I started a business and now I’m in a constant state of anxiety
I launched my Mac app DisplayBuddy in the beginning of 2021, and it’s been two years of 32 feature-packed free updates for my users.
Sure, I've now got a small but steady (kind of) income from the app I had initially built for my own use, but I also have a full time job as an app developer.
I'm a sole founder who's been managing support, marketing, product management and development for the app - learning these things as I go. My schedule pretty much is work all week, and then spend my weekends on the app.
Something that I have been struggling with is the feeling that I'm actually leaving money on table because "there's so much more I can do" If I worked on DisplayBuddy full time, but I cannot - simply because the income from the app is no match for the income from my job (which I of course need).
This especially hit me recently when I was on vacation and I was still thinking about things I could do the app instead of enjoying my vacation.
What've I've lately realised is that building a business is hard, even harder when you have a full time job. No matter how much influencers on TikTok and Instagram talk about starting a side hustle for “passive” income, to be honest there’s nothing passive about any income.
Don’t get me wrong, I love working on DisplayBuddy and it's incredibly fulfilling to wake up to messages from my users about how useful the app is for them, but it often gets really tight with my job, and I live with this constant feeling that I could do more for DisplayBuddy than I’m currently doing.
Keep in mind that by choosing to continue to work full-time, that means that you don't have to rely on the income from DisplayBuddy. And because of that you can choose to treat it like a hobby. At some point if you are able to identify a large opportunity with it, you'll have to make the decision whether to go all in (quit your day job), or to continue to treat it like a hobby.
And hobbies are meant to be enjoyable and fulfilling, not stressful. Just work on it when you want to, and forget about it the rest of the time. (Easier said than done, I know)
Hello, It sounds like you have a great passion for developing your Mac app, DisplayBuddy, and have put in a lot of hard work and dedication to it. Building a business while also working a full-time job can be challenging lol and it's understandable that you may feel like you're leaving money on the table. However, it's important to remember that building a business takes time and patience. Instead of feeling guilty about not being able to work on DisplayBuddy full-time, try to make the most of the time you do have by prioritizing and focusing on the tasks that will have the biggest impact on the app's growth and revenue. Additionally, it may be helpful to set specific goals and milestones for DisplayBuddy, and work towards them over time. Remember that building a business is a journey and it's important to enjoy the process and celebrate your successes along the way.
I hope this helps you
Really appreciate your advice Terrell. Yep, prioritisation and milestones is what I'm focusing on, so that I can deliver the maximum value for my users while also managing my time and stress.