Leaving “Safe” Behind: My First Month as an Indie Hacker

At Kiwi Hub, we read plenty of stories about business models and scalability, but rarely do we find one that describes the "human cost" of staying "safe" with such precision. That image of being "strapped to the outside of a rocket ship" is exactly how so many founders feel. But so few dare to let go.

What resonates most with us about your journey, Kaiac, is that you didn't leave with a 50-page business plan; you left to reclaim your peace. It’s exactly in that space of freedom where Share Skippy was born.

We love seeing how using AI to learn to code from scratch allowed you to transform "survival energy" into "creative energy." That feeling of being up at 3 a.m. chasing a bug (not out of obligation, but out of pure curiosity) is the true soul of Indie Hacking.

Thank you for reminding us that a project’s value isn’t always measured by market size, but by what the building process does for the builder. Huge congrats on your first month of freedom and for choosing your well-being over the "shoulds." We can't wait to see how Share Skippy evolves!

To the community: Have you ever felt like your "safe job" was actually a fog preventing you from seeing what you truly wanted to build? 🚀🥝

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The fog you described is so accurate. I spent years as an AI consultant telling myself I loved the pace. turns out I was just really good at adapting to pressure. Quit without a full plan, expected to feel lost. Felt lighter instead.

Now building an AI social app and trying to live with a growth mindset. The late nights debugging feel completely different from the late nights dreading the next day.

I’m actually in a similar transition right now. After spending most of my career in structured environments (academia and industry R&D), I suddenly found myself with time to explore ideas without any predefined roadmap.

What surprised me is how different the mindset is. When you’re inside an organization, the problems are already defined. When you’re working independently, even figuring out which problems are worth solving becomes part of the work.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with building small systems around problems I’ve personally run into — mostly out of curiosity — and it’s been oddly energizing compared to waiting for the “next role” to appear.

Still figuring out where that leads, but the process itself has been interesting.

Not yet but honestly it's my dream to walk away from corporate life. I just think it would not be the smartest decision for me to leave a good paying job for uncertainity. Right now I try to build thing, hopefully something will start making money. That will be my get out of jail card

I'm so happy you were able to do that and gain your freedom to build what you want. It's definitely not easy and requires lots of courage. So I commend you for doing that. Unfortunately, it's not the case for me. Even though I know how to code and can turn any idea into an app, I have a family that depends on me financially. Getting that freedom is a lot more difficult for me. Luckily enough, my company is flexible and isn't introducing stress to my personal life. I'm still able to work a bit on my projects. Maybe one day, I'll be able to break free and do my own thing. Thanks for sharing!

grazie per aver condiviso la tua esperienza, Kaia. Mi ci ritrovo molto, soprattutto quando parli della libertà che senti lasciando qualcosa di “sicuro” e dello stimolo a costruire nonostante l’incertezza. Anche io sto cercando di creare qualcosa di mio, e posso dire che non è semplice, ma ogni piccolo progresso dà una grande soddisfazione.
Nell’ultimo anno la mia sfida più grande è stata sviluppare un’app che permetta alle persone di programmare comodamente dal telefono. La strada è ancora lunga, ma sto imparando tanto e ogni difficoltà diventa un passo avanti.
Un consiglio che ho imparato sulla mia pelle: credere davvero in se stessi e circondarsi di persone positive. Prima ancora di partire con l’azione, costruire un ambiente sano e motivante è fondamentale — lavorare in contesti tossici o con persone negative può abbatterti prima ancora di iniziare.
Mi piacerebbe sapere: quali sono state le sfide più difficili per te, sia tecniche che mentali, all’inizio del tuo percorso? io sono giovane, mi chiamo leon e sono un ragazzo 2005, quindi diciamo che partire già a questa età può aiutare

I was forced to leave the "safe" job. I wonder if job should be even considered safe . Anyway, great to hear you have found purpose and clarity.And that's what matters.

I went on to adopt the consulting route when I got laid off. However, it feels so good to be your own boss and you decide how many hours you want to work.

Wish you the luck with new builder life. Happy hacking.

Wow, what a story 😄

Leaving something “safe” without a plan is terrifying, but it’s amazing how you turned it into energy for building Share Skippy. I love how you focused on the freedom to create rather than the result or the market — that mindset is so powerful.

Curious — for someone starting their first passion project, what would you say is the single most important thing to keep yourself motivated during those late-night debugging sessions?

Most Indie hacker takes hybrid approach where they keep working 9-5 and do side hustle. I am not sure the best approach but if your situation in you work job is not good and you can't think of any other thing even after the working hours then yes taking that leap of faith is the best choice.

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This hit me hard — especially the part about leaving something “safe” to actually feel free again. I went through a similar phase before I started building my own microSaaS. It’s wild how the stress fades the moment you start creating for yourself instead of someone else. Respect for taking that leap — you’ve described that feeling perfectly. 🙌

This was grounding to read. I’ve never had the guts to quit with no plan, but I recognize the “fog” you describe. Wild how sleep and small compulsions change when the nervous system isn’t on fire. Congrats on choosing freedom .and on discovering you love the building more than the badge.

