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Haelios

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Hello everyone, this is the first post I'm making on an actual account but I've been lurking the forums for quite a while. I've seen plenty of good advice and just as much bad advice for what not to do, but I wanted to take action and finally step up to the plate to admit.

I'm TERRIFIED of where to go and what to do.
To explain, me and a great friend of mine came up with the idea to create a mobile game that would be an excellent fit for people interested in taking care of virtual creatures, kind of like the NeoPets craze in the early 2000s. We looked at the markets and saw that the competition that was currently about on the Google Play store and the App Store either were so-so in quality or weren't going for what we had in mind. We've been brainstorming possible ideas for what sorts of features we should go for and what sort of looks should we try to match and once we finally felt confident to look for an artist to petition our idea to, we were hit with rejection. Why?

We didn't have any concise direction as for how we were even going to put these things together. It was all just a jumbled mess of ideas that sounds nice but didn't mean shit as we didn't have any proof that we were up to the challenge. So, we learned our lesson and tried to scale down our scope and make things more realistic. We changed engines for our programming which slowed us down a little bit, had to get used to the transition from Java to C# but it wasn't too bad. We also assigned roles to each other, I would handle some of the side aspects of the game like minigames, some design ideas, as well as the PR when we launch; He would take care of the back end stuff like databases and some of the core game mechanics.

We had to rollback the proposed release date several times as we felt that there wasn't enough substance to our work. We shot for June 10th as our first release date but pushed back to early August from an undershot of how much financing would be necessary. Late July came by and we chatted again with the artist that we talked to originally, this time he was more on board with our ideas and setup a deadline for us to fit: create a prototype of the game by the 25th and I'll make up my mind for whether or not I'll work on it. Sounds fair. We make the deadline but before we even submit it, we decided not to send the prototype and get the artists answer. This time, we simply weren't satisfied with what we had in the game. Sure the concept works and you can play the game in it's prototype state, but there's no incentive for the player to try to achieve the core focus of the game. We explained the difficulties we're facing and the artist understood. Now, we pushed back the release date even further and are coming up with a plan in order to get everything to where we need it to be before we start doing the art and other aspects of the game.

You might think that this is all good and that we've been doing this at a consistent pace but I'm going to spare you the bullshit and just say that this has not been flowing smoothly. For one, me and my partner feel that we're too lazy and procrastinate too much when it comes to developing whatever's on the agenda for that day. We've also been very uncoordinated in terms of how we should handle things since this entire project is new territory for us. We haven't got a damn clue for how we are supposed to establish ourselves and have all the other pieces fall into place. I've also been very demotivated as I feel I'm not contributing enough to the main idea or anything that I pitch in ends up getting scrapped because it's too boring or it's out of place. Compared to what my partner has done, it's like I'm an ant and he's a mountain. Of course, he's got more reason to really go after this as he's been handling the brunt of the financing and he's more at risk. I really feel like an a**hole for having him deal with this all since he must feel like he's at the sea floor in terms of all the pressure he's dealing with.

So why tell all of this? What do you want?
The reason I tell all of this is in hopes that someone can smack some sense into me and just steer me into a more guided direction rather than decide things on a whim. I don't want a step for step process or for someone to hold my hand, I'll admit that I'm just a dumb 18 year old trying to bite off more than he can chew. My priorities are all over the place and I don't chip in more than I should. Thank god that I don't wake up at 4PM and try to count the hours of "work" that I do, but whatever I do, it's not enough to ensure that I will reach whatever deadline that we've got currently.

What changes can I make to my mindset in order to continuously propel myself forward and reach those goals?​
 
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Elsa

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first you stop procrastinating! I know it's easier said than done so I am going to try to help you with this as much as I can:
you stay focused. whatever your mind tells you to do instead of working, you keep on working. your mind will tell you to check facebook or tinder or whatever shit, don't listen to it. you're stronger than your mind.
the problem is that you are expecting to have a chef d'oeuvre overnight: you're a perfectionist and you want it RIGHT NOW and done PERFECTLY. Unfortunately (or fortunately) that isn't possible. you didn't learn to write and read in a day.

You first need many drafts before submitting the final work. so stay focused, write in your draft (it can be in notes in your phone). little by little the draft will make more sense and you will have a finished work.

also, your behavior is risky since your friendship is at stakes. we rarely forgive our friends for betraying us that was.
Hope I was able to help
xo Elsa
 

Haelios

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the problem is that you are expecting to have a chef d'oeuvre overnight: you're a perfectionist and you want it RIGHT NOW and done PERFECTLY. Unfortunately (or fortunately) that isn't possible. you didn't learn to write and read in a day.

That's a very good point, I always keep forgetting that this is a process. As much as I want to will it into existence, the release date will never come unless I put in the effort. It's too damn easy to get distracted by all the extraneous stuff.

also, your behavior is risky since your friendship is at stakes. we rarely forgive our friends for betraying us that was.

