Good for you, it's great to see what can be accomplished in a few days.
Finding a sponsor was completely unexpected, there is no way you could have predicted that would happen so quickly. This is essentially, what is wrong with over thinking ideas, there are unknown unknowns which can shift things rapidly in your favor - which you'll never encounter until actually shipping something. In a sense there is a boldness to action - and you just have to get on with it and expose yourself to potential upside.
Now. I think launching a product every month is probably a little too much, but it seems that people who do this have success, because they find an idea which just takes off.
In this case you got traction, but how often where you going to iterate?
I think 3 months building something and 3 months post launch should be an upper limit, would love to here what you think about this?
2
Interesting question... What would you have done in case of "crickets" as a result?
Do you have some kind of fallback plan to marketing sideprojects? How long would you have pushed forward?
3
I probably would've just let it run and promoted it here and there rather than continue to actively work on it as I am now. After a few months of nothing happening I would've just quietly shut it down.
Getting users wasn't really the point, though: I built it because I wanted to ship something, everything else after that has been a bonus.
1
Getting users wasn't really the point, though: I built it because I wanted to ship something, everything else after that has been a bonus.
There's something there: detachment and pure love for the craft. I think many people who excel in something reach a stage, where they become completely disconnected from exterior rewards as a motivating factor.
There really is something powerful in doing things for their own sake. It's like the universe rewards detachment: the moment you stop caring, the exterior rewards come (users, money, recognition).
1
Thanks!
You're absolutely right: when I started working on Kismet the idea of sponsorships never even crossed my mind. It's common advice to "just ship it" but I don't think I really understood that until now.
There's definitely a balance between shipping this quickly and taking months to build something. I don't think there are any one-size-fits-all rules: it depends on the product and more importantly its customer or audience.
2
Great story! Just a small thing, the fixed top bar is a bit annoying, I think your page would look even better if you removed it and made it a bit slimmer (like 50% if the current height). Just some feedback, good luck!
1
This was a great story Jeremy, I am sure you were a big inspiration for a lot people here.
Good luck with your project man!
1
I love Kismet! I love that I can share my profile and projects passively and organically and get a peek at what others are working on.
1
I'm so glad you like it! Please let me know if you have any ideas for improvement, I'm always looking for feedback.
1
Great writeup! I too have a huge idea list. Glad I'm not alone.
1
Thanks! The ideas list is a blessing and a curse: it's always looming out there but sometimes it comes through with the goods.
Jeremy,
Good for you, it's great to see what can be accomplished in a few days.
Finding a sponsor was completely unexpected, there is no way you could have predicted that would happen so quickly. This is essentially, what is wrong with over thinking ideas, there are unknown unknowns which can shift things rapidly in your favor - which you'll never encounter until actually shipping something. In a sense there is a boldness to action - and you just have to get on with it and expose yourself to potential upside.
Now. I think launching a product every month is probably a little too much, but it seems that people who do this have success, because they find an idea which just takes off.
In this case you got traction, but how often where you going to iterate?
I think 3 months building something and 3 months post launch should be an upper limit, would love to here what you think about this?
Interesting question... What would you have done in case of "crickets" as a result?
Do you have some kind of fallback plan to marketing sideprojects? How long would you have pushed forward?
I probably would've just let it run and promoted it here and there rather than continue to actively work on it as I am now. After a few months of nothing happening I would've just quietly shut it down.
Getting users wasn't really the point, though: I built it because I wanted to ship something, everything else after that has been a bonus.
There's something there: detachment and pure love for the craft. I think many people who excel in something reach a stage, where they become completely disconnected from exterior rewards as a motivating factor.
There really is something powerful in doing things for their own sake. It's like the universe rewards detachment: the moment you stop caring, the exterior rewards come (users, money, recognition).
Thanks!
You're absolutely right: when I started working on Kismet the idea of sponsorships never even crossed my mind. It's common advice to "just ship it" but I don't think I really understood that until now.
There's definitely a balance between shipping this quickly and taking months to build something. I don't think there are any one-size-fits-all rules: it depends on the product and more importantly its customer or audience.
Great story! Just a small thing, the fixed top bar is a bit annoying, I think your page would look even better if you removed it and made it a bit slimmer (like 50% if the current height). Just some feedback, good luck!
This was a great story Jeremy, I am sure you were a big inspiration for a lot people here.
Good luck with your project man!
I love Kismet! I love that I can share my profile and projects passively and organically and get a peek at what others are working on.
I'm so glad you like it! Please let me know if you have any ideas for improvement, I'm always looking for feedback.
Great writeup! I too have a huge idea list. Glad I'm not alone.
Thanks! The ideas list is a blessing and a curse: it's always looming out there but sometimes it comes through with the goods.