Really loved this. It’s crazy how leaving something “safe” can feel terrifying at first, but then almost instantly feel lighter and more real. The way you describe building for the joy of it, not just the outcome, really hits. That’s the true spirit of indie hacking.

Really resonate with this. I also felt that same pull — realizing I couldn’t just stay in the “safe zone” anymore. So I quit my job to pursue what I truly love. It hasn’t been easy, but the sense of freedom and purpose makes it all worth it.

kudos to you taking bold step

In my case i need assurance

This one feels real.

The rocket ship line says it all. From the outside it looks exciting. From the inside it burns.

What hit me most is how your body knew before your brain did. Stress dreams. Old habits coming back. That quiet signal that something is off. A lot of people ignore that until it gets loud.

The part about freedom four hours later… that’s powerful. When relief shows up that fast, it tells you the decision was right.

I also like that you admit you do not know if the market is huge. You just want to build. That honesty is rare. Many people talk about passion. Few admit the passion is the act of making things.

And this line stayed with me: “I used to think my value was my job title.” So many of us sit in that trap.

Walking away from safe is scary. But sometimes safe is what slowly drains you.

Curious to see where Share Skippy goes. Not even as a business. Just as proof that you chose yourself.

This was a great read — thanks for the transparency!

That tension between comfort and growth is something I think many indie builders face but don’t talk about enough.

For me, the hardest part isn’t just leaving safety behind — it’s deciding what's next after the builds.. That hesitation feels tied to the same fear you’re describing.

Curious: now that you’ve passed the first month milestone, do you feel like the momentum makes it easier to share your work with the world — or does the fear of judgment stay the same?

Really appreciate you putting this into words; helps normalize a lot of those internal struggles.

Thank you for sharing your story, Kaia. I did something similar. Ten years ago, I quit my job as a Senior Trainer for a well-known bank without having another job lined up. That was such a no-no back then. Never went back to corporate, still working for myself. Now this non-techy woman is learning how to build an app. I have no idea what I am doing, but I am having so much fun!

I can resonate with the part that I can try to fix a problem for hours and be so deep into it that the time just flies by! I am new to coding myself. I have a background in design and have been an artist most of my life. I recently came up with an idea for an app so I have been diving into cursor and trying to block this thing out. I currently am unable to walk away from my full time job but I know this project has insane potential as there isn't anythign else like it out there and it's a very niche community. Thanks for your post, it's inspiring and I am looking foward to more. Congrats on your app!

awesome share

Congrats on the courage! As a Full Stack dev who’s been with the same company for 6 years, I feel this on a deep level.

I’m in a similar spot.Juggling the golden handcuffs and the fear that everything would collapse if I left. Having a 3-year-old kid makes the stakes even higher; the thought of being unpaid for even a month is terrifying. Yet, I can almost taste how good that freedom and stress relief would feel.

Right now, I’m pouring every ounce of post-work energy into my side project, hoping to build that financial bridge so I can finally make the leap. It’s a grind, but seeing others do it gives me hope. Good luck, man!

Looking for a growth / distribution partner to own: GTM, marketing, revenue.

I can build and ship really fast.

Very relatable read.

The contrast between “safe” and actually feeling alive really stood out.

Curious if there was a specific turning point in that first month where things mentally shifted for you?

My request - change domain name to include dog . Not sure if you like the idea. if you don't ignore this.I just felt you should get some seo benefit from domain too.
You should keep doing stuff you love and try to find a way to earn your living.

Find ways to save money for future too.

Good luck to you

Venkat

i allow 3 street dogs to enter our home and take rest. some sleep all day and go out at night. we feed them. I spend money on these dogs to buy food etc. what i mean to say is, even to do good deeds, we need money, either from job or our work.

Thank you so much for sharing this. It really takes courage to choose the unknown, especially when we are taught that the “safe” path is the right one.

It is interesting how school prepares us for jobs and routines, but not for building something for ourselves or taking risks that actually feel meaningful. So many people stay where they are because it feels expected, not because it feels fulfilling.

Reading your journey really resonated with me. What we often call security can sometimes just be comfort, until it no longer feels right. I appreciate you being open about your experience.

Thanks for sharing this. I recently quit my corporate job because of burn out and I am in the process of discovering myself and building something on the side for freedom. This post resonates with me.

This was such an honest and inspiring reflection on what it feels like to step away from a safe routine and rediscover the joy of building something on your own. The way you describe finding clarity and energy again really resonates with a lot of us who juggle productivity and life balance.

When we start building independently, understanding how we spend our time becomes even more important — not just in coding or debugging but in everyday planning and intentional work. A tool like https://arbeitszeitrechnerapp.de/ that helps calculate and visualize working hours can be especially useful for creators and indie builders trying to make the most of their time.

