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176 Comments

After 2 amazing years of leading the Indie Hackers community, I’m stepping down. AMA! 😭

Hey everyone!

This is perhaps the hardest post I’ve ever had to write here. It's hard enough leaving a community, but with Indie Hackers it feels so much harder. 😢

My journey with Indie Hackers began when I did one of their early interviews. All the way back in 2016!

Then in early 2019 as I was stepping back from Ministry of Testing I had the opportunity to come onboard to help lead the community. I was naturally curious about how the community was run and I couldn’t say no!

Honestly, when I first joined no one really knew me, but along the way that has all changed. I was on the IH Podcast, I’ve done lots of research and writing around indie hacking. And most importantly I’ve made lots of new friends along the way.

The past two years has really helped me move into a happier place, help me rediscover what I want to focus in on, and happily start shipping again!

Two years is the longest I’ve ever worked for someone else and I just feel it’s time for me to explore new things.

Initially, I’m going to catch up on a few things for Rosieland, and more immediately my community building course.

I'm keeping my mind and options for the future though it will definitely be focused even more on community building. There is nothing more that I want in the world right now.

Whilst I’m stepping down leading the community, I have every intention to keep coming back and share on a regular basis.

I ❤️ Indie Hackers.

AMA! (Or just send me some love, cause this is hard).

  1. 140

    I remember interviewing you in 2016, I think just a month after I started IH. You were the first person who took the initiative to post your own interview on Hacker News, where of course it blew up and went straight to the top. I was like, "Oh shit… I should be encouraging people to do this." So I did, and it really helped IH grow in the early days.

    Then when we needed someone to help with Twitter a couple years ago, and the forum was in total disarray and decline, you threw your hat into the ring. I thought there was no way we could hire you. You were running your own million-dollar business. I remember asking you on the phone, "You know this is a job, right?" But you loved indie hackers and Indie Hackers — both the people and the community itself — so you joined up anyway, and massively helped turn things around.

    I think people don't realize how much you do. You have 5 kids at home, another huge community business, a ton of things around the IH community, multiple newsletters and smaller communities, and so much more.

    I've always been the tin man robot behind Indie Hackers, and Rosie you're the lion with the heart of the community. (That makes @channingallen the straw man, sorry bro.)

    It's sad to see you go 😭 But I'm excited to see what you'll get up to!

    1. 7

      Beautiful words! Thanks for sharing this.

    2. 4

      I'll always grateful for 'the job'. ❤️

      Especially when I thought I was at a point where I thought I was unemployable and unable to work on other people's projects for any significant length of time.

      It's certainly opened my eyes to what kind of opportunities to pursue. Yes, being indie-pendent is cool, but also there shouldn't be any stigma against taking on other 'jobs' if they align with where we want to be.

    3. 4

      I love this Wizard of Oz reference so much <3

      1. 22

        me too! except for the weird straw man part, like wtf?

        1. 1

          😂 the scarecrow was a good dancer, maybe it's that part?

          1. 5

            I might have to brush up on my photoshop skills. My talents go far.

    4. 2

      I think people don't realize how much you do. You have 5 kids at home.

      I’ve never heard any noise when she’s on ClubHouse, podcasting, etc.

      What’s the magic @rosiesherry?

      1. 3

        Maybe I don't have any kids. 👀
        Or maybe my husband has equal responsibility and I plan around when he is with them.

        I'm either with my kids/family, or working away. That's pretty much my life. And I'm good with that.

    5. 1

      Very kind words I am sure well-deserved 💪🏾

  2. 22

    WE LOVE YOU ROSIE! Thanks so much for your support, it's made a huuuuge and tangible difference for me and countless others.

    1. 1

      Thanks Monica. I'm so glad we connected along the way. 🙌

  3. 15

    Rosie! Thank you so much for what you have done for the community. We are all better off because of you, your kindness, generosity and encouragement.

    We love you Rosie!

    I'm personally so grateful for the impact you have had in my life and can't wait to follow your newest adventures!

    1. 3

      Co-sign everything Janel said <3 You've left a big mark on a whole lot of people.

