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12 Comments

Taking a break from building

Since I started learning how to code my ambition has always been to bootstrap my own startup and bring it to a level where it becomes my primary income.

In 2015 I launched my first startup called Scinder (no longer active) a competitor to Strava. It didn't work out but I learnt a lot from it.

In the last 6 years I've launched a further 7 startups and only in 2020 have a made my first sales. I made around $2,000 although 95% of that was from a site that I sold to an agency.

For the last year or so I've been consumed with building and spending most of my free time tinkering on various projects. I've neglected other parts of my life so I'm going to take a break and focus on other things for a while.

I'm sure I'll get there in the end but always remember success or failure doesn't define you.

See you in a few months.

Much love

  1. 6

    Chris thanks for the post. I had my own newsletter going for about 6 months which I sent to about 100 family and friends. It was going really well but by the end I was running out of material and it was stressing me in other aspects of my life. Every Friday (it went out Saturday morning), I felt an obligation to write, and all week it would hang over my head.

    After I pressed pause, my Aunt said something that always stuck with me. "Go live life, it will give you something to write about."

    I think we can get caught up trying to "think" of ideas and build. But much of it is that background process. And it will only work if it's actually in the background. If you are actually engaged in life.

    For me, it's not that success or failure doesn't define me. Rather, success is measured on a different scale.

    1. 1

      That's a great quote!

      You're 100% right, I think I just need to push building to the back of my mind and let new ideas and motivation just develop over time.

      Thanks for this.

  2. 4

    Enjoy your break! There are more important things than indie hacking! And when you do come back, we'll all be excited to see you again :-)

  3. 2

    Good to know that you're taking a break. You should, after so many projects.

    A person can only focus on 1 or 2 things at a time, and my suggestion is to focus on 1 project and then doubling down and giving it time to grow, rather than building 1 project every year.

    If you're always building, how do you have the time to market your project and improve?

    Take care.

    1. 1

      Thanks for this.

      Yeah I think I need to just focus on one projects but I've heard a lot of people saying that it's best to get to MVP as quick as you can and if it doesn't get any traction in the first few months you should move on

  4. 2

    Take care Chris, we'll see you around!

    1. 1

      Cheers, hopefully see you all again soon :)

  5. 2

    Sometimes, it makes sense to take a break, focus on other things and recharge. Enjoy that time! :)

    If you come back, you'll probably come back stronger and more motivated.

    1. 2

      Definitely, when the times right I'll come back more motivated than ever!

  6. 1

    Good luck Chris!

  7. 1

    Spend some time "building" yourself that's the only way to do it in the long run 💪

  8. 1

    Thanks for posting this..

    I'm in the same situation, but reluctant about take a rest. If I don't produce, I get a feeling of guilt, but know that I need to rest.

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