Great perspective. The five-foot zone perfectly explains why so many good ideas never move forward. Action, even small action, really changes everything.

It’s wild how we often normalize "stress nightmares" as just a trade-off for the hustle until our subconscious finally hits the emergency brake for us. That realization that your identity isn't tied to a corporate title is probably the biggest "unlock" anyone can have—it’s like the fog finally clears and you realize you’re allowed to just build things because they’re interesting, not just because they might scale. It sounds like you didn’t just quit a job; you traded a "safe" path that was killing your spirit for a messy one that actually makes you feel alive, and finding that flow state while debugging at 3 AM is the best sign that you're exactly where you're supposed to be.

This resonates a lot. That first month after leaving a stable job is pure chaos mentally, but also the most honest feedback loop you’ll ever get. Building your own thing forces clarity in a way no job ever does. Thanks for sharing the real side of it, not just the highlight reel.

This really resonates. The first month as an indie hacker is such a mix of excitement and doubt.

For me, the biggest learning was that momentum beats clarity. Once you start shipping regularly, even small things, the fear slowly fades.

Curious how others here are validating ideas early — especially when it comes to content or distribution?

This really landed. The part about your body knowing before your brain does hit close to home. That quiet realization that something’s off — before you can logically explain it — is so real.

I love how you describe freedom not as some big dramatic moment, but as small things returning: sleep, calm, space to think. That feels way more honest than the usual “quit your job and 10x your life” story.

Also appreciate how grounded you are about building — not chasing a perfect business model, just following the pull to create and see where it leads. That mindset feels way healthier (and probably more sustainable) than most advice out there.

Thanks for sharing this so openly. It’s the kind of post that makes people pause and reflect, not just scroll past.

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Greatness is on the other side of fear

This is such an honest and inspiring reflection — thank you for sharing.

The way you describe leaving something “safe” without a plan really resonates. Too often we wait for the perfect moment to pursue what truly matters, when in reality the breakthrough comes from choosing clarity over comfort. Four hours after leaving and already feeling lighter really captures how much weight a stressful job can put on our mental state. Indie Hackers

I also appreciate how you emphasize building for the joy of building rather than chasing market validation right away. That’s a mindset many people forget when they equate indie hacking only with revenue or traction. Indie Hackers

Curious — as someone who’s now a month in, have you started thinking about what comes next? Are you carving a path to sustainability, or are you letting exploration guide you for now?

I was genuinely moved by Kaia’s journey—leaving a draining "safe" job to chase indie hacking hits close to home. I admire her honesty about fear, the lack of a clear plan, and the joy she finds in building ShareSkippy, even as a coding beginner. Her choice to prioritize passion over societal expectations feels so brave and relatable; it’s a powerful reminder that fulfillment trumps comfort. Reading her story makes me rethink my own hesitation—sometimes letting go of security is the first step to something truly meaningful.

Beautiful story and I'm glad you're in a better place mentally. That matters more than any job title.

One thing I'm curious about: you mentioned not caring about market size or whether people will pay. I get the "build for passion" angle, but... how long can you sustain that?

Not asking to be cynical — genuinely curious. Do you have a timeline where you'll need to monetize, or are you in a position to just build indefinitely without revenue pressure?

great job Kaia. im kind of in the same situation and trying to come up with an idea so i can make a difference. to fix a problem and maybe eventually someday get paid. but im only focused on the fixing problem part. so your experience is a help to me especially that im a newbie in coding such as you used to be. thanks for the lesson. oh and i have an idea which i started working on a month ago. super excited.

Hey Kaia, wow, kudos and mad respect for you :-) I have worked for a boss my entire life and started building something, just for me, almost 10months ago now. It is so close now I can almost taste it, and the idea of going in to work and handing in my resignation, is overpowering.

At 58, I commute 100miles a day to work and back (50miles per trip), sleep badly, get up at 5AM to be in the office by 6:30 just so that I can miss the traffic, and then do the same again in the evening.

The thought of never having to do that again, and spend every moment of every day JUST coding, JUST living, JUST building whatever income I want, in my own time... is what is keeping me sane right now.

What's stopping me from doing exactly that right now? Well .. life ...! I have a wife and house and mortgage and car and bills and come to think of it, need my current income so that I can afford to sit and code and pay the hosting and other fees as none of it is paying for itself ... so for the moment ... I dream ... :-)

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This hit harder than I expected.

Especially the part about waking up and realizing the anxiety wasn’t ‘normal’ — just familiar.”

I relate to this a lot.

I didn’t leave a job, but I hit a similar breaking point earlier this year.

I was running Amazon stores, juggling too many things, trying to keep momentum… and at some point I realized I was basically maintaining chaos instead of building anything meaningful.

Funny enough, the moment things started getting better was when I gave myself permission to build something for myself instead of for a boss, a client, or an expectation.

