MailChimp was a side-project for 6 years.
Todoist was a side-project for 4 years.
Basecamp took 2 years before it was paying their salaries.
Maybe the rest of us shouldn't be in such a hurry.
Todoist was a side-project for 4 years.
Basecamp took 2 years before it was paying their salaries.
Maybe the rest of us shouldn't be in such a hurry.
Google started as a research project in 1996.
Larry and Sergey didn't incorporate until 1998.
Early in 1999, they tried selling Google for $750k (and got turned down).
They didn't find a business model (ads) until late 2000.
Idea → viable business took 4 years.
Larry and Sergey didn't incorporate until 1998.
Early in 1999, they tried selling Google for $750k (and got turned down).
They didn't find a business model (ads) until late 2000.
Idea → viable business took 4 years.
The beauty of having side-projects is that it's OK if they fail!
Instead of heaping unrealistic expectations on our ideas we can let them live (or die) on their own merits.
To have a chance of catching the big fish you have to catch (and release) a lot of little fish.
Instead of heaping unrealistic expectations on our ideas we can let them live (or die) on their own merits.
To have a chance of catching the big fish you have to catch (and release) a lot of little fish.
