My latest entrepreneurial endeavors about creating new products has been rewarding. There is so much to learn, understand and explore to find an idea, worth all the effort and so much important to me. I personally experienced a constant surge of determination when trying to make products such as Docs9 and 5w1h. Under a healthy blanket of tension, there is something wonderful of having accomplished these. I have realized strongly that something, anything if it means important to you is always worth pursuing for.
I learnt alot. Most important, I am learning about how to keep the main thing the main thing. I find it so easy to get lost in details when you are on top of creating a product. The good news is that all of this is do-able. Even at a small pace, even in tiny amounts the focus on main thing is important. The focus, as I call it, is the sole reason for all of your efforts. It could be a purpose, a reason, a burning desire, or simply put – an unconscious drive you feel, but cannot quite articulate. Whatever your definition, keeping your focus in sight immensely helps supporting your motivation and determination in your pursuit to achieve what you are set for.
For example, I love technology. What more can be done with technology, is more interesting for me. My focus, as I believe now, is to make something out of technology, whatever that is. I set out to create my first product Docs9 – https://www.docs9.com/, and then the next one 5w1h – https://www.5w1h.co/ both with the same burning desire to make something useful out of technology. When I say ‘something’, I want to explain that it should be useful in some sense to others. The benefit that it would give to someone using it, or what someone can achieve by using it. In the world of technology, the benefits could be time-saving, entertainment, or financial.
When I set out with Docs9, my whole focus was providing a simple, easy to use presentation platform. I wanted to have a platform that gives sharing a presentation the sole precedence. Nothing else. I resisted hard to provide (and inadvertently) repeat the temptation to provide editing, provide attachments and what other features I could simply cram into making another product that already exists in market. This hasn’t been easy, especially when introducing my product to someone. It usually enters into an implicit comparison with a similar product they already heard about. It becomes a sort of mental barrier for them to see through that frame of mind into my product and understand my motive behind the idea of collaboration through dialogue. Perhaps I could be exaggerating my bit, but I often get the impression that most of us think what we want isn’t really what we actually want. Most of what we want is a like watching through a stained glass and believing that what you see is true.
On the positive side, there have been growing number of signups on Docs9, which is a great motivational boost for a young entrepreneur like myself, to believe that out there are users who see the side of collaboration. It feels great to be able to offer something of benefit to those, and keep persevering not just for sake of gratification but also for a sense of worth you believe you can do. This is my definition, not certainly what I want to borrow from what is generalized opinion of accomplishment. Put in other words, this is accomplishment as I see fit, and it makes my determination stronger. The (whole) point is that if you set to believe what you can achieve, then the best way is to find out is yourself. Right or wrong, success or failure comes after, not before you’ve tried what you really wanted to do.
5w1h has been a different game altogether. I set out to do it not for any particular benefit at all. I just wanted to do it for myself. I just felt that I had to do it. I started with a simple one to one chat, then did this, then did that, then again did this, then again did that. At some point I was confused. At some point I felt to just leave it. But something was nagging, some dissatisfaction kept me pushing to do it, finish it, complete it. That is exactly what I did. One thing I have learnt while on Docs9 is to be able to trust your own self. Inspite of anything that would try to get in the way, I kept my focus on one simple thing – I want to do it. Whether it makes sense now (or ever), I believe that towards the end 5w1h has come up nicely together.
I was happy to be able to get 5w1h out, satisfied of my work. Like an artist admires his art, I admire my work and feel happy about it. Same is the way I admire Docs9. I feel great about making Docs9, and judging by the steady signups, I believe that others feel the same way too.
I jumped the entrepreneurship bandwagon with pure entrepreneurial spirit. I do not know where the journey will end, but I know where to start.
No matter what, I will continue. No matter how, I will persevere. I think therefore I am.