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Today, I hit a huge milestone. I've made a total of $1M made from my own business on @Stripe.
Feels surreal.
The reality is that's $1M made over 6.5 years.
$153,846/year.
But healthcare, fees, subscriptions, taxes and everything else to run the business comes out of that. My actual take home is a good bit lower than $153k.
$153,846/year.
But healthcare, fees, subscriptions, taxes and everything else to run the business comes out of that. My actual take home is a good bit lower than $153k.
Would I have made more money being a software engineer working for someone else? Absolutely.
Would it have been less stressful? Of course.
Was it worth it? I think so. I get to choose what I work on and where I spend my time (as long as it pays the bills).
Would it have been less stressful? Of course.
Was it worth it? I think so. I get to choose what I work on and where I spend my time (as long as it pays the bills).
There was a time when GoRails made 6 figures and I had figured out how to work literally 4 hours a week to maintain income.
It was amazing and I spent several months just relaxing.
It was amazing and I spent several months just relaxing.
To be clear, that's $153k/year _on average_.
The first year I didn't make minimum wage. The second year I had to get a job and work on the side, third year I was just above minimum wage.
I picked up consulting work and jobs to survive.
The first year I didn't make minimum wage. The second year I had to get a job and work on the side, third year I was just above minimum wage.
I picked up consulting work and jobs to survive.
I also wrestle with my own psychology a lot. For years, I tried starting something on the side and it never worked.
What did work was burning the bridges to force myself to figure it out.
I would always tend towards the comfortable route, so I quit all consulting Jan 1st, 2014.
What did work was burning the bridges to force myself to figure it out.
I would always tend towards the comfortable route, so I quit all consulting Jan 1st, 2014.
Diving into the deep end was what finally worked for me. YMMV.
I didn't believe my products were worth paying for.
I was nervous about talking to strangers and asking them about buying things.
I had a lot of self doubt. Still do.
I didn't believe my products were worth paying for.
I was nervous about talking to strangers and asking them about buying things.
I had a lot of self doubt. Still do.
I'm pretty sure I'm the one holding myself back most of the time.
And that's a good thing. It's something in my control.
If it's me, I know I can work on that, change my habits, hopefully overcome it, and grow as a person.
And that's a good thing. It's something in my control.
If it's me, I know I can work on that, change my habits, hopefully overcome it, and grow as a person.
One thing that helps me is looking at each piece of the business as individual challenges.
Wonder what it would take to market this product?
Can I make this profitable enough on my own to be sustainable?
How long will that take?
Is it worth it?
Something else more valuable?
Wonder what it would take to market this product?
Can I make this profitable enough on my own to be sustainable?
How long will that take?
Is it worth it?
Something else more valuable?
I might not know the answer to these questions, but I know someone with more experience probably could. So the answer is out there.
Knowing that gives me confidence that I can figure it out too. It's just a matter of me trying things until I work out how to do it.
Knowing that gives me confidence that I can figure it out too. It's just a matter of me trying things until I work out how to do it.
I don't share this to brag.
I just know that 5 years ago, I wouldn't believe I'd make it this far and I found posts like this inspiring. Hopefully it helps someone.
I just know that 5 years ago, I wouldn't believe I'd make it this far and I found posts like this inspiring. Hopefully it helps someone.
At the end of the day, I just want to say thanks. 
You guys make it possible for me to make a good living and I've become friends with so many of you.
I'm just trying to build stuff that helps people and that's the most fulfilling thing I could ask for.
You guys make it possible for me to make a good living and I've become friends with so many of you.
I'm just trying to build stuff that helps people and that's the most fulfilling thing I could ask for.
Doing an AMA on IndieHackers if anyone wants to join. https://www.indiehackers.com/post/my-first-1m-as-an-indie-dev-2b1afcf11f