    2. 1

      Thanks Janel, it's been great to watch you grow too. ❤️

  4. 14

    Thanks so much for your support!Good luck on your future

  5. 12

    Wish you luck on the new path Rosie

  6. 9

    Thank you so much Rosie !!! You will be missed!!!

  7. 9

    Noooooooooooooooo 😭 We will miss you, but good luck on your next steps!!

    Some questions:
    1 - what happens with IH community leardership after your departure?
    2 - how are you dealing with such a big change in life?

    1. 4
      1. I don't have an answer to that, probably more a question for @csallen
      2. How I dealt with everything in life, one day at a time. I get overwhelmed if I think about too much at once.
  8. 8

    Thank you Rosie and good luck!

  9. 7

    Good luck Rosie!

  10. 6

    The whole Indie Hackers community now 😭 ♥️

    No questions, just a MASSIVE thank you for everything! You are an inspiration for many of us here.

    1. 5

      Just so everyone knows. Leo has been one of the kindest and supportive people on my journey.

  11. 5

    First Daft Punk and now this...

    I f****** love indie hackers and a lot of that is cause of you.

    Thank you for everything Rosie. You've show me so much support. Gonna miss getting random notifications from you making me smile in the cafe.

    I'm sure you'll smash the next chapter.

    1. 3

      Brighton beach it is. This summer. Socially distanced if need be.

      Who else is in?

      1. 1

        Definitely!

        I still owe you for a very tasty burrito!

  12. 5

    This is a sad day for all of us.

    You really inspired all indie hackers, like me. You showed how kindness and showing love for a community can make a great effect on people and all members.

    Although you will not be leading the community or posting regularly, your contributions will be always remembered.

    Thank you very much for all the things you taught us, your kindness, and love for this community.

    1. 1

      I hope you all will keep backing IH and all the hard work that Courtland and the team put in. It's a special place. ❤️

  13. 4

    Thanks for everything you've done over the last two years, Rosie!

    You're leaving some big shoes to fill and I know everyone will be sad to see you stepping down, but I'm excited for the new projects you're working on and I know you'll crush it!

    Hopefully you'll still be around Indie Hackers and share updates on your success with us :)

  14. 4

    Sorry to hear you're leaving!! Thank you SO much for being so inspiring and generous with your time @rosiesherry ❤️

    & for everything you do to elevate women like me in the indie community - i appreciate it. Can't wait to see what you do next

    1. 2

      Thanks, so glad our paths crossed in so many ways!

  15. 4

    I don’t have any questions, just a huge thank you!!! 🤗

    1. 2

      ❤️ I've loved all our chats, especially the chocolate ones!

  16. 3

    @rosiesherry Thanks for leading the community, you made a big difference to me personally with your comments and posts, I wish you all the best with your next adventure :)

  17. 3

    This thread speaks volumes for your impact and character, Rosie. <3 What an emotional thread to read!

  18. 3

    Rosie, you are one of a kind. What you've done for this place is bigger than any tool, product, trend or format that has come out of our collective intelligence.

    I'm eager to see what you do next, it's been a pleasure. Cheers! 👏

  19. 3

    😭😭 we're going to miss you!! You're style of leading a community is going to be difficult to emulate. I wish you the best on your endeavors ❤️❤️

  20. 3

    Super strange feeling.
    As IH is my go to place for the last 3/4 of a year this feels like a good leader leaving the company I am working at.
    But I am not working at a company, so lol.

    Rosie you've brought a feeling of belonging and "WE" into IH, thanks for all your support and hard work.

    As I've seen it so often in my professional life - the best people always move on to new endeavours, so it's kind of unexpected, but expected.

    All the best for the next move!

  21. 3

    Full support Rosie!
    Thanks for everything 🙏

    1. 1

      Thanks, it means a lot!

  22. 2

    Oh my gosh, Rosie! You've done masterful work here and leave the place better than you found it :-)

    Big big best wishes on what you're doing next. Very excited for you!

    Thank you for everything you've done here, and a personal thanks for all the ways I've benefitted from what you do ❤️

    1. 1

      ❤️ Don't become a stranger, I'd love to chat and catch up again.

  23. 2

    Inspirational stuff as usual Boss! You're one of the reasons I know I can achieve everything I want!

    Where do you get your inspiration from? How do you keep pushing/stay disciplined?

