[Vinnl]

Same here. Half a year ago I quit my job to start working on something I consider important (open access to academic articles), and it's been my most productive half-year ever. That said, I have set a deadline for myself for having to be able to fund my regular living expenses in six more months though, either by having obtained a grant to cover the remaining start-up costs, by working part-time given that I still believe I can make it self-funding if I spend more time on it, or give it up altogether and hopefully use the experience to find a more stable job doing something I consider important.

[psyc]

I encourage you to stick to these realistic plans. I have succumbed to bargaining with myself lately. I said, "If this project does not get X users or make Y dollars in Z time, I will get a job." Then, I said, "I will make a smaller-scoped thing that may have more mass-appeal, and if that fails, I will get a job." Then it was, "I will go all out trying to market these things, and if that fails, I will get a job." I made the decision to stop the foolishness and really start looking for a job full-time only yesterday.

[Vinnl]

Thanks for the advice. I'm very aware of the inclination to start bargaining, although I'm not sure yet it that's enough to prevent it properly. To be fair, there's been some bargaining already, which I feel can't really be avoided given how some initial assumptions may be wrong. For example, I've observed that I've had retention problems after my first launching, so I'm currently switching things around a bit to see if I can lower that barrier to entry. Initially, I'd planned to have x users at this point, but I don't think it's that odd to try a few more small experiments to see whether there's still potential in it. I just hope that not being afraid to throw them out will be enough to stop in time.

However, I also know that especially the part where "I might start working part-time if I feel there's still potential in it" has a lot of wiggle-room for bargaining in terms of whether there's really potential. But then at least it'll just be a side project again, which will hopefully keep me grounded :)