4 ms·

There is sentiment that goals are bullshit and somewhat destructive. My take is, it comes down to setting the right goals. I've bootstrapped a moderately succe

There is sentiment that goals are bullshit and somewhat destructive. My take is, it comes down to setting the right goals. I've bootstrapped a moderately successful SaaS and have enjoyed many revenue milestones along the way but those were milestones not goals. The goals are lifestyle based. Things like "I want to never have another traditional job" or "I want to be debt free" are much more powerful than "I want to hit $2000 MRR". That said, look, building and selling things is amazing and I suggest everybody do it. If you only have a little time, build small things and sell them cheaply. But there is a self empowerment that comes from creating your own income that has an impact far beyond the actual dollars themselves. Congrats Alex, good goal or not, it's a notable achievement.

HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
> there is a self empowerment that comes from creating your own income This is something that's rarely said (or snidely dismissed as "lifestyle business") but is so very important. Realizing that you are not completely reliant on someone to employ you, that you can derive income from multiple streams and then actually seeing it happen is an incredible feeling.
- close04 6y ago
  > you are not completely reliant on someone to employ you I don't think that's where the feeling of empowerment comes from. Instead of doing a good job to impress your boss you do a good job to impress your customers. That feeling, I believe, comes from the fact that generating your own revenue stream makes you a "one man team". You pulled all the right strings, you pushed the right buttons, you spoke to the all right people. You took your idea from back of the napkin drawing to actual functioning and successful business. You don't get to do that as an employee.
  - HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
    I'll agree that what I wrote was essentially the executive summary. I think we're saying the same thing in different ways.
  - jfkebwjsbx 6y ago
    It is more regarding to impress your own customers than bosses (or customers of your boss). The former is about something you did right. The second is (in many cases) about asking for a raise. The last is mostly showing what a team (or even others) have done. By the way, most jobs are not about impressing bosses. You can make a career just doing your work. The right people will notice, specially in small companies.
    - close04 6y ago
      I was just oversimplifying but the core idea remains. You should take pride in your work whether you are on your own boss or work for one. But sometimes taking your own idea from 0 to fruition gives you a special kind of pride. The "I wore all the hats and made it" kind. And indeed, the right people will notice regardless of where you are.
      - jfkebwjsbx 6y ago
        Agreed!
ccktlmazeltov 6y ago
Interesting, reading this I was thinking that I would have indeed set different goals. I would have strived to create a good app for me first, and to make sure that people can use it and that they find it useful too. That would have been my goal. Not a 50$/month customer.

HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago

> there is a self empowerment that comes from creating your own income This is something that's rarely said (or snidely dismissed as "lifestyle business") but is so very important. Realizing that you are not completely reliant on someone to employ you, that you can derive income from multiple streams and then actually seeing it happen is an incredible feeling.

close04 6y ago
> you are not completely reliant on someone to employ you I don't think that's where the feeling of empowerment comes from. Instead of doing a good job to impress your boss you do a good job to impress your customers. That feeling, I believe, comes from the fact that generating your own revenue stream makes you a "one man team". You pulled all the right strings, you pushed the right buttons, you spoke to the all right people. You took your idea from back of the napkin drawing to actual functioning and successful business. You don't get to do that as an employee.
- HeyLaughingBoy 6y ago
  I'll agree that what I wrote was essentially the executive summary. I think we're saying the same thing in different ways.
- jfkebwjsbx 6y ago
  It is more regarding to impress your own customers than bosses (or customers of your boss). The former is about something you did right. The second is (in many cases) about asking for a raise. The last is mostly showing what a team (or even others) have done. By the way, most jobs are not about impressing bosses. You can make a career just doing your work. The right people will notice, specially in small companies.
  - close04 6y ago
    I was just oversimplifying but the core idea remains. You should take pride in your work whether you are on your own boss or work for one. But sometimes taking your own idea from 0 to fruition gives you a special kind of pride. The "I wore all the hats and made it" kind. And indeed, the right people will notice regardless of where you are.
    - jfkebwjsbx 6y ago
      Agreed!

ccktlmazeltov 6y ago

Interesting, reading this I was thinking that I would have indeed set different goals. I would have strived to create a good app for me first, and to make sure that people can use it and that they find it useful too. That would have been my goal. Not a 50$/month customer.