Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I must be crazy

splinter.com.au

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 130 posts

Re: I must be crazy

#21

Post by chubs »

hopeless wrote: post #15

Amy generally doesn't advise leaving your day job either (disclosure: I've been through her 30x500 course). Having said that, I'm in a similar situation (sole bread winner, 2 kids) and I'll probably be handing in my notice this week too. It's partly because the job was causing me debilitating levels of depression that I just couldn't work in my spare time. I'm planning to work as a freelance rails developer (got my f…

Thanks for posting! I love hearing from amy's grads. I'm really seriously thinking of doing her course next time around. And i can totally relate to your 'debilitating' job, whereas in my case it was causing stress which, again, limits the amount you can (without being a superhuman stoic) achieve in your spare time.

PS please blog about your experiences freelancing and applying amy's principles, i'd love to read about it. Congrats on your first client!

Re: I must be crazy

#22

Post by dos1 »

bhousel wrote: post #5

>I’m going to make, market, and hustle my iPhone apps like my life depends on it Why can't I find a link or description to them anywhere in your post? I’m the breadwinner with a wife and daughter to support, My wife is due to have our second child in 8 weeks, We’re currently building a house, and the builder’s bills will soon arrive I may be the only person to say it, but I don't think quitting your day job at this t…

Totally agree. I'm all for the big life changing move - when there aren't people depending on you for their survival.

Also - you're building a house? If I was going to quit my consulting gig to do startups (which I'm strongly considering doing) I would (and do) keep my debt to a bare minimum.

Edit: Based on OP's answers in reply to the parent comment, it appears as though the situation is not quite as dire as it sounded at first read of the article.

Re: I must be crazy

#23

Post by chubs »

jmitcheson wrote: post #12

Where in Australia are you? There are some good meetups for startup guys. Join one of them; it will make it easier for you socially I think. I'm going along to Silicon Beach Melbourne tomorrow night.

Sydney. I go to cocoaheads, and am thinking about hitting up silicon beach sydney (i used to go, years ago) and maybe RORO and SydJS. Can you recommend anything else i should check out?

Re: I must be crazy

#25

Post by chubs »

jere wrote: post #3
chubs wrote: post #2

OP here: All advice is welcome and will be listened to, that's what makes this place great :)

Do you already have a side project that is generating revenue? I'm sure he'll chime in, but Patrick was making more from BCC than he was from his job by the time he quit. http://diycomputerscience.com/blog/post/2011/07/01/create-a-... In all seriousness, good luck!

Yes, i'm earning $100-150 daily from existing apps. So it's not a complete leap of faith.

I admire those who can persevere at their dayjob whilst building up a side business, i really wish i could do that without going insane. Patrick must be made of sterner stuff than I ;)

Re: I must be crazy

#27

Post by chubs »

tocomment wrote: post #8

What does patio11 do now? Consulting?

I think this is his latest venture: https://www.appointmentreminder.org/

Basically following the 37signals model: subscriptions-based SAAS. Pretty neat stuff - i'd do that in a heartbeat over iOS apps if my ruby-on-rails skills weren't so rusty.

Re: I must be crazy

#28

Post by chubs »

smoyer wrote: post #6

Best of luck! I love the start-up life even though I've seen success and failure ... at least it isn't boring.

Thanks a lot! I think you're right, it makes you feel more alive in some fundamental way. I think it's important that i try this once before my time's up.

Re: I must be crazy

#29

Post by revorad »

cageface wrote: post #20
revorad wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Distribution seems to me the big advantage of mobile apps. How's your experience been with getting users for your mobile apps? How does it compare to your experience with web apps?

The #1 problem with the app store for a developer is that it's a total black box. I have no idea how my users find my apps, how they choose them over other apps, or even which aspects of my apps page are most or least effective in enticing them. Contrast this with the kind of insanely detailed analytics you can get on the web now and it's like flying blind. I suspect most of my users have found my apps via posts I've…

I see your point about the black box. But, I have this feeling that maybe the sheer numbers of people that enter the mobile app funnel at all far outweigh those on the web.

It seems like the difference between having a big shop on a quiet backstreet and having a tiny shack on a busy high street. You can watch every move of every visitor with a dozen CCTV cameras in your backstreet shop, but the footfall is all on the highstreet.

One tip for web apps: make sure to list it on the Chrome web store and keep pushing regular updates and replying to user reviews.

Re: I must be crazy

#30

Post by jere »

chubs wrote: post #25
jere wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you already have a side project that is generating revenue? I'm sure he'll chime in, but Patrick was making more from BCC than he was from his job by the time he quit. http://diycomputerscience.com/blog/post/2011/07/01/create-a-... In all seriousness, good luck!

Yes, i'm earning $100-150 daily from existing apps. So it's not a complete leap of faith. I admire those who can persevere at their dayjob whilst building up a side business, i really wish i could do that without going insane. Patrick must be made of sterner stuff than I ;)

Well, congrats. It sounds like you are already bringing in a very tight, but livable income. I hope you're taking a hard look at your expenses and your wife is on board.
Post reply on HN