Tweets

A tweet from 2009. https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1258675166

Love this bit in @siddharthkp's article:

"It feels great to be at the top of the mountain. But if you want to climb the next, higher, mountain, you have to come down from the peak you're already on."

https://sid.studio/post/scratch/

You’ll become what you do today, tomorrow, the day after that...

Who here recently hit $5k MRR in the past 12 months?

I’m curious to see who the “up and coming” SaaS founders are.

(Reply here, or DM me)

Age 28 (2008)
- switched to a new career in tech (customer support)
- started blogging
- started on Twitter

Age 31
- worked my way up to Product Manager

Age 32
- started podcasting
- started working remote

Age 33
- first paid product (@megamaker)

My daughter researched and wrote this article on how Gen Z listens to podcasts.

It's good!

https://transistor.fm/gen-z/

Crypto folks: if you want to sell the rest of us on your vision for completely revamping global banking, geopolitical systems, and society, you’re going to need to start linking to academic research/journalism outside your bubble.

Otherwise, you’re just pushing religion. https://twitter.com/wtsnz/status/1434686888808534019

"The hardest part of running a software business is the business, not the software." – Dan, in @megamaker

How much of starting a successful business is luck?

I just spent the last 25 minutes trying to get wifi working in the cafe.

I don't know how digital nomads do it.

(I'll take my reliable, fast, office internet any day)

A full week without alcohol, and a six day streak at the gym! 🕺💃

"Giving a damn" about your customers is a huge competitive advantage.

Mega successful businesses all have one thing in common:

They nailed their positioning.

On Krypton, Superman is just a regular guy. But on earth, he’s a superhero.

The same applies to you.

In another context, your skills, knowledge, insights, and connections could be worth 100x more than they are now.

In one context you’re average, but in another you’re super.

@levelsio I just had an idea for PhotoAI:

The ability to generate photos of yourself speaking on stage with "authority and poise."

(This idea could probably also work for @dannypostmaa, but seemed a better fit for PhotoAI).

(Already got a few DMs about this)

I debated with @shl on the @IndieHackers podcast.

We’re highly shaped by who we follow, admire, and hold in high esteem.

This is why I think Indie Hackers should stop exalting Musk.

Worth a listen:
https://share.transistor.fm/s/0f2dcd76

Last minute decision to spend an hour up at @SilverStarMR (#vernonbc)

Worth it. 🙏

Sofware devs:

Apple, Google, Amazon, and other Big Tech Cos™ are now offering Sr. Software Developers salaries of $350k - $550k USD.

If you don't 200% love the idea of running your own company, optimizing your resume is probably a way better bet than becoming a founder.

Big megacorps are giving small businesses the shakedown:

1. Google will sell ads to your competitors for your business name and show those above you in search results.

2. Using the Gmail API? You now need to pay $15K to $75K for annual security audits.

If you’re thinking about making a podcast, I’d love to help get you started.

Feel free to message me if you need mic recommendations, or have other questions. ✌️

Wasn't sure if I was going to publish this one, but folks on my newsletter said I should:

"To get ahead, you need to make smart decisions, but anxiety puts you in a fog. So you fall down a lot, which makes you more desperate."

The cure:
https://justinjackson.ca/cure

@adamwathan Put that stand on a chain and wear it around your neck at the next Laracon. <flex>

How to spot a good product category:

"I just bought X."
"I just started doing X."
"I just switched from X to Y."
"My friend uses X, so I tried it."
"Using X, but want something like Y."
"X is better than anything else I've tried."
"It seems like everyone in my Slack is using X."

Should you delete your backlog?

Here’s the full episode with @jasonfried you’ve been waiting for:
https://overcast.fm/+MBmVnABf8

(just published now)

Five podcasts for bootstrappers:

👩‍💻 Bootstrapped Digest by @iamashley
⚔️ FoundersQuest by @honeybadgerapp
🎨 Art of Product by @r00k & @derrickreimer
🎙️ Build your SaaS by me & @jonbuda
📈 Startups for the Rest of Us by @robwalling & @SingleFounder

https://podcast.gift/

My inbox is filled with founders who got crushed by the VC monster:
- Unrealistic expectations for growth
- Heightened stress in order to meet investor expectations
- Insane working hours
- Toxic effect on relationships + family + health

https://twitter.com/sehurlburt/status/1063508633529462784

Our AirBnB in Edinburgh is 💯

Most folks just want the progress your product gives them.

