Reflection/Evaluation CoderMatching so far

• Evaluation after not completing 100DaysOfCode absolutely focused on CoderMatching
• eventually a letter to my future self

What went well?

• first 2-3 months (until mid-feb/beginning-march) well focused -> Django: build „MVP“ + Deployment: Publish MVP with Heroku, GitHub
  • focused on that topic: 100DaysOfCode: focus CoderMatching
  • even if slow and hard progress: steady
  • find like-minded communities to ask for help if got stuck (Eddiehub🙌, (Twitter, other discord channels))
  • somewhat clear goal (without pressure): deploy MVP (within 100DaysOfCode)
• after 3 month: productivity decreased:
  • too much time for details of subjects:
    • GitHub and Git deployment and workflow (after actually having set up a basic work flow)
      • tried to standardize processes to early?! Focus to much on workflow rather then actual work/project
      • tried to be to perfectionist with commit messages, branches etc?!
    • then HTML (~2 weeks for one tutorial)

What helped me to be productive (before decreasement of productivity)?

• focus on ONE main topic (CoderMatching without pressure)
  • eliminiate almost all distractions (empty calender, not many other responsibilities)
• low pressure: not tied to incredibly huge goals (financial freedom in the long run (10-15 years), not now (1-3 years))
• having realistic and embracing awareness of „what’s (not) possible in short-term compared to what’s possible in the long run“
  • see long-term profitability of ONE thing (learn programming to build projects and own business)
  • welcome opportunity
  • value opportunity to land a job and get paid on the job to learn what I need to build my own online business
    • belief that I could gain a good life style and an additional side project
    • satisfied by the opportunity to get a flexible job (eventually) with potentially nice colleagues and building a side-project to become a profitable company in the long run
• fun: programming was fun
• grant other people their success and have been certain that their success wouldn’t reduce mine
  • may optimally even increase my success and vice versa
  • mindset and strong believe in joint growth👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 over lonely success and competition

What decreased my productivity (What changed)?

• overwhelming difficulty level of coding – gap between what I was able to create after 3-4 month compared to what I want to create
• lost focus (didn’t focus to improve CoderMatching anymore)
  • rather tried to improve other seeminlgy related skills by working on tutorials rather than trying to find solutions and improve CoderMatching itself
• finding out that quite many people (on tech twitter) are working on online businesses
  • short-term: huge motivation to see Pieter Levels (and also other people) succeed so greatly
  • feeling huge competition
  • feeling that I couldn’t build such great projects as others do
  • feeling: don’t have outreach to market a product and find customers – even if I had a great product
    • confirmation by many posts on indiehacker tech twitter: basic message: „Marketing is everything; even if you have a great product you may fail if you don’t have great marketing“
  • realization: need way more skills (feeling that I lacked all skilles needed)
    • don’t know how to build a product
    • don’t know how to market a product
    • don’t know how to measure success
    • uncertaintly: „Shouldn’t I yet still do an MBA to get the marketing and business knowledge to build a profitable company?“
  • unwillingness to work in an employment relationship
• doubts
  • physical pain: from the beginning; meanwhile even worse (fingers, hands, wrists, shoulder, neck, (head))!
  • physical inability: type speed to slow to be successful developer at all – or better an indiehacker!!!?
  • does programming and building these kind of companies really bring me to my dream destination? (needs-oriented, sustainable, local (permaculture) community = friends)
• (covid infection interrupted habits)
• several job rejections
  • realization that I didn’t learn as quick as I hoped (not even able to get a programming job after almost 6 month)
  • „Will I ever be able to land a coding job? Maybe I should just take another job.“
• meanwhile don’t want a job anymore but eagerly mad want freedom at any price
  • meanwhile not much peace anymore
    • perception: need to build business now! need to learn everything now (coding, UX/UI design, marketing: build plenty of marketing channels on every social media platform, business development: lean methods, validation, feedback analysis, …)
      • while not even having a job
• no job anymore (freelance client which gave basic income for few monthly workhours (~40-60) quit)
  • didn’t learn valuable skills there anyway
• programming not really fun anymore but rather exhausting, pointless and boring
  • want to do other things (but don’t even know what – maybe real estate?)

Which solutions/opportunities do I see now?

• Build social media presence to increase/maximize outreach and help people
  • provide a valuable platform to help people honestly and altruistically
    • help connect people and facilitate relationships👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
    • don’t focus on own profit but rather on helping people!! (Keep in mind: That’s what motivates you most and gives you power intrinsically!)
    • own profit may come if your successfully help others!
  • to brand/market myself/me/my project(s) – as recommended by GaryVee’s Crushing it!
  • if you manage to brand yourself and gain outreach you’ll become trusted (and you’ll be able to either sell other peoples products or your own – if you want)

Doubts/down sides about potential opportunities

• In „Crushing it!“ Gary Vee says that if you want to reach exceptional success in life you need to make exceptional compromises
  • feel like I couldn’t make these exceptional compromises (dangerous: diverge from friends😱 + fear burnout)

What could be improved?

• make long term plans and break them down
• take and schedule time to revise plans and eventually pivot – reguarly (once a month??)
  • make sure you don’t end up in a phase where you don’t have clear plans how to go on
  • be aware whether you are currently in a situation of unlcear plans
    • if you realize that you are -> take the time and freedom to revise your plans, to be productive and happy again faster

What helped/motivated me in the beginning of CoderMatching

• altruism: didn’t just make it for myself: thought make project open source, just to learn coding, to connect with people
  • -> didn’t just make it for me & the money: did it for myself but ESPECIALLY also for other people: help people connect and create great projects👨‍👩‍👧‍👦, businesses etc
  • did it to get a job
  • belief: could make an open source project which is profitable at the same time
• did it to connect myself and other people with people👨‍👩‍👧‍👦
  • did it for people not for the money -> motivation
• clear focus on scope
  • Webprojects with Django -> Focus clearly Django -> specialize and become proficient in Django
• perception that I don’t need to accomplish financial freedom and build a business NOW
  • had the peace to teach myself programming, eventually get a job in that field and on the side (long run) build a business
• -> get the peace back: relax🧘‍♀️, you have time! But keep it up persistantly! Persistence is key‼‼🔁
  • you don’t need to accomplish the end goal now-now
  • but please start to work on in persistently🔁 over a long period of time publically🎤 (to be somewhat accountable + to validate what you do + to actually help others!)
    • no matter what you decide to do for a living or otherwise!
    • or do it until you reach the point where you are able to focus on that (because it pays living expenses)
• -> good question for future: What helps/helped you to focus calmly and aware?