Week #11, this time I know what to build 👀

Some numbers and light reflexions.

Today, while talking with my friend and client Will, he made me realize that I have said this phrase like 20 times: “this time I know what to build”. I said that while talking about how I failed at shipping last week, but this week, I reduced the scope, and I know what to build.

This is me making so many mistakes. Analysis paralysis, being overwhelmed by how many options I have, trying to put too much scope into what I want to ship, etc, etc, etc. I know this stuff, and I have been pushing myself to overcome it. But nothing says more than the results. That’s what really matters in the end.

This pushed me to reflect on myself and what I am doing. So, I thought I would share part of it here. TBH, I feel angry with myself, but I lived this before. Let me elaborate.

I have been struggling to ship something for 8 months straight since I stopped working full-time to start my own business, CodePortal. Back in June 2023, I decided I didn’t want to work full-time anymore and started to dedicate all my time to my side project. I had some savings, so I gave myself 2 months to build an MVP. I failed. Eight months in and I haven’t shipped a single thing yet.

I burned my savings after 5 months. I didn’t take into account my taxes, lol! I thought I had 10 months of runway, but I really had 5 months, considering the taxes I had to pay. Huge mistake! Lesson LEARNED! (finances!) 😁.

I continued part-time consulting/freelancing again intermittently to get my finances right. This consumes 1/4 to 1/2 of my time, and I dedicate the rest to my not-yet-a-business and learning. Also, I used credit card debt to buy some more time 🫠 so I am in debt quite a bit (finances again, gosh Carlos!).

If I count what I have lost on this journey, without counting my savings, just what I would have made by full-time consulting/freelancing. The cost of what I am doing as of today is ~100k USD. My savings were ~20k USD. So, lost 120k USD and counting.

I keep that number in my head constantly to keep the pressure. Also, remember that the opportunity cost count bumps that number up. Like if I grew my client base + increased my rates, something I have done before.

You would say this sounds bad, even sad. And yeah, heck yeah! Damn, I suck at this, don’t I?

…

I suck at this, FOR NOW! 🙂

Be sure that I won’t suck at this forever! I am learning! 12 years ago, I sucked so badly at programming, and now I have done things I didn’t even dream of. Things like building a real-time MS Teams-like app and making meaningful contributions to open-source software used by literally tens of millions of people, among other cool stuff!

So, yeah! Made many mistakes these last 8 months! LEARNED!

Call me stubborn. But, if I have something clear, it is that I don’t ever give up! This is a long journey and an infinite game too. Business. And I am here to stay.

So, back to building! AND …. Shiping … finally! Let's fucking do it!

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