[dools]

I've bootstrapped a telecommunications product[1] to low 6 figures in ARR. It's the most successful venture I've had. I started the very first version in 2018, and released the first version of the app in 2021 (before that it was entirely done using off-the-shelf tools). I'm mid-40s now, and have been either freelancing or trying to launch products since I was mid-20s. I still have a job, but it's a good one that I enjoy doing and it leaves time for my business stuff. I would be better off financially if I had just focused on a traditional engineering career path and invested regularly in broad based, index fund ETFs after finishing university in my mid-20s, but whatever. I own a house in Australia which is an achievement on its own. I have a lovely wife and 2 teenage kids. We're all going on a 2 week holiday to Greece later this year. I have 2 new cars (financed) and a nice office in the city. I have always been the primary income earner for my family of four. Life gets more expensive as my income goes up so I don't wind up with much left over even though I'm earning considerably more now than I ever have. I'm pretty happy with how things turned out and I've always enjoyed the various challenges I have attempted, but on the other hand I look like I'm about 60 and I've lost a lot of sleep!

[1]https://www.benkophone.com/