The Winter Solo Founder

Today I walked to my office during a snowstorm. It was the same journey I've taken multiple times, but it was also significantly different in many crucial ways.

I could only look ahead for a few seconds before the constant bombardment of snow forced me to lower my head. There was also the risk of slipping on ice and seriously hurting myself. Just a few months ago, I walked down the same path gleefully with my head held high. Today, it was painfully hard. Although, one thing remained unchanged in the chaos of the morning walk - the destination.

I knew for sure that no matter what, at the end of this ordeal, there was a friendly, cozy workplace waiting for me. It has free coffee and free lunch. It'll always be there, no matter the weather outside. This thought led to another, and eventually, I found myself contemplating the current macroclimate for solo founders.

Freedom is the primary destination for most solo founders. Freedom to spend their time on tasks that they enjoy. Not a freedom from work but freedom to work on projects of their choice. That's the promised land we all yearn for—what's different is the weather we'll face along the way.

Some founders undertake the journey during spring. Their route is filled with flowers and sunshine with an occasional sprinkle of rain. They get favourable terms if they want to raise capital, hiring great talent is easy, and society thinks of them as custodians of prosperity.

Some of us leave our homely jobs during summer. Everyone is outside. Everyone is working on the next big thing. It's easy to feel lost amongst the crowd - should I be working on Web3? Crypto? Real estate? However, if you can ignore the noise, there's plenty of sunshine around to guide you to your destination. The heat might tire you; it may take longer than expected - but you'll get there, eventually.

Fall founders genuinely enjoy their journey. The temperature is just right. The way is full of brightly coloured trees. You can cover longer distances without feeling tired. The conditions are suitable for a big exit soon after launch.

Finally, some start their entrepreneurial journey during winter. All odds are against you. You need to wear layers of clothing to protect yourself from the elements. You need to be extra cautious about your next step; otherwise, you'll slip and fall and get disoriented. You can't be sloppy with cash flow. You can't defer profitability to a future date. You might feel like a fool coming out at this time of the year.

However, you need to realize that no matter how hard the journey gets; the destination makes it worth your while—the freedom to live your life on your terms without jeopardizing the wellbeing of your loved ones. So even if it's cold outside, cover yourself, tighten your bootstrap, let's go!