4 ms·

You Don’t Have to Risk Everything to Start Your Business

sidlls 9y ago
This is a great story, but it's not much different from the Zuckerberg-style too-good-to-be-true stories the author laments. Near as I can tell, this person didn't risk much because, like most (or, at least, many) who make a successful business, he had an abundance of luck favoring his ambition, particularly in the form of his work arrangement. Most companies would see his proposal and think "this guy's position can be eliminated" instead of "this guy's giving us the same output for 60% of the cost!" In other words his particular circumstances simply aren't broadly applicable.
- steve-benjamins 9y ago
  I'm the author. I was definitely lucky to work for an organization that was flexible. Take my story for what it is though: a particular story. Particulars aren't meant to be broadly applicable.
  - justboxing 9y ago
    Affiliate marketing, done right, is where the money is at. The indiehacker post says > Today I run Site Builder Report, a one-person niche business that makes ~$40,000 / month Is that accurate? Or is it combined income from all your 7 different "report" / "review" sites, as listed on your other site - https://www.wisebuyer.com/ https://www.wisebuyer.com/ Not trolling, genuinely curious. I dabbled with amazon affiliate marketing a few years ago, and didn't see anything close to even 1000$ a month after a year. Nice work also on the UI design and on adopting 1 model that works -- in-depth review with affiliate links - on 7 different niches.
    - steve-benjamins 9y ago
      It's accurate. My other websites have not been as successful, they make $50 - $200 / month :(
    - thisisit 9y ago
      Curious about the claim on affiliate marketing being profitable. I see one of the ideas - Amazon affiliate not working out. What other types of affiliates are there?
  - sidlls 9y ago
    I'd take issue with title because it does imply a broad applicability that isn't supported by the content. A more accurate title might be, "I didn't have to risk everything to Start My Business."
    - steve-benjamins 9y ago
      That's pedantic. "You'd Don't Have to Risk Everything" implies an option, not broad applicability.
      - sidlls 9y ago
        The point is the "it" actually is not an option most of the time.
        steve-benjamins 9y ago
        See original comment: > I'm the author. I was definitely lucky to work for an organization that was flexible. > Take my story for what it is though: a particular story. Particulars aren't meant to be broadly applicable.
- owebmaster 9y ago
  > In other words his particular circumstances simply aren't broadly applicable. But others circumstances are and most of the times people don't see and lose it. This isn't luck.
justboxing 9y ago
[DELETED]
- steve-benjamins 9y ago
  tl/dr: Author shares how he moved from full-time employee to part-time employee as a way to mitigate the risk of starting a business.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
dpflan 9y ago
Well done by the author for starting something and getting in to the affiliate marketing hustle ("My work is supported by affiliate commissions."). Seems like he can do the same thing to himself (whereby he works less on this project because it seems stable / he can do what is needed in less time like his original job) and scale up / work on another project now. That would be clever then, that's the real thing to admire here I'd say - the self-propelled snowball technique.
- steve-benjamins 9y ago
  Really appreciate your comment— that's certainly my goal :)
AndrewKemendo 9y ago
I'd be curious to know why the author decided to pen this article. Did they have a rash of friends who burned out by going "all in?" I am seeing a trend of people writing more or less the same thing: "A slow business is a good one, you don't need to devote everything to it." Which is of course, true, but I'm unsure why it needs to be stated and who the author is trying to reach.
- steve-benjamins 9y ago
  Did you read the article or just shoehorn it into some trend? > We tell stories about entrepreneurs who take big risks because risk is sexy. People who take risks, the implication goes, are fearless. It makes for a great story... So here’s an alternative: play the slow-game.
  - AndrewKemendo 9y ago
    Right, I read that part. It's still unclear what the purpose of the post was. Are you trying to dissuade people from betting the farm on a venture? If someone sent you an email and said "As a result of your blog post I went out and _________" what would you want that (blank) to be? Separately, I don't agree with the premise that big risks in and of themselves are sexy. Big Risks around a overwhelmingly huge opportunity, in an exciting sector with clear momentum are what is sexy. Nobody thinks the person with no capabilities, risking everything for a terrible idea is sexy. Like this guy: The creator of "Bulletball:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOw2yWMSfk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOw2yWMSfk Does anyone think this guy or his idea is sexy? No. Those people are cranks and loons and are generally derided and dismissed.
    - steve-benjamins 9y ago
      Oh my god. Take my story for what it is: one guys story. It's purpose is to share a way forward for people who want to start their own business but don't want to bet the farm. That's it. It couldn't be any clearer. Stop putting further narratives on it. I'm not attacking whatever you think I'm attacking.
Just1689 9y ago
Thanks for sharing your story Steve. It is interesting to consider what pivoting actually feels and looks like when you're in the thick of things. May I ask if others have felt pivoting more palatable because the runway isn't running out?

