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I have no interest in doing a startup the way the article describes. It just seems way to stressful. But I think too much attention is given to these go-for-br

I have no interest in doing a startup the way the article describes. It just seems way to stressful. But I think too much attention is given to these go-for-broke-all-or-nothing kind of startup endeavors when, as software developers you're in a unique position to concentrate more on micropreneurship and/or bootstrapping ... a less taxing way of starting and running a business that focuses more on increasing your passive income while maintaining a job and living a healthier lifestyle.

WadeF 13y ago
Agreed that not all startups need to be a go-for-it-all startup. But any business is going to a lot of work to get running. And then once you have customers it's going to be a lot of work to keep them happy. Even if it is micro business or a bootstrapped company. The four hour work week is a bit of a myth. Everything is going to be hard work.
shadowcats 13y ago
Exactly. I think what many people here want is a lifestyle business that would allow them to pay the bills, hack on cool stuff, and wear the label of entrepreneur/self-employed. I'm thinking of writing a small book on how to do just that. I haven't done it (become successfully self-employed) yet myself (not completely, anyway) but I could interview others who have and glean learnings from them. Would that be of interest to y'all? :)
- kcorbitt 13y ago
  Yes. Preferably with contribution from people who have been doing this long enough that they really <i>can</i> call it a lifestyle business, not just something they tried for six months between jobs. I'd also be interested in the converse -- people who tried it and decided to go back to a "real" job, and their reasoning.
Lost_BiomedE 13y ago
'focuses more on increasing your passive income while maintaining a job and living a healthier lifestyle' Agreed. This has been my philosophy, and it has worked out well. I start in an area where I want to learn the skills required to create the product, allowing for a good ROI even if no revenue is achieved. I also require that it can scale without more work on my part. I end up with something mostly fun to build, more resume items, and possibly a decent passive income. Since I do have a career separate from the projects, I do not have a lot of pressure to stress myself to death in order to make it my sole income. The hardest part is marketing. So, I try to start something where I have a reasonable 'in' right off the bat and try to grow organically. Every once in a while I will start a search ad campaign or find a place for a banner ad. The best success I have had so far is by banner ads and word of mouth. I only need a small piece of the pie!

WadeF 13y ago

Agreed that not all startups need to be a go-for-it-all startup. But any business is going to a lot of work to get running. And then once you have customers it's going to be a lot of work to keep them happy. Even if it is micro business or a bootstrapped company. The four hour work week is a bit of a myth. Everything is going to be hard work.

shadowcats 13y ago

Exactly. I think what many people here want is a lifestyle business that would allow them to pay the bills, hack on cool stuff, and wear the label of entrepreneur/self-employed. I'm thinking of writing a small book on how to do just that. I haven't done it (become successfully self-employed) yet myself (not completely, anyway) but I could interview others who have and glean learnings from them. Would that be of interest to y'all? :)

kcorbitt 13y ago
Yes. Preferably with contribution from people who have been doing this long enough that they really <i>can</i> call it a lifestyle business, not just something they tried for six months between jobs. I'd also be interested in the converse -- people who tried it and decided to go back to a "real" job, and their reasoning.

Lost_BiomedE 13y ago

'focuses more on increasing your passive income while maintaining a job and living a healthier lifestyle' Agreed. This has been my philosophy, and it has worked out well. I start in an area where I want to learn the skills required to create the product, allowing for a good ROI even if no revenue is achieved. I also require that it can scale without more work on my part. I end up with something mostly fun to build, more resume items, and possibly a decent passive income. Since I do have a career separate from the projects, I do not have a lot of pressure to stress myself to death in order to make it my sole income. The hardest part is marketing. So, I try to start something where I have a reasonable 'in' right off the bat and try to grow organically. Every once in a while I will start a search ad campaign or find a place for a banner ad. The best success I have had so far is by banner ads and word of mouth. I only need a small piece of the pie!