That became my first indie project — a tiny AI tool I built to analyze weekly Amazon search-term momentum (I’m an Amazon seller of 5 years).

Didn’t plan it. Didn’t think it would matter. It was just something that made my workflow easier.

But building something that solved my own pain did more for my mental clarity than any vacation or “reset.”It’s wild how stepping out of the machine gives you the space to actually hear your own thoughts again.

Thanks for sharing your story — threads like this remind me that the “safe” path isn’t necessarily the healthy one.

Thank you so much for your sharing — I can relate to many of the feelings you described. At the end of last month, I also quit my job and became an independent developer. Before that, I was working at a startup, but I felt that the company was draining my passion. When I left, it felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I started rebuilding my product, and it has made me feel much more relaxed, both mentally and physically. I genuinely enjoy the process of creating products.

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Love this. The line between resilience and numbness is real. What helped me was fixing my sleep — it changed how I deal with stress and boundaries.
I ended up creating a super short sleep guide based on that journey: The Tiny Sleep Method. Sharing in case it helps someone her

Nice work here. I’m building my first tiny MVP too and it’s always inspiring to see people shipping early versions. Curious — what was the simplest version of this before you added more features

What I admire most about entrepreneurs is their ever-abundant energy

Really happy that this worked out for you. I took that leap recently as well. Had an extremely well paying job for my age and country, but I was still being left drained after each day of work. Had to go through 2 days of doing nothing just to start feeling any motivation to work on something else. The company and people were not bad at all, so I was actually feeling guilty that I wasn't more engaged. But in all this time I also had dreams of my own, ideas I wanted to build, things I wanted to do, but no energy for them.
That step enabled me to focus my energy in think I cared about, and though this might not work for long, or I might eventually want to go back to a normal paying job, knowing I at least tried is bound to feel a lot better than not even giving it a shot.

I feel you. I have a high paying dead end job. I know most people would say don’t complain most ppl don’t have jobs. But I’m dead inside. I want more, I want to build, I want add value to the world. No one really has given me a shot but still build I still come up with crazy ass ideas. I love it. Did you get funding for your app? How are distributing it? I have found out it’s much harder to get something going than just having a good idea. Cheers!

This is one of the most honest takes on leaving a ‘good job’ I’ve ever read. It’s rare to see someone admit that the breaking point isn’t always dramatic — sometimes it’s quiet, just your body whispering that something’s off. I love how you described freedom not as quitting work, but as reconnecting with what feels alive again. The line about your first good dream hit especially hard — that’s what real peace feels like. Thank you for putting words to what so many of us silently wrestle with.

Man, this is truly a compliment. It's so strange how peace manifests itself when you finally let go of what's been weighing you down. That kind of freedom manifests itself differently when you achieve it the hard way.

Kaia, this hit deep. Leaving the illusion of “safe” is often the real first step toward freedom. What you’ve built with ShareSkippy isn’t just a product — it’s proof that clarity follows courage.

I also left my old circle and shifted to building an app—mine is a personal safety guardian. I don’t think I’ll make much money, but I feel I’m doing the right thing. Loved your post.

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This really hit me especially the part about realizing freedom just hours after leaving.

Most people underestimate how much mental fog their “safe” job creates until they finally step away from it. It’s not even about having a perfect plan just the space to breathe and build again.

Loved how you described that first dream it’s such a powerful sign that your mind finally felt light again.

Wishing you the best with Share Skippy! The fact that you’re building for the joy of creating says a lot about what kind of founder you’ll become

its never a bad idea to stop, your health is priority and now you can embrace many more opportunity with a better felling. i will look at your project for the dogs owner and hope you the best in life and personal project

I'm also on my way, just need some Investors got something already Profitable in the Pipeline.

I really love how honestly you described that “fog” feeling — it’s something many people don’t realize until they step away from constant pressure.
The part about finding energy again through building really resonated with me.
I had a similar experience when I left a stressful job and started working on my own small tool — the freedom to build at your own pace changes everything.

This is one of the most honest accounts of that transition I've read. That moment you realized you were happier four hours after leaving than you'd been in months is so telling. Your ability to recognize the sliding before hitting rock bottom takes real self-awareness. Keep building what energizes you instead of what should impress someone else.

This hit way too close. That feeling of waking up and realizing the fog is gone — been there.
Respect for sharing all of this so honestly. It’s wild how stepping away from “safe” can unlock more than any promotion ever could.

This really hit home. So many founders underestimate the emotional side of leaving “safe” behind , it’s not just about building something new, it’s about rebuilding yourself in the process. I’ve worked with a few early-stage founders who went through the same journey, and that freedom + uncertainty combo often brings out their best ideas. Thanks for sharing your story ,it’s the kind of honesty this space needs more of.

This hit close to home. Leaving “safe” behind is rarely about bravery — it’s about finally listening to the parts of ourselves that have been whispering for too long.

I love how you described the shift from survival mode to actually feeling alive again. And the way building gives you energy instead of draining it… that’s a sign you’re on the right path.

