It's hard to continue with a single project
This happens every time I start working on a new project.
I start working on the project and the very first thing I do is sit down and start deciding about the tech. I'm trying to change the way I approach this. I feel talking to users and validation is way more important.
The other problem I face is in sometimes I find a similar product and feel the problem is already being solved and lose motivation to work on the same.
I would really love it if some hackers guide us on how to launch a product and keep the motivation to work on it. I feel this will help a lot of other people working on their own products too :)
There is a larger cut with each stage in the indie hacker journey, like a funnel.
The stages:
What I am saying is that it's a really long and difficult journey if you do not have internal purpose. So look for passion, it makes it harder to give up.
This was put nicely, Michael. It's actually analysis-paralysis which kills many startups
I really appreciate you sharing this perspective in this way. Good food for thought.
You're not alone, a lot of people feel like this (myself included).
It's okay to start other projects, sometimes it's just what you need to do when you've been head down working on the same thing for months.
Give yourself time off, then come back to the bigger, more important projects.
The trick is to know what project is the one you should keep coming back to — It's often the one generating the most revenue or love from users. Don't ignore those.
Google was the 17th search engine.
There is a current spate of copywriting applications built on GPT-3, like markcopy.ai, copy.ai et.al
They all do the same thing with little to no differentiating features yet they are doing well in the market.
It's very rare to come up with a never-before-done idea, it's easier launching one but with a spin on the idea.
Dont disqualify yourself, let the market do so if it will.
Was in the same boat, started 20 + projects and only ever finished 1 or 2.
I managed to find a brilliant co-founder in the same city as myself. We discussed ideas and chose one we are both very passionate about.
We meet virtually once a week and having somone to help solve problems you get stuck is very helpful, as that is when I am most likely to give up and start a new project.
I've faced this problem too personally. But in the end all that matters is positioning your product in such a way that it stands out.
For instance you could innovate on the customer support & make authentic connections with customers through building in public.
Ensuring that the product is feasible—that you can build it—is always good
I would recommend reading Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future
I find that if I ever get bored or lose motivation, my project is big enough that I can wrap up what I’m working on and try another feature for a while. That way, I stay invested and am always moving closer to success.
To your "similar product" point - that's exactly what you want. If similar products exist then you already proven there are customers willing to pay for this kind of solution. Look at the competition. What do people complain about? Is it too expensive? Is there some functionality that's terrible or missing? There will be a space for your solution because no one product can do everything for everybody. Find a place where your software can fit
I'm building an app in a very crowded space, and what motivates me is that I believe I have a very differentiated approach to solving the problem.
If you see competitors already solving the problem in the exact way you would do it, then I would say don't bother.
But if you feel like you have meaningful differentiation, then you have a shot at competing. The next step would be to validate whether other potential customers agree with your approach.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Great book on talking to users and validation before launching: The Mom Test
Recommend it to everyone.