    1. 1

      Where do you get your inspiration from?

      Always from the community, of course. ❤️

      Also just from the world around me, reading and researching.

      How do you keep pushing/stay disciplined?

      Make a consistent habit of showing up, I suppose.

  24. 2

    Thank you so much Rosie for everything you've done here! You will be missed!

  25. 2

    Hey other than "thank you", I also want to say
    Thank You!
    THANK YOU!
    THank YoU!

    You really shape up this awesome community for so many of us and I've learned a lot here. You're always helpful to everyone and moving the needle for every single hackers here.

    I'm sure stepping down doesn't mean leaving the community, so love to see you around and see how you drive other projects. Last one, THANKKK YOUUU!

    1. 2

      Thanks Kevon, I've enjoyed watching your recent growth. ❤️

  26. 2

    Oh my goodness! I just tweeted something you said about community. To paraphrase you:

    "Building an audience is to raise your own voice. Building a community is to raise up others."

    Thank you for your work and contribution to the community.

  27. 2

    WOWOW Rosie, this is huge and bittersweet! Can't wait to keep up with Rosieland and your community building knowledge.

  28. 2

    Rosie! I am so so so so honored to know you and to be building with you! I have learned so much from you not just in IndieHackers but in life!

    Thank you for sharing your spirit, collaborating, and being open, honest, and humble all along the way.

    Cheers to the next adventure!

  29. 2

    Watching you "do community" at IH has been like an experience. It feels like magic.
    Glad I had a chance to grab a spot on the 1:1s.
    Thank you.

  30. 2

    Thanks for being so welcoming in Indie Hackers. Excited for your next chapter!

  31. 2

    Oh my goodness!! @rosiesherry, you will be sorely missed. Good luck on your next steps!! Sending you so much goodness!

  32. 2

    I mostly lurk on here, but I have so enjoyed the content you share, the questions you pose, and the uniquely supportive community you've fostered. All the best to you in your next adventure, Rosie! You will sure be missed.

  33. 2

    You'll be missed! Thanks for your support along the way (still remember your encouraging comments on my very first posts here)!

    And best of luck with your new endeavors! ✨

  34. 2

    Thank you, Rosie! I'll certainly keep following you on social media and also at rosieland!

  35. 2

    We'll miss you Rosie !

  36. 2

    Thanks a ton for all you've done Rosie. Best of luck with your new adventures. We'll miss you...!

  37. 2

    Ah Rosie thank you for everything you've done! Always look forward to seeing your posts and your heartfelt community highlights. You've redefined community building!

  38. 2

    5 kids, 1 big business and you did this. You're a giant Rosie. Best of luck with your future endeavors.

  39. 2

    Good luck with the future, Rosie. I constantly found myself reading your posts and thinking, "What a thoughtful question / insight." You fostered so much quality discussion that it's hard to imagine things being the same without you.

  40. 2

    Thank you @rosiesherry for your awesome work and all the help you've been giving us!
    You are an inspiration to all of us! \o/

  41. 2

    Thank you for everything you’ve done! It’s been a huge pleasure having you as the community manager and is going to be a very big role to fill for whoever takes it over.

    Looking forward to Rosieland and the community course you’re creating :)

  42. 2

    Oh Rosie 💛 Good luck with everything ahead!

  43. 2

    Many are prolific writers, prolific podcasters, @rosiesherry you are a prolific at living life, I don't think any one of us knows all the things you do :)

    Good luck with your upcoming adventures!

  44. 2

    We will miss you Rosie!

  45. 2

    I'm pretty new around here and haven't had the opportunity to interact directly but I love reading your posts...pretty much daily! You've provided a lot to the community and will be missed! I look forward to hearing about whatever comes next. :)

  46. 2

    Thank you so much for your leadership @rosiesherry! While I'm still relatively new to Indie Hackers, I've learned a ton from your posts about this awesome community. Cheers to you! Onward and upward!

  47. 2

    Thanks for everything Rosie! You were an amazing leader for this community. Best of luck in your course and future adventures!

  48. 2

    Now who's going to be that ONE person who reads my posts? j/k Thanks for all your contributions!

