Going it Alone - SchnitzelConf 2010

A presentation from SchnitzelConf 2010 about the trials and tribulations of a solo founder of a hosted web application.

It addressed some high-level experiences from my first two years trying to build up a SaaS business to a full-time job.

Transcript

1. Going it Alone
   Staying sane as a solo founder.
   *
   

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2. *
   

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3. 2003 2011
   Launch
   Dream
   Quit
   Full-time
   Beta
   2008
   

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4. 2003 2011
   Launch
   Dream
   Quit
   Full-time
   Beta
   2008
   

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5. 2003 2011
   Launch
   Dream
   Quit
   Full-time
   Engaged
   Wedding
   House
   Honeymoon
   Beta
   2008
   

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7. http://www.flickr.com/photos/athoos/1085958611/
   

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9. Learn to multitask.
   A good day is only
   slightly chaotic.
   

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10. Learn new things.
    Welcome to the
    discomfort zone.
    

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11. Support is your
    feedback loop.
    Rarely convenient.
    Always useful.
    

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12. Set expectations.
    For their sake and yours.
    

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13. Set yourself up.
    Nothing beats automation
    and remote administration.
    

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14. Get mobile.
    Problems don’t won’t wait for
    you to be at your desk.
    

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15. Don’t worry.
    Emergencies rarely are.
    

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16. Invest in monitoring.
    Monitoring tools are the new
    co-founders.
    

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17. Think
    long-term.
    Rome wasn’t
    built in a day.
    

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18. Reach out.
    Other founders are like
    virtual support groups.
    

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19. Take care of yourself.
    Remember, you’re a
    single point of
    failure now.
    

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20. Friends &
    Family rule.
    They are the next best
    thing to co-founders.
    

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22. Prepare for bad days.
    Just pick yourself up.
    

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24. Celebrate.
    All work and no play...
    

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25. Thanks.
    garrett@nextupdate.com
    @garrettdimon
    http://sifterapp.com
    

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