They don't care if it's software, an Excel sheet, or a book.

Progress > form.

The real marketing secret is this:

When people find something they ♥ they can't keep the secret to themselves.

Make things people ♥.

See you @LaraconUS. I had an amazing time.

So nice to see so many friends again, and meet some great new people. ❤️

#laracon

One reason I like podcasts:

The world needs more "slow, mindful media."

Today's media depends on getting consumers algorithmically addicted to scrolling feeds by amplifying outrage, drama, and dopamine hits.

Podcasting is different: it's "slow media."

You have to take your…

I’ve already received a few DMs about this:

I had a pretty personal conversation with @csallen on the @IndieHackers podcast.

It got real.

You can listen here:

https://overcast.fm/+JmiPa_yek

If you believe that we're in a climate crisis, the biggest impact you can have (personally) is to stop flying.

"Taking one return flight generates more CO2 than citizens of some countries produce in a year."
– @niko_tinius reporting for @guardian https://twitter.com/mijustin/status/1212930860225163266

Instead of Bezos or Zuck earning another billion this year, I'd way rather see 10,000 indies earning $100k/year.

Podcasters need to hear this as well:

"Spotify wasn't created to help you make money; it was created to distribute your content [so Spotify and their shareholders can benefit from it]."

https://twitter.com/djboothEIC/status/1412412778195963904

🎙 In 2018 I co-founded @TransistorFM with Jon Buda.

A big part of our motivation was to build a better product for podcasters.

But from the beginning we were clear: we wanted the business to give *us* a better life.

✅ More freedom
✅ More calm
✅ And yes, more dough

Every time we start something new, we're making a bet.

We're risking our:

⏰ Time
💸 Money
🏃‍♂️ Energy

Every idea we commit to has huge opportunity costs.

For 🇨🇦 entrepreneurs, my USD to CAD conversion workflow:

(Add Transferwise as USD bank in PayPal)

1. Get paid in USD via PayPal
2. Send USD from PayPal to Transferwise
3. Wait for USD to be 📈
4. Convert USD to CAD on Transferwise
5. Transfer CAD to my Scotiabank CAD account

The EU is making the web worse.

The things I've done since I started my career 18 years ago are what brought me here today:

- The side projects I've made
- The articles I've written
- The podcasts I've recorded
- The events I've attended
- The people I've built relationships with
- The jobs I've worked

"Too many people's growth "strategy" is to submit to PH, close their eyes, and cross their fingers. Here's the right mindset: try lots of things, and don't expect to find some sort of magical set-it-and-forget-it growth hack." – @csallen, @IndieHackers

In 1994, these albums were released:

* Weezer - Blue Album
* Green Day - Dookie
* Offspring - Smash
* Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
* Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
* Rancid - Lets Go
* Bad Religion - Stranger Than Fiction
* Beck - Mellow Gold
* R.E.M. - Monster

I was 14.

WHAT.

Aaron is one of the most talented video creators on the web right now.

Hiring him will be a HUGE win for whoever is lucky enough to get him.

(especially if your company is looking to grow a YouTube channel on dev/database-related topics) https://twitter.com/aarondfrancis/status/1765430177746575367

A few questions for men:

1. How often do you buy clothes?
2. How do you decide on "your look?"
3. Do you follow anyone for style advice?
4. What's the last thing you bought?

(trying to get better at "fashion")

Agree or disagree?

“Developing as a successful entrepreneur can take years (and multiple attempts), but bootstrapping a profitable business shouldn’t take longer than 2-3 years.”

Also: I’m earning way more (as a bootstrapped founder) than I ever did as an employee at a VC-backed startup.

Bootstrapping generally has way more (realistically attainable) upside than playing the unicorn lottery.

Almost everyone orders the entree.
Some folks order appetizers.
A few will order dessert.

(If you’re building a product, I think it’s best to make the entree)

Your 1st step when starting a new project isn't to start coding.

