[djray]

This is quite insensitive and a poor analogy. Telling someone who's struggling to "Get your head in the game" is unhelpful in the extreme. It's like telling someone who's drowning to "Just swim better".

Free climbing is a high-risk pursuit. A free climber goes on occasional expeditions where they solo a route, but before then, they train with others, have spotters and partners during route practice, and whole communities to provide help, support and emergency contact should things go wrong. Alex Honnold doesn't just rock up to a mountain (if you'll forgive the pun) and solo it every day for months on end.

It's very difficult to just put everything aside and focus on a singular task for the amount of time it takes to complete a significant software project. Once the initial enthusiasm wanes, keeping going can be a real challenge when you're on your own. The OP's concerns are absolutely valid and deserve respect.

[deadbabe]

What you just said about free-climbing is perfectly applicable to building something solo. Except unlike climbing solo, building a product is easier because you could get support the whole way. Also you won’t die if you fail.

You should never expect enthusiasm to last. How many people are just as enthusiastic about going to the gym for years compared to when they first start out? These are all the things people need to realize before embarking on these solo journeys.

You may not like it, but if a person was drowning and they actually do start to “just swim better”, they will survive. Just do what you need to do.

[amradio1989]

Who would look at a drowning person and say "just swim better and you'll survive"?

A drowning person can't "just swim better". That's exactly why they're drowning in the first place.

What you're saying is true but not helpful. There's a whole process that goes into "just do it" that is weirdly unpopular to talk about. You have to become capable first, and that only happens in community where you can safely make a lot of mistakes.

[robertlagrant]

> You have to become capable first, and that only happens in community where you can safely make a lot of mistakes.

I don't think this is true. You can become capable while building for a customer base. I don't think I've ever built "in community".

[deadbabe]

I’d love to know what you think we should say to a drowning person.