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What are the biggest challenges you've faced building something new and how did you overcome it? (or at least what did you try :) )

The posts I find most useful on IH are the ones where people share their experiences, so I figured I would ask a question myself :)

  1. 3

    I'll start...

    One of the biggest challenges I've faced is finding people who might be interested in my product. I've tried product hunt and similar channels but I always find that people who sign up from places like that are more curious as opposed to those looking for something that will solve a big problem in their lives.

    I don't know if I've quite solved this problem just yet, but I am trying to engage with people a lot more and build an audience on twitter and writing. So the next time I work on something, hopefully, I'll have an audience that I can reach out to and get feedback from to validate my idea and hopefully build something they will find value in.

    1. 1

      Hi there! Actually you've just answered one of your cases. People on PH, Betalist, and those places are there because they want to learn of and try out shiny new stuff. They're probably not there to solve their problems.

      On the other hand Facebook Groups, LinkedIn, Twitter might be places where you publicly see people complaining about pain points and discuss their lives. The goldmine though might be niche forums of specific interests. People are the most focused on there. You'll learn a lot if you're part of those communities.

      Now the important thing is to consider founder/community fit. If you're going to be building something for these people you're going to spend 100s and 1000s of hours on it over the life of your project. Are you suited to these people and do these people suit you? It might not matter if a niche is lucrative and growing for you if you can't personally stand to work with them.

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        Yeah 100%! I’ve worked on stuff in the past where I thought I really liked the space - productivity being one - but when it came down to it I didn’t have the passion needed to really go to the depths I needed to.

        Now I focus on building products, I do it as a job and a hobby - I truly love it and can talk about it for days on end :)

  2. 2

    The biggest challenge was overthinking. Too many Yes and No before I started. Every morning when I wake up and start working on something I will stop because I "feel" that the step will lead to the wrong direction. This eventually leads to procrastination and then fear.

    The best way is to start doing what you want to do. Just do. Start small. So small that you feel like laughing on yourself but don't worry, this will lead to progress gradually.

    We all think too much because we compare ourselves with someone else on the internet. We subconsciously try to copy them and when we don't turn to be an expert like them we feel we don't know how to do it. And then we give up.

    Don't give up. Just start small and it will move slowly towards its destination.

    1. 1

      That resonates a lot! Focus and consistency are so important and you're totally right, starting small and taking small steps how you get there.

      Thanks for this! I needed to hear this today :)

      1. 2

        Thanks. Am glad you liked it. I just typed the exact process and the science behind it couple of minutes back on IH. Adding the link here if you want to read:

        https://www.indiehackers.com/post/have-you-overcome-your-procrastination-91fc83250a?commentId=-M8U1MD-SBx9Vz5bo-tB

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