Build a landing page with a waiting list instead!

https://twitter.com/ashokgelal/status/890431516102332416

This simple principle has changed the way I view product design:

Hard truth:

Just because you worked really hard on something, doesn't mean people will like it.

There are two groups that are massively undervalued in the startup ecosystem:

1. Good writers
2. Good support people

If you’ve been using @Alpine_JS, but want to go beyond the basics, check out @bookwyrm’s course:

https://exploringalpinejs.com/

💯

Here is my list of Calm Company attributes.

Am I missing any?

👉

These days, SaaS marketing is harder than ever.

How do you find good marketing channels these days?

A few thoughts:

1. The better you understand your industry or category, the more you'll know the best channels. With domain experience, you should have a good sense of the…

I wish I could purchase a “perpetuity” license for my domain names + DNS.

Holy crap.

Now on Twitter, you are no longer allowed to share links to other social media platforms.

You are no longer allowed to share your username for other social networks (Mastodon, Instagram, FB, etc).

You are no longer allows to use linktree.

https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/social-platforms-policy https://twitter.com/Support/status/1604531261791522817

More indie makers should start a blog, podcast, email newsletter!

Here are some ideas for projects you could start and how to earn revenue from them.

👉

In practice "move fast and break things" seems to result in a lot of broken things.

Mindful progress > Faster progress

@adamwathan @malfaitrobin Sweet. When this integration is ready let me know. 🤙

These massive corporations love implementing new policies that take away power from small players.

There's always going to be a policy.

The fact that some of you are *cheering* for Apple right now (a company that averages $1 billion in revenue per day) is just dark.

You need to meet more bootstrappers. 😄 https://twitter.com/rabois/status/1261031660973260801

We're planning on featuring more folks on the @buildyoursaas podcast who are early in their journey.

Today, @MrSimonBennett quit his full-time job and went full-time on @SnapShooterio! 🎉

Listen to how he made his decision here:
https://saas.transistor.fm/episodes/simon-is-going-full-time

✅ The best kind of marketing: targeting folks who are actively looking for a solution.

❌ The worst kind of marketing: convincing people who are standing still. Trying to pull the customer over to your side.

If you have a podcast, this is a good trick to remember. 😉

@sehurlburt Every Saturday morning I send an email to my list. I talk about bootstrapping, making computer stuff, and earning a living on the internet.

https://justinjackson.ca/newsletter

"Most successful product people had to go through multiple attempts before they found their current, 'winning' idea."

For example, in the last 15 years, ⁦@Shpigford⁩ built over 50 products. He didn't find Baremetrics right away. https://justinjackson.ca/hard-valuable

Tomorrow, I'll be releasing my first piece in a new series:

"How to fund your bootstrapped company (unconventionally)."

Really excited about it.

You can subscribe here 👉 http://justinjackson.ca/newsletter

Good products don't always win. Products with *distribution* win.

Long hours.
Lines of code.
Technical difficulty.
Development philosophy.
Popularity of the framework.

These don't give software its value.

"Don't do B2C, only focus on B2B."

For years, this mantra has been trumpeted in the bootstrapped SaaS community. I believe this advice lacks nuance.

Let's break it down 👉

Really enjoying @aarondfrancis and @ianlandsman's new game show:

"That's a suburb!" 🏡✅

What’s an email newsletter that you open almost every time they send?

What is it about the purpose, content, or structure of the newsletter that compels you to open it?

If you want to build your own indie software company, be deliberate about the effort you’re applying toward that goal.

There’s a lot of wisdom in @aarondfrancis’ idea of a “maximum effort era.”

Building a good indie business usually comes after a sustained period of work,…

They say "don't deploy on a Friday" but...

@joshuaanderton just deployed a new version of the homepage for @TransistorFM! 🎉

The idea was to "evolve" the design (instead of full redesign). I think Josh nailed it! 🙌

(I ❤️ the bold new hero section)

https://transistor.fm/

Took some photos on my walk to the office today. #vernonbc

Trust me: “make a podcast so good that people tell their friends about it” is a way better approach than “I hope the platform’s algorithm features my show.”

This tweet goes beyond hypocrisy.