That's what worries me the most. Even if this project goes nowhere and fails, I'll at least be able to take away knowledge on what to do next. However, if that friendship is permanently strained, I don't think I could ever forgive myself for doing such a deed. Thankfully, my friend was the one who introduced me to The Millionaire Fastlane so he shares very similar outlooks for what to do.

Hope I was able to help
xo Elsa

Without a doubt you've helped me. Any insight that you can offer is beyond helpful as it gives a different perspective and offers some thought that I haven't considered or should pay more attention to.
 

Elsa

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That's a very good point, I always keep forgetting that this is a process. As much as I want to will it into existence, the release date will never come unless I put in the effort. It's too damn easy to get distracted by all the extraneous stuff.



That's what worries me the most. Even if this project goes nowhere and fails, I'll at least be able to take away knowledge on what to do next. However, if that friendship is permanently strained, I don't think I could ever forgive myself for doing such a deed. Thankfully, my friend was the one who introduced me to The Millionaire Fastlane so he shares very similar outlooks for what to do.



Without a doubt you've helped me. Any insight that you can offer is beyond helpful as it gives a different perspective and offers some thought that I haven't considered or should pay more attention to.
We as a generation are very distracted. We live in a technology era, and we want everything, now, fast otherwise we get impatient. blah blah.
You need to put in effort, even if it's just for some minutes to just BEING rather than DOING.
we are all so addicted to doing: wake up in the morning, check phone, drink your morning coffee-check emails, check twitter, you're at the supermarket waiting in line-you check the phone. Just BE at the damn supermarket and look around. do you even know what the cashier looks like? I am not asking whether the person is hot or not, but how would you describe this human being? this is just an example.
Have you thought of checking the sky in the morning instead of your phone? I guarantee you nobody will die if tomorrow morning you check the sky and the nature around you instead of checking your phone. you can do the same thing before going to bed with the sky.

These are just some simple psychology exercises.

Try them even if it's just for some minutes in the beginning

xo elsa
 
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Haelios

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You need to put in effort, even if it's just for some minutes to just BEING rather than DOING.
we are all so addicted to doing: wake up in the morning, check phone, drink your morning coffee-check emails, check twitter, you're at the supermarket waiting in line-you check the phone. Just BE at the damn supermarket and look around.

An addiction would be the best way to describe it. While it is possible to break off of it completely, it's unrealistic to assume that I can do that all at once. I just have to gradually limit myself from binging all the useless crap.

Try them even if it's just for some minutes in the beginning

Will do, just have to work towards the day where I have the opportunity to mess around with no worries.
 

amp0193

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An addiction would be the best way to describe it. While it is possible to break off of it completely, it's unrealistic to assume that I can do that all at once. I just have to gradually limit myself from binging all the useless crap.

Why? Just turn it off and put it in the closet when it's time for work.

How is it hard to do it all at once? It's way easier than doing it gradually. Out of sight, out of mind.

Make your daily plan... 6 things you want to get done. Write down the amount of time it will take to get each of the 6 done. Schedule your day with what times you are going to do those things (leaving in some wiggle room, for the random things that pop-up. Do the hardest thing on the list first every day.

Then stick to the schedule!


Takes 5 min a day. It helps.
 

Haelios

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Why? Just turn it off and put it in the closet when it's time for work.

How is it hard to do it all at once? It's way easier than doing it gradually. Out of sight, out of mind...

Make your daily plan... 6 things you want to get done. Write down the amount of time it will take to get each of the 6 done. Schedule your day with what times you are going to do those things... Do the hardest thing on the list first every day.

You know what? You're goddamn right. I'm tired of looking at myself with all this pity and doubt trying to justify all my actions like "woe is me, I am unable to do what I want because I cannot stop myself from doing all this useless stuff." I could keep pushing this project further and further back and just keep mindlessly procrastinating or I could actually make that leap and get straight to it.

I'm stopping all these videos and am going to start working on it starting at 7AM tomorrow.
 
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amp0193

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You know what? You're goddamn right. I'm tired of looking at myself with all this pity and doubt trying to justify all my actions like "woe is me, I am unable to do what I want because I cannot stop myself from doing all this useless stuff."

When I was your age, I was addicted to porn. I did the "woe is me, you need to try harder next time" thing.

What I should've done, was get rid of the damned laptop and done all my work at the school library. (no smart phones back then).

Humans have a very limited amount of self-control. When you use it all up for the day.. it's gone. When the phone is in the closet, it takes very little self-control to not look at it.

When it's on your desk, face up, with the sound on, and all the notifications are on for every app... how much self-control does it take to ignore it? More than you have, that's how much.


There are 4 hours every day where my cell phone is in my backpack, on silent, while I do my most important work. When I'm doing emails and stuff, I have it out, as I'm basically just in in task-response mode at that point and it's low level concentration.

When I come home from work, the phone goes in the closet, and my kids get uninterrupted dad time for 3-4 hours.

