Question
I have tried many startups/projects in the past, some I started myself and some I co-founded with others. Most of those shutdown after I/We hit the first wall. Some of the projects didn't even last more than 3 months and didn't have a single customer. There were some of the projects where I have happily spent 6 months coding / developing without any customer using it. When it was the time to get customers, I tried a few weeks, reached out to a few people and that's all and moved on to the next startup idea. I was fascinated by the glamour of running a startup. I never was driven enough to push through the wall when hit. I think that I start a startup to enjoy the moment of owning a company (for a short time). I have wasted 5 years trying to do random things but never could find some idea I can stick around for longer and build a company.
I have built around 20 android apps, the best one has 100K+ downloads and still going.
The companies I have attempted in the past
Try and pay (based on chrome extension, co-founder quit due to health conditions. I wasn't motivated or driven enough to bring in a new co-founder to continue that startup)
SentimentsAI (using AMAZON AI tools to generate sentiments based on social media comments)
TenancyWithoutAgents (startup in real estate, quit after 6-8 months, discovered that we need access to real estate certificate)
Grocery Delivery ( discovered that delivery charges are very high and people are not willing to spend that much and there is a thin margin)
Chat app, Door Prizes (developed for one client, they used it free of cost. I was hoping to get more clients but I didn't get any. I have reached few people and they never responded. So I shut down that too)
FarWork(reached out to few co-working spaces, reached out to few people, got few answers from few people and that's it then covid19)
EscrowServ (Escrow service in the construction industry, wasn't interested in that industry, so I quit after developing for 8 months)
MarketForLocal (started a marketplace to connect local-sellers to customers. The co-founder quit because she didn't want to work more than 2 hours a day and I didnt bother to continue).
Once turned to eBay seller as well and imported stuff from China and didn't last more than 2-3 months. Because I didn't want to be eBay seller.
I am always confused with this advice "follow your passion" (Elon) vs "don't follow your passion" (Mark Cuban). I am passionate about coding, also at the same time, I am passionate about owning a business. I want to code for a business that I am passionate about. I have few ideas and afraid to commit to one. I am not even sure If I am passionate about any of those. I am afraid that I might pick the wrong idea and might end up quit again and waste my time.
How can I find the idea that I can stick for longer? How do I know that I won't quit again (very easily)?
I just want to know how you interpret my situation. I am open to hearing any advice or observation you may have.
Thanks
Answer
0. You are not alone. This is a VERY common situation.
1. Screw your passion, work is a job. Find the best opportunity that you are confident can be accomplish... and do not quit until you are getting the result you want and/or until a better opportunity arises. But be careful about switching too often, the key is weigh options based on probable outcomes.
2. In my experience, it's better to offer a service that you cannot personally fulfill... because you will be forced to focus on the business itself and find/train/manage people to do the work.
3.Your primary focus should be on making sales, not operations. If you can't make sales, there's zero purpose in doing anything else. Worst case, you get better and better at selling while refunding a bunch of money until you figure out how to fulfill the orders (without you personally doing the work).
4. Just take next steps. The boring minutia that you might want to avoid, is EXACTLY the that no one wants to do (hence the opportunity); so THAT is where the value is created. Turn "off" your thinking cap during the work week, and just execute on next steps. Evenings and weekends are for planning and thinking, work week hours are for executing.
5. If this isn't working in 3 months... you either were not honest about probably outcomes when you chose the opportunity, you didn't execute during the work week, you tried to do everything yourself, or you prioritized everything else above sales.
PS. I commend you for everything you have accomplished. Getting "stuck" is super common. Most of the time, you're too much in your own head and just need to "Do the Work" as Steven Pressfield says.