  49. 2

    Sad to see you go Rosie but I know you are carrying the same positive energy wherever you go. Maybe it is okay to touch other lives with the same positivity.
    Will miss your constant presence.

  50. 2

    Thank you for all the awesome work you did for the community! 💜

  51. 2

    You're a legend!

    Thank you for leading the way and leading by example through Indie Hackers. 🙏

  52. 2

    Wish you the best Rosie on your journey!! 😊

  53. 2

    Thank you Rosie for all the love and inspiration you gave to this community! I'm sad to read that you're leaving and I hope we'll meet again. I wish you all the best for the future!

  54. 2

    Thanks for making the IH community such a wonderful place to be, and for the wonderful meetups you organised in Brighton. I met some wonderful people and it had a huge impact on me.

    Can't wait to continue follow everything you are doing with Rosieland!

  55. 2

    🙏 Huge thanks Rosie! All the best for what’s next!

  56. 2

    Rosie, I hope that this is truly the best for you and you can bring the same awesome “Rosie experience” to your next community. So thank you, and go in peace knowing that what you leave behind is great.

  57. 2

    ooph. you welcomed me warmly to IH and it's become one of my all-time favs.

    good luck on the next season and adventure!

  58. 2

    Good luck with Rosieland

    I really enjoyed your posts/contributions on IH and CH :)

  59. 2

    Please don't leave...

    1. 1

      i can't imagine she's going to leave-leave.... right? i mean, once an IHer.. always an IHer... right?

      so glad for this:

      Whilst I’m stepping down leading the community, I have every intention to keep coming back and share on a regular basis.

        1. 1

          Oh man. What can I do to make it less bitter?

          1. 1

            Stay with the indiehacker community duh

  60. 2

    Thank you for everything Rosie! You helped so many people ❤️

  61. 2

    We will miss you Rosie! But I am sure we will still see you around in the community 😊

  62. 2

    Thank you so much for everything you’ve done to build the IH community to what it is today.

    You are a true champion for the community and I have no doubt in my mind that you will be extremely successful in whatever you choose to do next!

  63. 2

    Rosie! 😭
    Thank you so much for your contribution & all the luck to you for your future!

  64. 2

    Thanks so much for all your hardwork here on IH Rosie! You're so good at what you do, I've learned a great deal just from watching how you spark conversations / moderate judiciously here.

    Wishing you all the best for your new adventure!

  65. 2

    Love you rosie, thanks for everything <3. Will keep on eye on your next venture!

  66. 2

    Thank you so much for all your work and building an amazing community❤️

  67. 2

    Sending you 💓and looking forward to what's next with Roseland and your course! Thank you for making a powerful impact in community building. As a newbie to Indie Hacker, I've learned a lot reading your posts and tweets.

  68. 2

    Hi Rosie,

    Thank you so much for all your work and efforts to make this community a better place.
    I wish you luck on the new path.

  69. 2

    You've done an amazing job Rosie. I've loved all the brilliant content you've unearthed for us and the tone you've set for the community.

    No surprise you've got plenty of your own projects to pursue, it would be weird if you didn't!

    Best wishes.

  70. 2

    Feeling uneasy on seeing this. I am sure you have helped a lot of people here and we all miss you here so much. It gonna be a big responsibility for anyone joining in your place.

    Is this because you want to give more time to RosieLand?

  71. 2

    I’ve so appreciated your willingness to be open and vulnerable and for all the support you’ve given all of us along the way.

    You’ve always been there to ask the right questions.

    I appreciate all you’ve done! Excited for you to keep helping others build communities.

  72. 2

    Rosie, thank you for all you did for the community. I'm sure you will keep inspiring us all - just keep doing your Rosie-thing!

    1. 1

      Not sure if I would have met you without IH. Imagine that?

  73. 2

    The sad part: to me you were THE pillar of this community, and the main reason for me to come back that often around here. I always loved the way you managed it, and the way you see things resonates a lot with me. In short, you helped me a lot.

    The great part: you'll be able to focus on community building, create great content, helping even more, and if you're coming back around here to share all of that, that's awesome!

  74. 2

    So sad to see you go, Rosie! 👋

    Here’s my question: What was a tough challenge you faced as the community leader here on IH? How did you overcome it?

    Best of wishes!