Thanks for sharing such an honest turning point. Cheering you on as you keep building — not for a title, not for permission, but for yourself.

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Wow ! this hit hard. That feeling of “I didn’t leave because I was brave, I left because I wasn’t okay” is so real. I’ve been there too , walking away from something that looked great on paper but was quietly draining the life out of me. It’s wild how fast peace can replace panic once you finally let go. Thanks for putting words to that transition , freedom really does start with one hard decision.

Love how honestly you captured that shift from chasing stability to rediscovering purpose through building. That moment when fear turns into creative energy is something every founder quietly remembers. Thanks for sharing this so openly.

We might not have the same path, but this resonates with me a lot! Thanks for sharing! A lot of things happened this year, I have been through a lot of ups and downs, but still try to be optimistic and present as much as I can.

What a powerful story, Kaia.
The way you describe the shift from chaos to freedom is deeply inspiring. It takes real courage to listen to your inner voice and act before hitting rock bottom. I especially connected with your words about building — not because you have to, but because you want to.

I’m also in a phase of transformation, creating projects that challenge me and make me feel alive, even without guarantees. Thank you for sharing your journey with such honesty. The world needs more voices like yours.

Excited to see what comes next!

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This landed, Kaia — especially the “four hours later” freedom. I had a similar moment recently and it’s wild how quickly your nervous system tells the truth once the noise stops.

Inspiring! Amazing to read how you were able to make the switch and improve your mental state. I’m somewhat near that point too and the most stressful part is about all the financial commitments I have. What helped you best to work this one out?

This post reminds me of the essence of work. It should energise, bring out creativity and inspire innovation. Gosh, I wish you all the best with Share Skippy.

I love how you’re honest about not knowing where ShareSkippy will go, but building anyway. That’s the purest version of indie hacking — creating because you want to, not because you have to.

Thanks for writing this, Kaia. Feels like the kind of reminder every builder needs once in a while — that freedom itself can be a win.

Great post! I'm new to here... I need to give my life a new beginning, my mind is screaming for that, i need it. I'm in a job that drains me of all my energy and desire to move forward.

It's great you went for it. I think the main thing for me was stop trying to justify it with "I can do it financially" or "Is my job still interest me?" and just follow what my heart and gut tells me.

Same here — I love building things, but I don’t like “working.” I hope one day I can also do more things that truly excite me.

In my case it was something weird, I started Amazon FBA around a year and a half, I was excited but just because I saw the results of a Guru who I wrongly trusted. I realised everything was a scam, the course he sold, what he was promising in his videos. He even promised four mentoring sessions (500 EUR for all 4) but them they just expired!

So I thought, okay there might still be opportunity here, so I continued, but then after reading the book "The millionaire fastlane" from MJ DeMarco, and analyzing it with ChatGPT, I started questioning about amazon FBA, because all the benefits were eaten by the factory, the transportation from China, the management agency, the government, and especially by Amazon (45% of all or even more). The advertising campaigns were eating all my benefit and even more!

So after thinking that I was stupid and that I would never be a successful entrepreneur and that there was not going to success bla bla bla, and even suicidal thoughts for 6 months continuously I dropped. And I am sorry for the successful people that sell phisical product or has an Amazon FBA business but my experience was really bad.

The act/experience that made me drop this Amazon FBA thing was a mentor telling me that selling in Amazon was impossible these days! So I hired a real, experienced Amazon FBA mentor to tell me that I should left Amazon FBA???!!! Yes, unbelievable but true. Hahahahaha, the best 65 dollars of all my life.

So what was the problem? The problem wasn't really the Amazon FBA, but the hustle, the stress and that I didn't really like it. I was doing it because someone told me I could do millions there and not having to work again but the reality is very different, just ask ChatGPT to see what they say. You will laugh, hahahaha.

The main problem was that one external platform, Amazon, was the driver of the vehicle and I was just the copilot. The problem with that is that it violates the commandment of control said by MJ DeMarco. Amazon could increase tariffs whenever it wanted, close your account before you close your eyes, or even if you receive bad reviews from competitors for your product, even if you try hard the seller support is so bad that they don't recognize them as an attack, even if you have clear proof of it and you send them 3000 emails. They just don't answer.

And I am not saying there isn't opportunity in an Amazon FBA business but either 1) You have to be too good and like it a lot, like if it was your dog or 2) You have a clear product idea, like a unique product that no Chinese guy can copy it, a patent, etc. If not, it's impossible, and I don't say it, a mentor with +3 years of experience is saying it.

So at the end my problem was that I was hating it. Man it was so hard, it was harder than working 60 hours in a multinational, really. I hated that corporative environment. Because it was like a corporative job but worse because you were not receiving money at all! What a nightmare.

