Hello hello. Welcome to the Desert of Desertion.
You've seen me around, I want to show I walk the walk.
7 Months ago I had an idea and began building an app alone.
3 Weeks ago I read Unscripted and joined this forum. I realized I needed to get my motivation in check and surround myself with good people. I realized, "there's no reason why it should take this long." In those 3 weeks, I finished a huge part of the process just by putting in as many hours as I could programming everyday. I did in 3 weeks more than what took 7 months! I wanted to meet a deadline of September 1.
2 days ago I've onboarded two friends to help me develop it faster, because I realized I couldn't do it alone if I wanted to meet that deadline nor do I have the resources/appetite for risk to hire developers.
Please provide advice if you see there is any way I can develop it faster.
I do have some capital in savings I *could* use to invest if you think it's a good idea, but this app is unproven yet and I am afraid of risk.
And please keep me in check when I am slacking off.
I use the software, "ManicTime" and it keeps track of how long the windows in the IDE I use are active. I'm aiming for 20 hours a week. I'm documenting how long I spend developing in this thread. Just as I lost a lot of weight when I posted my CICO every day on a weight loss forum, I think public accountability is a wonderful tool. I also found out since starting this spreadsheet that it only takes me 10 hours to finish a mechanic, so I estimate it will take about 300-400 hours to finish this app, since there's about 14 mechanics left.
I also recently moved last week so I didn't work so much. I'm living in the location of my dreams and will attend school this fall. It is snowy and rainy here, and I am most productive and happy when it's cloudy. Prior to this I lived in sunny ol' Texas. I want to start classes a published developer.
Feel free to roast me if you think this timeline is TOO generous.
I am doing my very best to pare it down to the MVP but also have the unique features up that I haven't seen before.
Just today I've delegated two mechanics to my two friends, and they're waiting on me to finish up a feature by Friday so they can build on that. My philosophy is, I'd rather split the revenue and have a finished thing, than to work on it forever by myself out of pride. I am not going to take a big piece of the pie, I'm just going to make the pie bigger for all of us.
I want to be faster, but I feel like the only way is to work longer! Please keep me on track.
Thank you to whoever mentioned Penzu, I've been using it a bit. Here are some quotes I wrote daily to motivate myself:
Sorry for the long intro! I promise future posts will be shorter.
If you are a programmer / developer too, comment your thread and let's follow each other!
You've seen me around, I want to show I walk the walk.
7 Months ago I had an idea and began building an app alone.
3 Weeks ago I read Unscripted and joined this forum. I realized I needed to get my motivation in check and surround myself with good people. I realized, "there's no reason why it should take this long." In those 3 weeks, I finished a huge part of the process just by putting in as many hours as I could programming everyday. I did in 3 weeks more than what took 7 months! I wanted to meet a deadline of September 1.
2 days ago I've onboarded two friends to help me develop it faster, because I realized I couldn't do it alone if I wanted to meet that deadline nor do I have the resources/appetite for risk to hire developers.
I'm still working TOO SLOWLY so even though I don't feel ready, I am going to go ahead and make this thread now.
I may share more about what this "app" is in the future. The friends I've told the idea to said they love the idea. Of course, the true test is when people vote with their wallets. I have plenty of other ideas in my back pocket, but I'm committed to seeing this first one through. There is a hole in the market for this, and a few have attempted to fulfill it, but I think I can provide massive value in different ways using my unique strengths and interests. Providing massive value also means a lot of work in development. But a true entrepreneur should over-deliver.Please provide advice if you see there is any way I can develop it faster.
I do have some capital in savings I *could* use to invest if you think it's a good idea, but this app is unproven yet and I am afraid of risk.
And please keep me in check when I am slacking off.
I use the software, "ManicTime" and it keeps track of how long the windows in the IDE I use are active. I'm aiming for 20 hours a week. I'm documenting how long I spend developing in this thread. Just as I lost a lot of weight when I posted my CICO every day on a weight loss forum, I think public accountability is a wonderful tool. I also found out since starting this spreadsheet that it only takes me 10 hours to finish a mechanic, so I estimate it will take about 300-400 hours to finish this app, since there's about 14 mechanics left.
I also recently moved last week so I didn't work so much. I'm living in the location of my dreams and will attend school this fall. It is snowy and rainy here, and I am most productive and happy when it's cloudy. Prior to this I lived in sunny ol' Texas. I want to start classes a published developer.
What to expect on this thread:
- I will share some quotes and thoughts I have to motivate myself on this thread.
- I will update at least weekly, and possibly more often (1/day) with how many hours I worked.
- I will also talk about the books I'm reading sometimes;
(I won't be too specific about what features I've worked on, but I will post the hours worked)
Feel free to roast me if you think this timeline is TOO generous.
I am doing my very best to pare it down to the MVP but also have the unique features up that I haven't seen before.
Just today I've delegated two mechanics to my two friends, and they're waiting on me to finish up a feature by Friday so they can build on that. My philosophy is, I'd rather split the revenue and have a finished thing, than to work on it forever by myself out of pride. I am not going to take a big piece of the pie, I'm just going to make the pie bigger for all of us.
I want to be faster, but I feel like the only way is to work longer! Please keep me on track.
Thank you to whoever mentioned Penzu, I've been using it a bit. Here are some quotes I wrote daily to motivate myself:
"it's hard because it's hard. If it were easy to be an entrepreneur, everyone would do it."
"Trying to find the secret to motivation is actually 'I want things to be easy and convenient' and the secret is it's hard. Acknowledge it's going to be hard and keep going."
"Procrastinating today is borrowing time from tomorrow. You WILL be free one day, and each day you prolong working on your business is a day you take away from your freedom days. Fight every day for your freedom."
You can view entertainment when you're done - actually, there's literally no need for entertainment! 1. You're not trying to cope with an unsatisfactory life, 2. It is a distraction and a time waste
Everyone had to start somewhere, their first app, and so on. So who cares if you've never published one before? time to pop that cherry
The longer you push yourself to do something uncomfortable, the faster you get used to being uncomfortable.
If you start when things are hard, it can only get easier.
Money doesn't care how hard it was or how you feel, money only cares about results
There is an extremely liberating moment when you decide that you are going to do it no matter what. Suddenly you feel MORE powerful not less because you realize no matter what circumstances come your way you can overcome It
Sorry for the long intro! I promise future posts will be shorter.
If you are a programmer / developer too, comment your thread and let's follow each other!
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