The irony is so dense, so blatant, it doesn’t seem real.

It’s pure, disgusting ignorance.

ok but seriously, have any of you successfully taken off your shirt while wearing airpods.

In my experience, most people (including me!) rush to validate their assumptions far too quickly.

People take action too early.

It’s ok to let ideas marinate for a long time. 👌

Whoa 😲. It's pretty crazy holding this in my hand. 📕

Dear Twitter,

Follow Tumblr's lead here.

Sincerely,
Everyone watching an unused Twitter handle

Here is my 2023 year in review:

https://justinjackson.ca/2023-review/

I’ve been doing these for 10 years now! 🤯

Each year I describe my bootstrapping journey (both the breakthroughs and the struggles).

Really loving @blogstatic.

It's like Carrd, but for blogs. (At $19/year, the pricing is similar too!)

I've already switched two blogs over there, and I'll be switching more in the future. 👍

https://blogstatic.io/

How are you improving the indoor air quality in your home?

It feels like a lot of the excitement has left the @rails community, partly because we're missing those "build a blog in a day" type tutorials.

Love what @cjav_dev is doing here: "learn to build a gumroad-like platform with Rails, @tailwindui, @stripe."

https://youtu.be/uuHtuR2FFS4

I've got a projects folder with over 100 old projects.

Most of these failed.

And a few of them got me to where I am today.

What's surprising is how often I refer back to these old projects (and what I learned) to inform what I'm doing today.

It's my personal resource library.

Huge congrats to @adamwathan, @steveschoger, and the whole @tailwindcss team on this!! 🤯

Tailwind 3.0 looks amazing! 🎉

https://twitter.com/tailwindcss/status/1469011535569821702

Whenever you start a new project, you're actually bringing everything you've accumulated from past experiences to that new project.

Code snippets, design patterns, ideas, experiments that worked, connections... new projects are a patchwork of old bits.

Now that we’re emerging from the pandemic, I’ve noticed folks are already slowing down work-wise (in May), which doesn’t normally happen until late June/early July.

(At least, in the Northern Hemisphere)

People seem tired; want a break.

Just me? Anyone else noticing this?

If you’ve never had kids, you wouldn’t believe the amount of time I spend in grocery stores.

On the phone with an insurance company that's supposed to "get" SaaS and web apps.

They have ZERO understanding of what SaaS is.

"Are you an ISP?" No.
"Do you build custom software for customers?" No.
"Do you provide IT services?" Like installing routers? No!

HOLY SHIT

https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/19/21263927/joe-rogan-spotify-experience-exclusive-content-episodes-youtube

One thing about podcasting, speaking, writing: we really are touching people's lives.

When we share our experience, vulnerably, it can have a significant impact on others.

Our words can help folks think differently, act differently, and try new experiments.

(Words matter!)

I was a solopreneur for years. I liked the freedom to move quickly.

But...

It's been unbelievably helpful to have a cofounder (@jonbuda) who questions my assumptions before we make decisions for @TransistorFM. 💯

Prof. Glen Urban's framework for building trust:

1. Confidence ("I believe what you say")
2. Competence ("I believe you have the skills to do what you say")
3. Benevolence ("I believe you're acting on my behalf")

(from @pjrvs' book, Company of One)

Just shared four of my favorite business quotes from @peldi, @sivers, @hnshah, @jasonfried on my @producthunt AMA: #comment-531063" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.producthunt.com/live/justin-jackson#comment-531063

Nice! My book @marketingdevs is currently #1 on @ProductHunt!

Thanks everyone! 👏

https://www.producthunt.com/posts/marketing-for-developers-2-0

Many of you will remember Ferdinand, a CompSci grad, who approached me looking for his first tech job.

I told him I’d fund a “summer project”: a full SaaS built with @laravelphp that we would build together.

Today, we’re launching it on @ProductHunt!

https://www.producthunt.com/posts/swagfan

“Don’t do B2C.”
“Low pricing means customer support nightmares.”
“It’s really hard to get 5,000 customers; better to pursue a biz model that only needs 500.”

None of these tropes are universally true, and more importantly, might not be true for you!

Finally back on the mountain.