This is a great story, but it's not much different from the Zuckerberg-style too-good-to-be-true stories the author laments. Near as I can tell, this person didn't risk much because, like most (or, at least, many) who make a successful business, he had an abundance of luck favoring his ambition, particularly in the form of his work arrangement. Most companies would see his proposal and think "this guy's position can be eliminated" instead of "this guy's giving us the same output for 60% of the cost!" In other words his particular circumstances simply aren't broadly applicable.

steve-benjamins 9y ago
I'm the author. I was definitely lucky to work for an organization that was flexible. Take my story for what it is though: a particular story. Particulars aren't meant to be broadly applicable.
- justboxing 9y ago
  Affiliate marketing, done right, is where the money is at. The indiehacker post says > Today I run Site Builder Report, a one-person niche business that makes ~$40,000 / month Is that accurate? Or is it combined income from all your 7 different "report" / "review" sites, as listed on your other site - https://www.wisebuyer.com/ https://www.wisebuyer.com/ Not trolling, genuinely curious. I dabbled with amazon affiliate marketing a few years ago, and didn't see anything close to even 1000$ a month after a year. Nice work also on the UI design and on adopting 1 model that works -- in-depth review with affiliate links - on 7 different niches.
  - steve-benjamins 9y ago
    It's accurate. My other websites have not been as successful, they make $50 - $200 / month :(
  - thisisit 9y ago
    Curious about the claim on affiliate marketing being profitable. I see one of the ideas - Amazon affiliate not working out. What other types of affiliates are there?
- sidlls 9y ago
  I'd take issue with title because it does imply a broad applicability that isn't supported by the content. A more accurate title might be, "I didn't have to risk everything to Start My Business."
  - steve-benjamins 9y ago
    That's pedantic. "You'd Don't Have to Risk Everything" implies an option, not broad applicability.
    - sidlls 9y ago
      The point is the "it" actually is not an option most of the time.
      - steve-benjamins 9y ago
        See original comment: > I'm the author. I was definitely lucky to work for an organization that was flexible. > Take my story for what it is though: a particular story. Particulars aren't meant to be broadly applicable.
owebmaster 9y ago
> In other words his particular circumstances simply aren't broadly applicable. But others circumstances are and most of the times people don't see and lose it. This isn't luck.

justboxing 9y ago

[DELETED]

steve-benjamins 9y ago
tl/dr: Author shares how he moved from full-time employee to part-time employee as a way to mitigate the risk of starting a business.
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

dpflan 9y ago

Well done by the author for starting something and getting in to the affiliate marketing hustle ("My work is supported by affiliate commissions."). Seems like he can do the same thing to himself (whereby he works less on this project because it seems stable / he can do what is needed in less time like his original job) and scale up / work on another project now. That would be clever then, that's the real thing to admire here I'd say - the self-propelled snowball technique.

steve-benjamins 9y ago
Really appreciate your comment— that's certainly my goal :)

AndrewKemendo 9y ago

I'd be curious to know why the author decided to pen this article. Did they have a rash of friends who burned out by going "all in?" I am seeing a trend of people writing more or less the same thing: "A slow business is a good one, you don't need to devote everything to it." Which is of course, true, but I'm unsure why it needs to be stated and who the author is trying to reach.

steve-benjamins 9y ago
Did you read the article or just shoehorn it into some trend? > We tell stories about entrepreneurs who take big risks because risk is sexy. People who take risks, the implication goes, are fearless. It makes for a great story... So here’s an alternative: play the slow-game.
- AndrewKemendo 9y ago
  Right, I read that part. It's still unclear what the purpose of the post was. Are you trying to dissuade people from betting the farm on a venture? If someone sent you an email and said "As a result of your blog post I went out and _________" what would you want that (blank) to be? Separately, I don't agree with the premise that big risks in and of themselves are sexy. Big Risks around a overwhelmingly huge opportunity, in an exciting sector with clear momentum are what is sexy. Nobody thinks the person with no capabilities, risking everything for a terrible idea is sexy. Like this guy: The creator of "Bulletball:" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOw2yWMSfk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOw2yWMSfk Does anyone think this guy or his idea is sexy? No. Those people are cranks and loons and are generally derided and dismissed.
  - steve-benjamins 9y ago
    Oh my god. Take my story for what it is: one guys story. It's purpose is to share a way forward for people who want to start their own business but don't want to bet the farm. That's it. It couldn't be any clearer. Stop putting further narratives on it. I'm not attacking whatever you think I'm attacking.

Just1689 9y ago

Thanks for sharing your story Steve. It is interesting to consider what pivoting actually feels and looks like when you're in the thick of things. May I ask if others have felt pivoting more palatable because the runway isn't running out?