When I left it, I had such that feeling Kaia says! Because I was already working in a Job, literally to allowing me the "privilege" of selling in Amazon FBA. But when I left that, man it was like having vacations lol. Since I entered university, I never stopped for a second and now I am free! It's crazy and I didn't want to accept it but really, it was like a torture. Not like a torture but literally a torture! And now I'm free!

I am still struggling to find courage to leave the safe zone and jump-in.

Thank you!

Me to leave my safe zone and start my own work.

This is refreshing. Most people fake having it figured out. You're just being real about it.

We give up an aspect of life for the other. We are brave surfers.

I share a similar sentiment with you, because my baby is due in March next year, and honestly, the pressure on my family is starting to build up. I work in the intelligent driving industry as a developer, and over the past few months, I’ve been studying a wide range of mathematical techniques — from data structures and algorithms, to curve planning, convex optimization, neural networks, and Transformers.Recently, I tried to step out of my comfort zone and look for a new job, but in this downward economic environment, that’s been really difficult. Although I’ve just received an offer from a well-known company, the salary unfortunately doesn’t meet my financial needs. So I’ve been wondering — in this era of AI, would becoming an indie hacker in my spare time be a good idea?

I'm in the midst of this now. I've been successful in real estate for 5 years. I hate it and am walking away (slowly) ... which is what brought me here. But I do finally feel excited again... like im on the right path..

If you’re trying to stay focused while working or studying, you should try Mixora — it’s a free focus web app where you can set timers (15, 25, or 50 mins), track streaks, and even create Spotify playlists based on your mood or favorite artists. 🎧
It also has relaxing background sounds like rain, café, or forest that you can customize.
Super simple, no signup needed → mixora . xyz

That's a great attempt. I also felt that the job I had for a while wasn't what I truly wanted, so I took a two-year break to pursue an MBA. After completing my studies, I joined a new company. Recently, I've also been working on my own product in my spare time. Over the past two years, I've developed three products, and this is my fourth one.

Loved this. The shift from “shoulds” to building-for-its-own-sake really resonates. I’m compiling tiny, crowd-ranked snapshots - a site called Rankiwiki - curious: what metric kept you grounded in month 1?

This leaps are necessary, scary initially but hoping you pull through and bigger. On days you feel low, remember why you started this path! Don't take defeat, don't take NOs, forge on till you accomplish that which you want

I get this. I'm in the thick of it right now... I know nothing of tech, and am the in-between generation where new tech feels like a time-suck and a burden rather than a way to streamline processes. Yet, here I am launching an AI company. Scared out of my mind is an understatement. But really - what do I have to fear? Absolutely nothing. If I fail, I learn. Today's lesson is to be intentional with every moment.
I've been going through life just letting things happen as they will. What do I have to show for it? Nada. How would things change if I had real expectations of every aspect of my day and every "to do" - and I were working toward a specific and measurable outcome for every single thing? I bet things would change. But how do I implement this? I HAVE NO IDEA?! Who can help me? I'd love to hear from you. jana@invisiaai. com

Great read! I can totally relate to this. Sometimes we push ourselves too far before realizing it’s time for a change. Just like in tech, you can try to fix issues yourself, but often it’s smarter to hire a pro for computer repair instead of burning hours on trial and error. Having the right support not only saves time but also gives peace of mind — so you can focus on building what really matters.

Took that leap of faith few months ago after spending a couple of years building my agency on evenings and weekends, congrats!

Tools like Lovable have made this transition so much simpler. What might have been daunting to some thinking about how to launch their app idea can now be accomplished in a couple of hours for less than $100, including domains and Supabase backend.

Tools like that have literally changed the landscape and made people thinking of taking that jump empowered to give it try

corporate adrenaline is like being strapped to the rocket while you’re the heat shield. respect for choosing oxygen over optics. building looks good on you

why i cant post my url when ever o tryin.

I'm curious, how long do you think building ShareSkippy would take if you worked on it 3 hours a day after your day job? Do you think it’d even be possible, or was full-time focus essential for you? Also, how much money does the project generate?

Good for you! Well done for taking the leap 💪🏻

Wow, this really hit home. Can’t wait to see what comes next!

Man, I can't tell you how much I resonate with what you said, I am in a job where I am just building a bullshit product for people that aren't even passionate about building or using it.

Wort thing is that I am working with a micromanager who has no ideea how unprepared he is.

I started building as a sideproject, looking to fully transition to this in the next year.

I guess I still need to feel a little security, while building.

Hi everyone,

I’m exploring different benchtop multimeters for electronics and lab work. I found this helpful guide that compares some of the best options:

I’d like to hear your thoughts:

Awesome, I'm looking to do something similar. Small wins: a founder used a single prompt from our kit and booked 2 calls in 48h. If anyone wants the prompt + output, reply “preview” and I’ll share an example.

Thank you for sharing this inspiring post. I left the 'safety' of work 5 years ago, and I have learned to embrace the uncertainty. It was always there to begin with. ' Should' was the first word I had eliminated, as it felt like it was only associated with shame. Keep up the good work.

wow, this got me thinking a lot.

