[smnrchrds]

Inkdrop was announced more than 3 years ago on HackerNews. I am happy for the creator, and I am glad it is financially viable and going strong. But to be honest, as someone who often muses about entrepreneurship and lifestyle businesses, I find it a bit discouraging how long it takes to get to the point of financial viability.

[mobitar]

Three years is typically just the tip of the iceberg ;) There's probably at least a decade's worth of failures that lead up to finally having a successful product.

[jamil7]

Any tips for staying motivated? I want to see my project through but it feels like a real grind after the 1 year mark, every new signup makes me feel some guilt because I feel the product isn't ready yet.

[hinkley]

You need perspective.

This is one of the biggest casualties of our industry's hyperfocus on software all day, every day, and nothing else. Everything in the world is two dimensional to us.

How many hobbies do you have?

Three years is only a long time if you are young or have never studied anything longer than the time it took to get your CS degree.

In virtually any other hobby or pursuit, you have only just become interesting to other people around the 3 year mark, and software developers are already daydreaming about the Next Thing. If in fact they aren't already looking at the Old Thing shrinking in the rear view mirror.

Pick something to try to get good at. It'll help reset your concept of 'a long time' and your pain thresholds to something more compatible with the rest of the world. An instrument. Crafting (wood, cloth, leather, beer). A sport. Mushroom hunting. Learn to play Go (particularly good one for developers who are uncomfortable picking up something too out of character). Stick around to get properly good at it instead of simply conversation at parties good.

Slow down, and take a breath for fuck's sake.

[jamil7]

Thanks for the thoughtful reponse. I do have hobbies, I'm part of a road cycling group and I learn my girlfriend's native language, I used to play guitar but have less time for it now. You are correct though in that I hold software and particully the software I produce to a different standard, especially regarding the time I spend on it and what I expect. I guess maybe it's a product of having invested so much in learning and building things.

[czbond]

Very well put. I resemble this comment.