    1. 3

      In the early days it was being an out of touch indie hacker.

      People talking about stuff that I wasn't super confident in. Turns out community is great for learning and becoming (more of) an expert, so I have all of you to thank for that! 🙏🏽

      1. 1

        Thanks for the reply Rosie - we’ll miss you! 🥲

  75. 2

    No questions, just a huge heartfelt thank you for all you’ve done for this community.

    I’ve got no doubt you’ll have huge success with RosieLand and everything else you tackle next.

    We love you, Rosie. Thank you!

    🥰

  76. 2

    You've been an inspiration, thanks for your hard work and support for the community. Best of luck with Rosieland and your course!

  77. 2

    Thankyou Rosie for all your work on here. You da best!

    1. 2

      and thanks for the support over the last month!

  78. 2

    Best of luck Rosie, thanks for making IH a more approachable place to share ideas and make connections. Hoping to still see you hanging out here every now and then :)

  79. 2

    Best of luck in your new adventures, and thank you for all you've done for the indie hacking community, Rosie!

  80. 2

    Woah. Big news! You've been such a welcoming voice on IH and it's a big loss for the IH team. Wishing you all the best for your next step!

  81. 2

    From the few intereactions i had with you I always felt a great vibe. Wishing you the best for what's next!!

  82. 2

    Jeez, that's such a shame but thank you for your massive role in creating this lovely, supportive community.

  83. 2

    Thank you so much for all your help, Rosie! I can't wait to see all the new exciting things you will create.

  84. 2

    Sending lots of love and support <3 Thanks for everything!

  85. 1

    Rosie, you are one of a kind. You have given us something big, something that no other person could ever do. You are the very heart and soul of this place.
    It's been fun being around you, and I'm looking forward to seeing what comes up next https://apkswalk.com

    Cheers! 👏👏👏

  86. 1

    We'll all miss you Rosie! You are a big part of my indie hacking journey, I sincerely appreciate everything you've done for me and the rest of us ❤️ Always a huge inspiration, ROCK ON!!!

  87. 1

    Thanks, Sherry for all the work. I always used to upvote your daily standup posts. I will miss those. The altruistic spirit you created is something I haven't seen anywhere. Though "lot" of work is still needed I believe Indiehacker is a unique community because people here "give" much more than they "get". These type of communities is what is required in the world which is racing towards self-centredness.

  88. 1

    Thanks a lot for your help Rosie! I'm quite amazed to read that you have 5 kids at home and so many other things as well. I wish you the best but I'm sure we will cross paths in the future.

  89. 1

    The next community person Indie Hackers hires would have big big big shoes to fill. Thank you for everything you do, @rosiesherry. And good luck with Rosieland and the course.

  90. 1

    One of the highlights of my Indie Hackers experience was a video call you hosted where you connected a few random IHers. It was great getting to actually meet people in the community.

    Thank you so much for all you've done to make Indie Hackers amazing ❤️

    1. 1

      Oh, thank you for that.

      Randomly meeting IHers was one of my favorite things.

  91. 1

    Thanks for all the inspiration and wish you all the best ❤️

  92. 1

    Good luck with your other projects! Enjoy the ride 🙏

  93. 1

    Just saw this post and got bummed. Loved your IH interview and appreciated all the work you do for this community. Look forward to following your journey and newsletter!

    1. 1

      Thank you, I honestly appreciate the kind words.

  94. 1

    Jeez. I feel bad about this news. You've been so kind to us.
    Thank you for your years of service. We love you.

  95. 1

    Thanks for being so welcoming to me and other new IHers Rosie - really sad to see you leave... Wishing you all the best in your next (ad)ventures!

  96. 1

    Rosie, thank you for being a fantastic human and wonderful community builder. Cheering for you in the next stage of your journey! Much love.

  97. 1

    Sad to see you go. It was really nice talking to you last week and I wish you all the best for the future. Hope to see you around. :)

  98. 1

    Best of luck to you Rosie and whatever is next! We are cheering for you and dont forget to drop by and share what you're up to from time to time.

  99. 1

    Best of luck to you on whatever path you land on!

  100. 1

    Thank you Rosie!
    You are you of a kind! (Supportive, Entertaining, Caring, Listener...)