Lately I’ve been wondering what would happen if I quit my 9–5 and focused 100% on building SaaS or solo projects. I’m still pretty early in the journey, but the idea is stuck in my head.

Freedom must feel amazing, but the thought of leaving that "safe zone", where you get paid every 30th of the month, is also scary.

But here's the thing: Im almost sure that if I didnt have the security "net", Id push myself 10x harder in everything. That kind of pressure, knowing it all depends on me, would be terrifying… but maybe also one of the best and enriching experiences of my life.

Thanks for sharing your story, it really made me reflect on something I’ve been quietly dreaming (or fearing?) for a long time

Kaia, this really struck me - especially your insight about building because you "can't not." I went through a similar leap when I decided to build my loyalty card app. Started with zero coding experience and that same late-night energy you describe - thinking a "quick fix" would take 10 minutes, then suddenly it's 3am and you're still debugging, but somehow loving it.

What resonated most was your point about not caring if ShareSkippy is the "best business model." When I launched my loyalty card app, everyone questioned the market size too. But focusing on solving a real problem (helping people organize their loyalty cards digitally) rather than chasing the biggest market led to 55k+ downloads. The passion for building and genuinely helping users always shows through.

Your app connecting dog owners with dog lovers sounds like it fills a genuine need. Have you considered starting with a simple MVP in just one neighborhood? That's how I validated my loyalty card idea - started hyperlocal, gathered feedback, then expanded. The beauty of building from passion rather than "shoulds" is that users can feel that authenticity.

Keep building - that energy you found at 3am debugging is pure gold. 🚀

I love this "indie hacker just means building because I can’t not". I have just walked away from a very highly-paid contract to give my full focus to my own projects. An app, a SaaS platform and an album. They are not connected :-)

Leaving the "safe" zone is very brave and it's important to max your potential and not give up too early. Commitment & discipline are the hardest parts.

This is an incredible story - truly inspiring. I'm a recent grad out of college and feel this way often. I worked all my life to land a good-paying SWE job, only to feel more disconnected than before. Yet to find the courage to quit my job, but have begun enjoying building apps in my time.

Sometimes leaving “safe” isn’t reckless—it’s the only way to actually breathe and start building a life that’s yours.

This post really resonates. I walked away from the ‘safe’ path because I couldn’t ignore the problem anymore. In Nigeria’s Niger Delta, we’ve faced decades of economic sabotage and environmental degradation from crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism. These are not just overlooked crises they’re challenges that persist because of a lack of political will and the failure of institutions meant to protect both people and resources. yet communities live with the consequences daily.

That’s why I’m building White Waters Sentinel Systems (W2S2) a civic tech platform that empowers local communities to report pipeline incidents through voice alerts, structured reports, and a chatbot interface we call Kemi. These voice alerts from community locals are geo-tagged, mapped in real time, and sent directly to international oil companies (IOCs), local oil firms, and security agencies. We’ve already profiled flashpoints across the region, so the system can trigger early warnings and track response patterns.

Each stakeholder receives first-hand reports directly from the community or through system-generated signals, ensuring faster response and accountability.

It’s a very lonely road at the beginning, leaving your comfort zone to chase something uncertain. But the risk is worth it. In Africa especially Nigeria, where I come from we have so many urgent problems to solve. I’m keen on taking them one by one, starting with this.

So Kaia, thank you again for this inspiring post. It’s a real moral booster.

Your story hit me hard. I’m trying to run a small store but the revenue is very low, and I often feel like I’m stuck in that fog you described. Seeing how you chose freedom and found energy in building makes me think I should hold on too, even if results aren’t clear yet. Thanks for sharing something so real.

Kaia, this was powerful. Leaving without a plan, finding clarity in the chaos, and building Share Skippy from scratch—that’s founder fire. I’m building White Waters Sentinel, a civic tech platform for pipeline security in Nigeria. Bootstrapped, live, and mission-driven. It was born out of frustration—watching communities face sabotage, theft, and silence. W2S2 helps frontline voices report, respond, and protect what matters. It’s about turning urgency into infrastructure. Your story reminds me that sometimes the most important pivot isn’t in business—it’s in choosing freedom

Loved reading this, Kaia. It’s amazing how leaving something ‘safe’ can actually bring more clarity, health, and energy than sticking with it. The way you describe the shift — from nightmares to good dreams — really hit home. Thanks for sharing so openly

I started sleeping again. Not just longer, but better. No more nightmares.

Can't agree more. I had quit my 10-years job becoming a IndieHacker to build what I want to build instead of building things I don't interest in just for money.

Changes of my life:

After quit my job I token a 5-days cruise ship to Japan that is awesome.

Sleep better instead of struggle to unfinished and endless boring tasks.

I am full with energy to build things I want to build and I enjoy it.

I needed to read this today! Loved the story.

