The Entrepreneurial-Minded Developer Affliction

Over the last 3 months I've had the fortunate opportunity to engage many different developers from all over the world in conversation and, oftentimes, rather deep discussion. These are highly intelligent and motivated individuals with strong math and logic backgrounds. During these conversations, I've noticed a pattern emerging. For lack of a better phrase, I'm going to refer to it as The Entrepreneurial-Minded Developer Affliction.

What is this, you might ask? Well, in a nutshell, it's an individual that has all of the technical chops to lead to an MVP, but doesn't really ever get there because they can't seem to stick with one idea long enough to see it through. This can happen for a number of reasons, but here are the ones I’ve witnessed most often:

• The Honeymoon phase leads to burnout
• The idea wasn’t all that great to begin with
• They have too many ideas, much too often
• Self-doubt shatters self-confidence

From Chaos comes Clarity

It is human nature to want to impose both order and control on our environment. It not only helps us make sense of it, but it provides a thin veil of certainty and what is more fear-inducing to most than that which is unknown? However, innovation is born from the realm in-between chaos and order. Innovation is also what makes a seemingly good idea, great. Being first to market is almost never a recipe for success; becoming the market standard is a different story altogether.

The Passionate Few

As emotional creatures, we are fueled by passion and desire. With clarity, we can hyper focus this to our advantage; without it, we are rudderless in an ocean of uncertainty. Possessing a genuine passion for what it is that you are creating is as essential to its creation as the idea that was incubated in the first place. While it is perfectly natural to carry a dispassionate air about yourself, you better have a fire inside if you truly want to accomplish something worthwhile…and have others take notice.

Letting Go

Whether it’s a bad idea or a way of thinking, it is important to be as fluid and adaptable as possible. We are all born with confirmation bias, which helps to reinforce what we already hold to be true. This is grand for survival, but doesn’t do wonders in the ideation department. In fact, it does quite the opposite. Perspective and insight help mold and sculpt our ideas from ones that may or may not serve any useful function to those that are universally accepted. At best, you can control the face you see in the mirror, if you’re lucky enough to recognize it at all.

No Fear of Failure

Failure is a large part of the equation, as uncomfortable as it maybe seem. If you make enough decisions, chances are that some will be wrong; some wrong decisions certainly pave the path toward failure. But, you shouldn’t be scared of failure. Rather, you should embrace it. Do you want to know why?

You will never succeed if you don’t fail

That’s right! Failure is an integral part of success. You will fail, it’s inevitable. You will probably fail many times over before you succeed. It’s ok. It is 100% part of it and there really is no way around it. Failure is absolutely one of the harshest teachers that you will ever have, but you will end up respecting the most.

Self-Doubting Thomas

If the tightrope of life has you nervously shifting your balance, self-doubt is the gravity that pulls you to the ground. No one that I am aware of is a more miserable creature than one without hope, and nothing kills hope faster than doubting yourself. Self-confidence is what will enable you to withstand forging your own path, your own way, and to not only survive the journey, but to thrive. It will be arduous and you will come across others that have little faith in you. Some just want to watch the world burn. Do not pay the naysayers any mind. Believe in yourself and surround yourself with those that believe in you. Do not waste your time with those who don’t. Time is the most precious commodity that we all have. Direct it toward something that is meaningful to you.