How many unfinished side projects do you have? How many finished but never launched side projects do you have? For how long did you tell yourself you were going to release a side project but never did?
I've been there for the past 10 years, but today, this is about to change.
Attempts
As far as I can recall, I've always dreamed of making a living from my own products, so I consistently worked on side projects.
I started an Open Source social network in 2011 during my last year of school, inspired by watching The Social Network (no shame, we all did it). Unfortunately, it remained unfinished.
In 2013, I spent a weekend working on an iPhone app to count the number of cigarettes smoked per day (I don't even smoke–sigh). Surprisingly, I launched it and even got a few sales via in-app purchase.
Then started the dry spell...
I started working on an app to remember the last time you did something with a designer friend in late 2013. Although the app was 100% finished, we never updated the screens for the iPhone 5 that came out in September 2014. Resulting in it being never launched.
In 2015, I started working on an app to split expenses between friends with another designer friend. Unfortunately, it remained unfinished.
In 2017, I re-started my app to remember the last time you did something with the same designer friend. This time it was almost finished, but never launched.
Last year I started working on a note-taking app to take notes without interrupting your flow. This time, I went solo because I didn't want to depend on other people. Even though my friend Denis ended up helping with the design. Finally, it got launched.
At last.
Reasons
They all failed for a variety of reasons:
- Fear of failure (obviously),
- Fear of success (I know it's dumb, but it's true),
- Lack of motivation, especially when you're a team of 2, one is always less motivated than the other.
I know I'm far from being the only one. Some can't find ideas, some never start, some never launch. The end result is the same, we never release anything.
So what changed?
After 10 years of thinking everyday "I will release an app soon", I guess I crossed the line and couldn't take it anymore. "Not this time", I kept thinking when I started working on my last project.
Yet, it almost failed again. I created the MVP in one week, the goal was to release it shortly after. But then, as usual, more features, more fine-stunning, new design, etc.
This time I was determined to launch it though. I desperately wanted to be able to say to myself "I launched a product". A mix of stubbornness, determination, and perseverance.
But the biggest change is probably that I became a father 2 years ago.
It significantly reduced my free time and pushed me to move forward instead of procrastinating. It also made me realize that time passes, and I didn't want to have regrets.
Now it's your turn!
My app may not be a success, but that's ok. The most important thing for me was to launch it, to prove myself I can do it, to break the curse.
I've been working on side projects non-stop for the past 10 years without ever releasing a single one. At one point, it was so ingrained in me that I was convinced I just couldn't do it.
I hope this post inspires and encourages others to work on and publish their side projects. You can do it.
If I, with a 2-year-old kid, could do it, you can too. Just find what drives you.
Show your support
If you want to, you can support me by upvoting the project on Product Hunt, sharing the news on your favorite social network or even (let's go crazy!) by buying the app.
Thanks for reading!