This really resonated with me. It’s wild how often we normalize stress and burnout until something inside us finally says “enough.” Leaving the “safe” path without a plan is scary, but the freedom and clarity you describe are so real — sometimes you don’t realize how heavy the weight was until it’s gone.

I love that you’re building for the sake of building, not just chasing a market. That kind of energy usually leads to the best projects anyway. ShareSkippy sounds like a fun and useful idea, and even if it doesn’t become “the” business, the skills and joy you’re gaining from it are invaluable.

I’ve been in a similar spot — walking away felt terrifying, but it ended up being the best reset I could have asked for. Thanks for sharing this so openly.

That's a nice story, really, and i've felt that before after quitting my job, but honestly, unless you live in a first world country where you can afford to be unemployed for a while it's not really doable, simply because you need money to survive.

My plan is to keep my job, meanwhile improve and search for a job that will give me more freedom and time and then dedicate time for my personal projects. Hopefully in the near future at least one of them will start making some money enough for me to survive month to month.

Hello

Good for you! I left my job 3 years ago and felt that same fear and sense of freedom at the same time. I've been bouncing around trying to make it as an entrepreneur. I found that a job gave me structure and when I left, I had no structure. I felt lost and undisciplined. I guess I had become or was becoming institutionalized. It's taking me a minute to de-program and make my own structure and finally start making some progress.

Its great to read this

Wow very brave move! You need to start somewhere, keep going 💪

Thanks for sharing. I'm planning such things

The feelings you describe is like reliving my own. I told myself stress was a good thing. It gave me adrenaline. Earlier deadlines? Absolutely. More tasks? I can handle it. Another client? Of course!

I did this for many years. Until I couldn’t stand the thought of opening my laptop anymore. I felt physically and mentally sick.

I was burned out, and I tried to shake it by taking a week off, it didn’t work. Another month went by, no change.

4 months later I knew I had to make real changes, that just taking a break wasn’t the answer. This is when I left security behind and decided to spread my wings and fly or die trying. And it’s been the best work related decision I’ve ever made.

I found that making more money doesn’t mean more happiness. That easier living isn’t better living.

Doing what you like doing, independently is a freedom not many will ever experience.

I’m glad you, and others indies here, are experiencing this, and I encourage others that are mentally debating this to take the plunge.

It’s scary, and you could fail. But the lessons you learn along the way are lessons you’d never learn otherwise!

So relatable. I also left my job last year because I have many skills like SEO, design, and development, but any job here can only pay for one skill. I kept getting tons of ideas on how to make systems more efficient, but my colleagues and managers always hated it and never allowed any ideas to be executed. So I left, and now I can build whatever I want. I’m building my first SaaS, ReplyGain.com, learning everything on the go.

This really resonates with me,,I'm 19 and just launched my first SaaS, so I'm also stepping out of my "Safe Zone" Reading your experience makes me feel like I'm not alone in this

best

This was such an honest, grounded read, Kaia—thank you for sharing the parts most people hide. The line that stayed with me wasn’t just leaving the “safe” job; it was feeling free four hours later. That’s the kind of signal you can’t fake. The sledding dream felt like your nervous system finally exhaling.

A few reflections that might be useful as you build ShareSkippy:

• Indie hacking as a posture, not a plan. You captured it perfectly: building because you can’t not. That said, a simple posture + guardrails combo can protect the freedom you just chose. Two practical guardrails I use: a “stop-doing list” (what I’ll drop the moment stress creeps back) and a weekly “energy audit” (what gave energy vs. drained it).

• 90-day tiny bet. Keep the passion; shrink the proof. Define a win as something like: 100 happy households in one city with a 60% repeat rate. If you hit it, you’ve validated behavior and trust—more valuable than any deck.

• Trust is the product. Because it’s pets, users will care less about features and more about safety and reliability. Early, lightweight moves: ID verification, references from both sides, transparent availability, and a “first exchange” protocol (public handoff location, emergency contact, simple coverage policy). You don’t need enterprise insurance on day one, but you do need visible trust scaffolding.

• Market learning > code. Ship one thing each week that teaches you something non-obvious (e.g., a concierge matching flow via a form + SMS). If it works manually, then automate.

• Meaning even if it’s small. A good north star: Would I keep running this if it only paid for itself for six months? If yes, you’re building from want, not should.

Cheering you on for choosing agency over anxiety. Curious: for Month 2, what’s your single metric that would make you proud regardless of revenue—retention, NPS, or successful matches per city?

— Akshay (Techinfigo)

This really resonated with me. Thank you for being so open about your journey—it takes courage to step away without a plan, and even more to share the raw side of it. The way you describe the fog lifting after leaving is powerful, and I think a lot of people in high-stress jobs will see themselves in your story.

Amazing! I am not at that level of courage yet, but will surely get there. Congrats

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Awesome, I'm looking to do something similar. Small wins: a founder used a single prompt from our kit and booked 2 calls in 48h. If anyone wants the prompt + output, reply “preview” and I’ll share an example.