I've recently had a wake-up call that I've been approaching app development all wrong. I thought I could just start with a cool idea, code it up, and people would flock to it. But boy, was I mistaken.
See, I love coding. I mean, I really love it. The rush of solving problems, exploring new frameworks, and diving deep into projects to see things from a different angle – that's my thang. It's like how Steph Curry must feel when he drains a three-pointer in front of a leaping defender. When I hit that run button and my code comes to life, it's pure magic.
But here's the thing: being a coding wizard doesn't automatically make you a business guru. I learned that the hard way with my app, TruthTorch. I poured my heart and soul into it, thinking that if I built it, people would come. I put up a landing page, sent out emails, and even offered free video chats. But crickets. A few people used it once and then vanished. Only one person took me up on the offer to chat.
It was a tough reality check. I realized I needed to focus on understanding the problem I'm solving, the size of the market, and the deep-seated needs and fears of my target users. I've been lucky to connect with some folks online who've given me valuable feedback on improving my product. It's clear that I need to validate my assumptions and hone in on a specific niche before going all-in on development.
I've been diving into books like "$100M Offers" and "Start Small, Stay Small," which preach the gospel of targeting a smaller market, using one main advertising channel, and having a single delivery method. It's all about building a sustainable business that can pay the bills and then scaling from there.
Looking back, I've realized that being an entrepreneur is more than just having a slick idea or mad coding skills. It's about truly understanding your customers, testing your assumptions, and delivering real value to a specific audience. It's about starting lean, staying focused, and being ready to pivot and learn from your failures.
As I move forward, I'm all-in on applying these lessons to my future projects. I'm going to put in the time to talk with potential users, soak up their feedback, and iterate on my product based on their insights. I'll zero in on solving a specific problem for a well-defined niche and deliver my product through a single, dialed-in channel.
This journey has been a roller coaster, but it's also been incredibly fulfilling. I've grown as both a coder and an entrepreneur, and I've learned the power of perseverance, flexibility, and always being ready to learn. I've learned to embrace failure as a chance to level up and to surround myself with a tribe of fellow entrepreneurs who've got my back.
So to all my fellow coders out there who dream of turning their skills into a thriving business, here's my advice: start small, stay laser-focused, and never stop learning. Embrace the challenges and setbacks as opportunities to grow, and always put your customers at the heart of everything you do. With grit and a commitment to delivering value, you can turn your love for coding into an entrepreneurial success story.