Take the Leap
written by Steven on May 09, 2008
A week or so ago a friend of mine asked me for a bit of advice. He is a smart guy and like most people has a decently fine/boring/semi-fulfilling job. He has an immediate family member who is in need of regular daily medical care. And he has an idea for a web site/company. He asked me how I managed to work so many hours last year. (I worked a lot of hours last year. More than anyone you know did.) I was very busy when he asked and gave him a short answer of "I am (or was) a machine. I am Superman, blah, blah, blah." But that is far from the whole story and I want to give him an answer he deserves.
I did indeed work a lot of hours last year. More than anyone should have to. My marriage has suffered for it, although thankfully not too much. My children missed me more than they should have (and I work from home). My business partner, Allan, and I got into a few fights that we wouldn't have had if I had not been so tired. (Being tired makes stress harder to deal with.) I am fatter, my hair line is worse, I have many more grays hairs and the bags under my eyes are larger. And the truth is I simply can't work that hard anymore. This year when I work very late I am near useless the next day. I can still work twelve hours every day, but no more. I am no longer a machine. I am no longer Superman.
Last year took a lot out of me. But this year I have a successful business with a very bright future. I (and Allan and my wife and my children and Allan's wife and children) payed a price for my (and our) hard work last year. I think it was worth it. I don't recommend it to anyone else.
So the question remains, how does one create a new site/business/product/book/wood carving while still maintaining their current income and responsibilities. Getting more hours in the day is the key. Obviously that means less sleep, but you don't have to cut your sleep in half. Try sleeping two hours less. If that doesn't work try sleeping one hour less. Find the balance that works for you. Then find other places in the day where you can find time. Get rid of your television. TV is the single biggest waste of time. Although my family watches DVD's, we haven't had cable TV in about seven years. Cut it out. Next, see if you can arrange to eat and work at your desk during your lunch hour. Working 8:00 - 4:00 will save an hour a day.
Realize you don't have to work eight hours at your job and then another eight on your project. Set a goal for yourself to work two hours a day on your project. That might not be a lot, but try. Add more hours if you can. If you can't then you have to make those hours count. Do you really need that feature? Yes. Do you need it before launch? No. Do you need it now? No. Not only does writing fewer features take less time, it usually makes for a better app. Stay focused.
Stay motivated. Remember why you are doing this. You will have a better life, you will have more money, you will be doing something you love, you will be more fulfilled. Keep at it. You are on the right track.
Schedule your time. I have found that the best way to ensure I put those hours in is to do them first. Set the alarm and get up early. Be late to work. Hopefully by the time they fire you your project will be taking off.
Bet on yourself. Use your savings to live and quit your job. If you are not willing to sacrifice because there is no guarantee of success, then why would any investor give you money.
Ask for help. What about partnering with a friend? Ask you parents for money so you can quit your job. Ask a relative. We get a lot of people who approach us asking us to work for equity. I always ask these people what did their parents/in-laws/siblings/cousins say when they asked for money to fund their project. I have yet to have anyone say that they have even asked. Why would I take the risk on you when don't even believe in yourself enough to ask your family for help?
The point I want to make to my friend is to take the leap. Try. Find a way to make it work. If it fails then so what. Try again. I work hard, but I have the best job in the world. I LOVE my job. If you feel the entrepreneurial spirit, then do it. The world is changing. It is becoming easier and easier to make a living with a very small company. A one or two person company can do things that giant companies can't do. You can do things that giant companies can't do. Do it. And feel free to ask me for help along the way.
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Steven Bristol has written code for the past 20 years. He like green vegetables and kittens, oh and butterflies too. He loves to throw ninja stars at his enemies.
5 Comments
Very inspiring! Great post Steve!
The guy in the smoky coffee joint with the laptop, leeching a power outlet and paying for that overhead with copious caffeine intake is more dangerous than any R & D department.
That alone is motivation enough to make things happen.
Unless of course a job in such a facility seems more appealing.
Great article Steven, especially as this is something I’m struggling with right now in my business.
I know that in the long run, R&D into new products is perhaps the best investment I can make for the long term success of the company – but I’m so swamped with client work (which pays the bills right now) I’m having trouble finding time to do R&D.
Although I don’t have the luxury of regular employment, Tim Ferris’ book “The 4 Hour Work Week” has some interesting suggestions in it for maintaining a regular job while creating more time for yourself (in Mr Ferris’ case for world travel, but you could also use that time to work on startup projects).
Interesting, I went through the same thing you did last year. I would never want to repeat it again, but it was so worth it as now I have a sustaining business that is what I have always wanted.
I think 2 other things that can really help optimize time when things are really busy and stressful is good technology that saves you time and money… Like lessaccounting! The other thing is a nice line of credit to deal with unforseen circumstances. a few thousand at least at low interest. It is an absolute life saver.
I love this post. However, I can guarantee you I worked more hours than you did last year. :)