Reader question: Why go solo? Would you recommend it?
Hi Budi, I'm curious why you decided to go solo, why the team didn’t work, and would you recommend others to go solo as well?
Hi friends, this is Budi. Gracia, the reader of this newsletter, dropped a comment on the previous post. So I dedicated this post to answer her question! Feel free to upgrade to support me as an indie maker.
Q: Hi Budi, I'm curious why you decided to go solo, why the team didn’t work, and would you recommend others to go solo as well?
Hello Gracia, thanks for asking that question.
Let's go back to the late 2023. I wanted to bootstrap a small team. Independent from investors. Ideally, we can always build more products if the team is solid. Be profitable and have a good time.
Well, it was hard.
First, finding a great co-founder is extremely hard. A partner who shares similar values and motivation is rare. For example, one of the ex-co-founders always worries about failing. As a result, whenever we design a feature, he always wants to cut the scope. While I understand the importance of small MVP, sometimes you want to put effort into making the product loveable and stand out. This is just one example among many other issues I experienced.
As a result, we parted ways, and I spent 3 months with mild depression, looking for another new co-founder (haha). It was not fun. I was like: "Damn, I wish I live in Silicon Valley so that I can meet with great people." I was desperate.
Why did I decide to go solo? While looking for a new co-founder, I kept asking myself, "Why do I need this co-founder?" I always answered, "Well, because I can't code."
Then, I decided to learn programming. I spent two months learning the fundamentals as a “full-time student.” I enjoyed it, which is why I decided to go solo.
To give you some context. I'm at a point where I don't need to work for money. Sure, I can always earn more, but I have enough savings invested to provide me enough. Also, my living costs are low ( under $800 per month).
I'm at a stage where I want to focus on doing something I genuinely like. My dream in the next 5 years is to build beautiful apps. At some point, I'd love to make a game as well. So, acquiring programming skills is a massive benefit.
With this context, I want to answer the last part of the question.
Would I recommend others go solo? I'm not sure. There were many moments when I wanted to give up. So it's not all rainbows and happy stars. Doubts will always appear out of nowhere: "Can I do this?"
I would say it's a lifestyle. Being a solo maker is a lifestyle choice.
All I can share is some pros of going solo:
Creative freedom. You can make decisions without needing approval from others. I believe this allows you to create something unique. Look at Stardew Valley, a game that one person built. It's so unique because the developer has complete control.
No meetings or debates. You avoid consensus decisions.
No team management hassles. You can focus on your motivation
Lower cost means there is no need to split revenue.
You can pursue your passion.
Skill development because you have to do everything yourself.
There are many ways to be successful. For example, Airbnb started with three co-founders. But because I couldn't find anyone, I chose this path. It fits with my personality and lifestyle. My happiness index is getting better too :)
Budi
with a warm handshake in thought
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Interesting! If you don’t mind me asking, what efforts you think are key to reach a point where you no longer need to work for money?