I just recently joined the IH community. I'm learning to share my thoughts and not worry too much about filtering them so I sound smart or like a successful entrepreneur.
It's awesome to see builders here helping each other by sharing feelings, thoughts, struggles, and contributing consistently to the community. I need that if I'm going to be successful building a company, and I'm thankful that I can practice here.
I've built cool stuff before and exited a bootstrapped software company, but I feel more like a failure and a phony than a successful entrepreneur. This week my partner and I started week 1 of a 30 day commitment to figure out whether we can trust each other, grind it out for each other, and work to build a successful company.
I struggle with the feeling of constantly needing to prove myself. This did and will continue to drive me down a dark place where I will not be an effective community or company builder. Having a cofounder and a community that invites vulnerability, honesty and the "really real" will remove any and all distractions for ultimately serving the correct customer base with the most valuable product.
Taking the first step of accepting that I am not a phony has been a great feeling. Now, I look forward to practicing the sharing of my stories and feelings as they happen even if that may not have a happy ending yet... or ever...
Would love to hear as a builder where you have had to work with extreme intent to overcome personal weaknesses while building your community our business.
Cheers!
we all have things we are shy about. we all have things we easily prop up for others. my personal goal is to not have either type... just share what i know and experience without adding or subtracting.