2 years for $6/MRR. 100% worth it
I've been lurking on IH for some time now. I have huge respect for everyone here. The indie life is legit 🥜.
I want to share my beautiful indie dev dumpster fire story with you.
About 2 years ago I finished contracting as a senior level engineer making a decently fat stack and transitioned to the broke + risky indie dev life.
Two years later, I've burned through almost all my runway and have 1 paying user for my SaaS app for creative musicians Light Bulb. (huge shout out to my brother)
Despite the massive opportunity cost of burning two prime years of my engineering life span, it was 100% worth it.
Here's why...
- I've discovered my dream/ideal lifestyle: creating valuable software as an indie dev
- I've gained an enormous amount of software, marketing and time management skills I never would have obtained working for someone else
- I escaped the unending rat race and my own tendency to 'earn more', 'be better' and uselessly 'compete'
If you're reading this and are hesitant to start your indie dev journey. Do it. Trust me you will not regret it. Knowing if this life is for you is worth the time, energy, and cost.
If you are on your indie journey, you inspire me.
I'm taking everything I learned building Light Bulb and applying it to my next SaaS product.
I may have used 2 years and only made $6/MRR, but this is just the beginning.
I'm just getting started and so are you.
Good for you Dan, I can relate! I was actually listening to episode #241 of the Indie Hacker's podcast earlier. It's titled "Money, Happiness, and Productivity as a Solo Founder with Pieter Levels, and they mention Pieter has a 95% failure rate (if I remember correctly). Pieter has built over 70 products and something like 3 or 4 have really been successful. So, keep going!
Huge thanks! I think I've internalized that this is a long game and just like Pieter, we have to push through failure after failure. I'll give that episode a listen!
wow thanks for the ref, I'll add it to my playlist. btw do you know where the transcript is? I mean in the episode #043 there is a transcript on it, so why the #241 don't have it?
@csallen
I have made no MRR but sold a project for 1K USD last month and launched a next thing. Indie hacking is quite hard. I have been struggling with a lot in my life both financially and mentally. One thing I'm doing which I believe will benefit all others is to embrace the small wins.
Every win counts in the indie hacking life. Congrats on selling your project! That's a big win.
Mate, let me tell you that 6$/MRR is more than most users on IH have and will make. It is most than both of my failed startups, I was involved with, EVER made. So congratulations on that! With every step you take, you will gain experience. "Failure" and hardship are part of this indie culture. You learn from it.
I never went the road to going full indie without a 40h/5. So I'm definitely not as adventurous. I'm one of those 'play it safe, boring persons. Although all startups I was involved in until now failed for one or the other reason I've managed to monetize my gained experience in my day-to-day job. Do not underestimate the value of being an almost one-man army. The ability to jump into cold, unknown waters differentiates a lot of people in the workforce from 'not my job' workers. Make that skill worth its money, if you have to go back to work at another company.
Every hardship you've mastered while being 'indie' is an investment into yourself. Now get your dividends!
... at least until the next endeavor is financially secured, right? 👨🏻💻
First of all huge thanks. It feels awful and great at the same time.
I want to highlight a couple things you said...
Big props to you. This is a huge win for your long term growth.
I really feel this and think about when I'm feeling down "if nothing else this is an investment in skills". I heard somewhere that even if you completely fail as an indie dev the experience you gain along the way is like none other.
Kudos, you have revenue! That's a bigger accomplishment than what most people have ever done. :)
I had a quick look at your site, if you don't mind a little of honest feedback, I think you could do better if you tweak your copy.
It took me a good effort to understand what the app is about. Might not seem like that to you, but remember that visitors only scan through your page and they land there without any context.
For example:
"First comes your idea | Next comes Light Bulb"
It's not the same as something like "Never forget your musical ideas again" or "Light Bulb helps you record your musical ideas". Of course, those are just examples, and can definitely be better, but the point here is you main header should be enough for me to understand what you do.
Cheers, and keep going!
Thank you! I appreciate the feedback (takes notes ✍️✍️✍️).
That's a heck of an accomplishment! It's sooooo much harder to get to that point. Way harder than taking a $72/k salaried job. Congrats to you!
<3 Tyty. Hoping to make at least two sales on my next project #microimprovement
I'll bet those 6$ felt better than any salary you did working for someone else, and that is what this is all about!
You are 100% right about that.
What you have learned during this two years has no price. You will be able to ship other SaaS in no time as from now.
P.S: You can also valuate your knowledge by sharing with other bootstrappers. Failed does not mean you are not good!
You're so right. I'm planning on shipping my next SaaS in 30 days. HERE GOES NOTHING (EVERYTHING) haha.
I admire your hustle man and optimism :')
Congrats man for learning the best from this experience 👏
Hell yeah, Indie hacker's life is difficult...
But your testimonial is inspiring, thank you for sharing.
Good work 👍 Keep it up!
Congrats Dan!
Hi Dan, are you planning to continue working on your tool for musicians or pick a new project?
I'll be shifting my efforts toward my new project I'll post about soon.
I'll always continue to work on Light Bulb just less (roughly 10-30% of my time). I love it and use it personally every day to write music.
I have made no MRR but sold a project for 1K USD last month and launched a next thing. Indie hacking is quite hard. <a href="https://apkfearaction.com/2022/03/02/specimen-zero-v1-1-1-mod-apk-menu-unlimited-everything-download/">specimen zero mod aPK</a> I have been struggling with a lot in my life both financially and mentally. One thing I'm doing which I believe will benefit all others is to embrace the small wins.
As an app creator, I would like to ask why does your app weigh so much? (162MB)
It might technically discourage people from downloading / keeping it, worth finding out if you can reduce it.
Good luck!
I appreciate the deeper technical question.
Mostly in app images.
I have image compression is on the backlog but you're right it might discourage ppl. I'll push it up.
I guess you mean images assets:
Check out TinyPNG
Consider making the assets download when needed, after the user opened the app
Good luck
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Thank you the kind words.
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This comment was deleted 4 years ago