really awesome and especially honest interview! That's what makes indiehackers so awesome! Thank you so much!
1
Appreciate it - longtime fan of IndieHackers so I feel I owe the community full transparency!
2
Great article Michael, thanks for sharing - it was cool to get a sneak peek of how LinkedIn Learning works!
Since you mentioned the power of accountability...I have to ask...how are you going to find accountability buddies going forward (assuming you aren't working more with the course producer)?
[Shameless plug] you should check out my project (www.tribefive.me for reference). Hope it can add value for you!
Cheers,
Jonathan
1
Really great question - my employees keep me plenty accountable at Ladder, but I don't have one for my side projects yet. I'll check out your service!
2
This is great - you took knowledge that most of us already have and packaged it in a way that made it profitable! I consider myself pretty good with Excel, and I know all of the techniques mentioned in your blog post (and many more) but I would never have the confidence to say "this is of value and I can teach others... and make them pay for it".
Do you think you would have ever gone this way if LinkedIn hadn't reached out to you?
1
Yeah I'd still totally be languishing as a wantrepreneur if LinkedIn hadn't been there to provide the opportunity. It's not a leap most people make, but there is a tonne of value in packaging up existing knowledge into a more digestible format. Plenty of people know Excel, but how many are willing to put in 10 hours a week on top of their day job and take 4 days of vacation time to actually ship something? Very few, surprisingly. Most people won't even put the time in to write a blog post, which is how I got noticed in the first place...
1
As someone who does a ton of excel at my dayjob it is incredibly encouraging to see someone who leveraged that skill and created an income from it. I often fall victim to undervaluing my skills and your project really puts that in perspective so thank you.
I resonate with this point so much:
"the need to avoid letting people down at all costs is one of my primary motivators"
This too has inspired me to acknowledge leverage this aspect of my personality more than I currently do. Right now my main form of capitalizing on avoiding letting people down is tied directly to the side project for which I am part of the founding team.
Given how you used accountability to your advantage I would love to get your opinion on whether our (currently free and supported by donation) service would help you leverage your "need to avoid letting people down".
Ok on to the shamless plug. The product is called Focusmate and it helps you create an accountability contract of sorts by booking a 50 minute session with someone .
Genuinely hope it helps you further leverage your personality for the better. Is there a name for not wanting to let people down? People Pleaser? Anyway I hope it helps.
Cheers again for the great post.
1
Yeah I don't know if it's a completely healthy motivator, but it works for me. :-)
1
This is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
1
thanks!
1
Nice stuff! I'm a fan of courses.
Note: Spelling > Tim Ferriss
1
Ah whoops! Good catch.
1
Hey Michael, you mentioned working with an accountability partner. I'm working on a related SaaS, can I contact you to learn more about your use case?
1
Sure - is there a way to dm on here? If not just tweet at me @2michaeltaylor
1
It's lovely an American gets picked for an American company and becomes an American startup story cliche. But what's interesting is your rigorous startup ethic while leveraging your skills while leveraging a big company for your brand.
1
You're only half right - my mum is English, dad is American and I've lived and worked in both countries (currently in London).
1
Nice work Michael! This is an awesome example of a "you create your own luck" story :)
really awesome and especially honest interview! That's what makes indiehackers so awesome! Thank you so much!
Appreciate it - longtime fan of IndieHackers so I feel I owe the community full transparency!
Great article Michael, thanks for sharing - it was cool to get a sneak peek of how LinkedIn Learning works!
Since you mentioned the power of accountability...I have to ask...how are you going to find accountability buddies going forward (assuming you aren't working more with the course producer)?
[Shameless plug] you should check out my project (www.tribefive.me for reference). Hope it can add value for you!
Cheers,
Jonathan
Really great question - my employees keep me plenty accountable at Ladder, but I don't have one for my side projects yet. I'll check out your service!
This is great - you took knowledge that most of us already have and packaged it in a way that made it profitable! I consider myself pretty good with Excel, and I know all of the techniques mentioned in your blog post (and many more) but I would never have the confidence to say "this is of value and I can teach others... and make them pay for it".
Do you think you would have ever gone this way if LinkedIn hadn't reached out to you?
Yeah I'd still totally be languishing as a wantrepreneur if LinkedIn hadn't been there to provide the opportunity. It's not a leap most people make, but there is a tonne of value in packaging up existing knowledge into a more digestible format. Plenty of people know Excel, but how many are willing to put in 10 hours a week on top of their day job and take 4 days of vacation time to actually ship something? Very few, surprisingly. Most people won't even put the time in to write a blog post, which is how I got noticed in the first place...
As someone who does a ton of excel at my dayjob it is incredibly encouraging to see someone who leveraged that skill and created an income from it. I often fall victim to undervaluing my skills and your project really puts that in perspective so thank you.
I resonate with this point so much:
"the need to avoid letting people down at all costs is one of my primary motivators"
This too has inspired me to acknowledge leverage this aspect of my personality more than I currently do. Right now my main form of capitalizing on avoiding letting people down is tied directly to the side project for which I am part of the founding team.
Given how you used accountability to your advantage I would love to get your opinion on whether our (currently free and supported by donation) service would help you leverage your "need to avoid letting people down".
Ok on to the shamless plug. The product is called Focusmate and it helps you create an accountability contract of sorts by booking a 50 minute session with someone .
Genuinely hope it helps you further leverage your personality for the better. Is there a name for not wanting to let people down? People Pleaser? Anyway I hope it helps.
Cheers again for the great post.
Yeah I don't know if it's a completely healthy motivator, but it works for me. :-)
This is A.W.E.S.O.M.E.
thanks!
Nice stuff! I'm a fan of courses.
Note: Spelling > Tim Ferriss
Ah whoops! Good catch.
Hey Michael, you mentioned working with an accountability partner. I'm working on a related SaaS, can I contact you to learn more about your use case?
Sure - is there a way to dm on here? If not just tweet at me @2michaeltaylor
It's lovely an American gets picked for an American company and becomes an American startup story cliche. But what's interesting is your rigorous startup ethic while leveraging your skills while leveraging a big company for your brand.
You're only half right - my mum is English, dad is American and I've lived and worked in both countries (currently in London).
Nice work Michael! This is an awesome example of a "you create your own luck" story :)
It's so true!