  101. 1

    Thank you for all your work @rosiesherry! I especially appreciate that you were promoting other indie hackers here and on twitter.

  102. 1

    WE LOVE YOU ROSIE ❤️

  103. 1

    damn it, rosie! i can't believe you're stepping down from leading ih...
    but you know what, i respect your choice anyway.

    here to show some love and support.

    1. 1

      We can still have chats or do more music sessions! ❤️

  104. 1

    Thanks for all that you do Rosie! You are the face of the IH community and made it feel so welcoming and easy for everyone to join and to get involved!

  105. 1

    Farewell and best of luck on your new journey! Rosie will always be synonymous with IH :)

  106. 1

    Hey Rosie! Hope you are feeling great about a new adventure - you will be missed a lot.

    My q: what's going to happen to the Indie Women community, is someone taking over running it from you? Are you going to keep on doing it?

    1. 3

      I'll continue to run and I guess own Indie Women on a volunteer basis, nothing there will change. It's pretty special there and I wouldn't want that to change for the worse. ❤️

  107. 1

    This community is great. I am here since not long, but it's the best entrepreneurial community that I have been able to find so far, in terms of interaction, shared knowledge ... I dare to say that it has had a positive impact in my life, because this is something I have been looking for during quite a long time ago.

    Being that said, I hope you will do well and that IH will continue as well.

    Thanks for having brought me here.

  108. 1

    Thank you for the inspirational and helpful articles and discussions.
    Wish you all the best for the future.

  109. 1

    I'm new to Indiehackers, but in that short time you've made a huge impression on me with your writing and your fresh insights. I wish you all the best. Good luck to you and your family. 🙏

  110. 1

    You are awesome Rosie! I felt so much part of this community thanks to you!

  111. 1

    Best of luck Rosie!

  112. 1

    Thanks for your contribution Rosie!

    I'm new to IH but have seen you around in different groups, so I definitely know how involved you are in the IH community. Just curious, what was the hardest decision you had as a moderator?

    Best of luck on your next journey!

  113. 1

    Like so many others here, I'll say it again, IH community will miss you big time.

    I highly respect your hustle & the way you manage so many things in life. It truly inspire me.

    Thank you so much for all of your efforts. Wish you the best for your next adventure!

  114. 1

    Hey Rosie!

    I wish you the best of luck with what the future holds for you. If you need support, you know all of us here got your back. Looking forward to seeing your updates on Rosieland!

    • Tony
  115. 1

    Thank you Rosie and good luck! I hope you'll keep us posted :)

  116. 1

    I have been watching your community building ninja skills from afar as I attempt to grow and nurture my own community. You and your story are an inspiration to me. It's inevitable that whatever you do next will be amazing. Wishing you all the very best. I'll be staying in touch and following your journey on here and Twitter.

    My one question is: What is the one thing you do consistently that contributes the most to a healthy, thriving community?

  117. 1

    You will be missed! Best of luck on your next adventure.

  118. 1

    Thanks for all the work.

  119. 1

    Lots and lots of respect for what you've done for this community and all the things besides it!

  120. 1

    We will miss you Rosie, Thank you so much for your support all these time ❤️

  121. 1

    Sorry to see you go! I wish I'd been here earlier to enjoy your leadership for longer, and look forward to the occasions that you do stop by. Don't be a stranger!

    For the rest of us: let's not screw up what Rosie's built!

  122. 1

    Thank you so much for all that you've done for the IndieHackers community, and for every single life you touched.

    You're so welcoming and positive. I wish you all the best, Rosie!

  123. 1

    We will miss you! ❤️

  124. 1

    This comment was deleted 3 years ago.

  125. 5

    This comment was deleted 2 years ago.

    1. 2

      I’ve loved getting to know you through Indie Women. Long may that continue! ❤️

  126. 2

    This comment was deleted a year ago.

    1. 1

      Hope we can still do that Clubhouse session. I didn't action it, for obvious reasons. ❤️

      1. 1

        This comment was deleted a year ago.

  127. 12

    This comment was deleted a year ago.

    1. 7

      Size 8 these days, in case anyone wants to know. 🤣

    2. 3

      aint that the truth.

  128. 3

    This comment was deleted 3 years ago.

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