If you had a problem "snoozing" through your alarm, and wanted to fix it, which do you you think would work better? "Trying harder" to not snooze, or putting your alarm clock on the opposite side of the bedroom, so that you were forced to get out of bed to turn it off?
 

FierceRacoon

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Here is what I've learned from Brian Tracy's writing as well as from many sessions with my mentor:

the Universe is neutral. It doesn't care who you are, how you feel, or what's your story. If you do what other successful people do, you will make progress. If you don't, you won't. This means, if you find a way to keep moving forward, you will be moving forward. It can be your motivation, it can be external pressure: you can e.g. post daily reports on Facebook, and each time you don't meet the quota, you will pay $100 to the first commenter. Doesn't matter how you force yourself to focus.

That said, if you don't know what you are doing, find someone who does. Find an experienced developer or manager, whoever you need, give them some equity with a vesting schedule (research how to do it intelligently) and bring them on board. At the very least, find a couple advisors.

Consider also that you are not doing so poorly. Most people in your situation would have a deadline slip by 6-9-12 months. If you shot for June 10th and accomplished something in late August, you are basically on schedule! It's just a part of the process. In the end, your attitude and your friend's attitude will likely determine the outcome. It's the single most important thing.

If you just want a failed startup on your resume, if you feel the project is dead, that is fine too. A failed startup on your resume is an asset these days and can help you negotiate a better salary, if anything.

If you want motivation, when it comes to learning, moving at 1% pace is much better than 0%. If you keep moving at 1%, even if you fail this time, eventually you will get there; if you stop, you are done. However, when it comes to building a company, you have to push. Sorry. You may think, hey, I have those tasks A, B, C, D, E, so I can chill and get B done this week, and C done next week, and I don't see what the outcome is... Of course, you don't see, because there are also other tasks, namely, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O , P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, and then A-1, A-2, A-3, A-4, and a ton of other stuff.
If you put in 10X effort, you will begin to see, how the pieces come together.
After 10X time with 10X effort, then things will begin to really make sense. Then you'll be like, "hey, we've made a strategic mistake at step C". Then you start over, with 12X effort, and after another 10X time you will get a little more traction.

In other words, what you feel is exactly what it is supposed to feel like. You've moved from 0/100 to 5/100, and now you are lost. Guess what, move faster, otherwise you'll only make it to 10/100 at best, so you will never get any real feedback or any real learning.
 

Haelios

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If you had a problem "snoozing" through your alarm, and wanted to fix it, which do you you think would work better? "Trying harder" to not snooze, or putting your alarm clock on the opposite side of the bedroom, so that you were forced to get out of bed to turn it off?

Couldn't have said it better. Once I make that first leap, the rest gets easy.

I've setup a basic routine for what to do today. With no distractions, this should be a breeze to take care of.
 
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Haelios

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I've just finished all of the big challenges for the day, taking care of twenty 5-20 minute lessons on a Udemy course for C#, as well as reread The Millionaire Fastlane for about an hour. I'll spend the rest of the day doing research on competitors in the market as well as brainstorm potential ideas for minigames.

It's been a while since I really grinded out important work like this but I'm enjoying it way more than just moping around and pushing the deadline further back. I wanted to touch base up on previous replies though.

That said, if you don't know what you are doing, find someone who does. Find an experienced developer or manager, whoever you need, give them some equity with a vesting schedule (research how to do it intelligently) and bring them on board. At the very least, find a couple advisors.

I've chatted to my friend about this a few times now but we're both very hesitant in terms of how to approach any potential advisers or experienced developers. The biggest concern if we do approach someone for some assistance is that they could coopt the idea we have in mind into something less desirable. Worse yet, they could just snag the entire project away from us and just boot us out the door. I don't believe that it would turn out either way if we did seek help but it's still a worry regardless.

Consider also that you are not doing so poorly. Most people in your situation would have a deadline slip by 6-9-12 months. If you shot for June 10th and accomplished something in late August, you are basically on schedule! It's just a part of the process. In the end, your attitude and your friend's attitude will likely determine the outcome. It's the single most important thing.

I suppose you could look at it that way, but I'm willing to argue that things aren't doing so great considering we're still plotting out what would be a desirable deadline that we can shoot for. This is mostly to ensure that we can make a strong first impression and not throw out a rushed product.

In other words, what you feel is exactly what it is supposed to feel like. You've moved from 0/100 to 5/100, and now you are lost. Guess what, move faster, otherwise you'll only make it to 10/100 at best, so you will never get any real feedback or any real learning.

Yeah. I'll have to fight tooth and nail if I ever want to see the end of this venture.
 

FierceRacoon

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Worse yet, they could just snag the entire project away from us and just boot us out the door.
Not a concern in my experience. If they could do it without you, they would already be building something else. Most developers are not good entrepreneurs, and they are also perfectionists, so they won't start anything until things are perfect.

Let me tell you the biggest concern: it is that nothing happens. :smile2:
 

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