes that are happening may even make things worse (in at least the short term). I am more important than my work. You are more important than your work. If you can manage both then carry on, and it is fine to burn a bit short term to deal with unexpected crisis, but if you find yourself having to chose between the two over the medium/long term then don't chose the work.
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think). But yes, you're right, she is already changing so much everyday :-)! Either way, I need to find a better balance, is 3 months too young to teach her to code?!
> Unfortunately being first to market is key (I think) No knowing the first thing about your product or market, I'll still go out on a limb and propose that you're most likely wrong. If I had a nickel for every time I thought something was absolutely key, and it turned out to be a wrong assumption - well, I could probably buy a Starbucks latte. Hey, by all means, work hard, push forward and do awesome stuff and win,…
The market is recruitment (in house and agencies) - and knowing the types of products they still use because it "works for them" and how hard it is to get them to change workflows etc; I believe early adoption will be key. Only time will tell I guess, I'll be sure to do a "Show HN" when I am done!
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#18I am addicted to Coca-Cola and need the caffeine to stop the headaches, my diet consists of quick easy takeout so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter. I am currently working on a side project that I hope will prove itself worthy of "giving it a shot". Now I'm thinking I need to get my health right before I even consider that...for want of a better saying, it's defini…
If you are drinking Coca-Cola just for the caffeine the first thing to do is switch to unsweetened coffee. That's much safer at least. The phosphoric acid in Coca-Cola will really mess you up if you drink a lot of it.
Then reduce the number of cups you drink - or if that's hard then mix using 10% decaf and slowly increase the ratio, while keeping the number of cups the same.
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#19I am addicted to Coca-Cola and need the caffeine to stop the headaches, my diet consists of quick easy takeout so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter. I am currently working on a side project that I hope will prove itself worthy of "giving it a shot". Now I'm thinking I need to get my health right before I even consider that...for want of a better saying, it's defini…
Your side project isn't worth anything if you're dead from a heart attack at 45.
Re: I Almost Let My Failed Startup Destroy Me
#20I am addicted to Coca-Cola and need the caffeine to stop the headaches, my diet consists of quick easy takeout so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter. I am currently working on a side project that I hope will prove itself worthy of "giving it a shot". Now I'm thinking I need to get my health right before I even consider that...for want of a better saying, it's defini…
so I have enough time to work in the evenings and spend time with my 3 month old daughter
It's tough, but really worth it.
After my daughter was born (she's 18 months now), I set a rule that no matter what happens, 18:00 to 20:00 is guaranteed for her and her alone.
It's a double win: something for me to look forward to every day; and my daughter gets quality time with her father before going to bed every night.