Dev.to

How To Start a Startup

I know it sounds funny... But seriously, people start and bring startups to success. Even as individuals, on their own. Yes - This Is Possible. Moment of Decision All you need is that one moment of decision. I'll describe in this post two main things: Explain the mental "trick" to overcome obstacles. Explain technical "todo" to implement your goal. 1. Mental Trick to overcome obstacles Try it on something you might think impossible - stop drinking sugary drinks. including those with artifical sweeteners. Decide right now that you switch to water only instead of some sweet drink you normally drinks. You don't have to say I'll start by tomorrow or after this weekend etc. Decide right now - this moment - that you only drink water instead. Clean Clear Fresh Water Only. And That's It! From now on, You will see you never want that sweet drink. Simply because you have decided - You intentionally, conciously brought this decision to your attention. So now you are in control. Not your biology, not you impulses, not even your brain. And it is not even a "fight" anymore - because once you have intentionally decided - other factors of your personality have no "say" anymore. In fact, you became more alive then you were before. Why? think of the opposite - what's alive but has no control of it's biology? So the more in control you are on your biology - the more alive you are - the more happy and joy you gain from life! There are levels of livelyhood! So why is it difficult for many to overcome such obstacles? Simple: My brain is not me! My brain is also a biologicl tool that I use. If I'm in control - I will use my brain to serve me. If I'm not in control - my biology - my impulses - will use my brain to serve them. "You're a Slave Neo. Born into bondage." (The Matrix) Therefore, the smarter I am, the more intelligent I am - my biology - my impulses - uses my brain so they have a stronger tool to convince me to serve them. So the solution is to bring the decision to my attention - to intentionally decide that all my bilogical powers starts to serve me! I am drinkning only fresh water from now on. You completely remove the "debate" between yourself and your brain - because you have decided. (That wisdom free us from any kind of "slavery" making us all better people, more alive and happy. No matter what nation you belong to, I'm sure you'll find that wisdom deep in your tradition and laws of your culture. I'm just telling what I know of my Israeli way which stems deep in our Jewish laws and tradition and I guess it's no surprise I write this days before we celebrate "Pesach" our free from slavery holiday) So the first step - Decide you're starting to implement your dream Today! Now! This Moment! All successful saas, products, gadgets, inventions exists because someone first decided to start it! 2. TODO Set a Top Goal. Set a top goal and break it down to sub goals - That will beautifuly - almost automatically - define your tasks. Your goal will change on the way - probably many times - that's fine! So you'll shift your sub goals and those will introduce different tasks but you will always follow a clear path. A plan. Time is your paramount resource - not money! To develop on your own, time is top priority. Developing daily keeps you in context, saving you time. What to do first? what to keep for later? You will feel the "urge" to implement and actually "code" the parts you have experience and comfortable with. That's natural and necessary to create a proof of concept for yourself so you can feel how your idea actually runs. But, don't postpone to much those things you have no experience with, or no idea how to implement. Those might cause huge redesigns, in some cases starting everything from scratch. So you can start with a minimal POC with the technologies you know, keeping in mind all might be a "throw away code". Then, move right away to tackle those "unknown variables" - implement them even as minimal proof of concept - just so you'll not have design or architectural surprises when you implementing them fully. For example, if you're not familiar with role based access controll, explore at least a minimal permissions logic based on the logged in user role, learn about the tools in your programming language supporting that and implement a minimal POC, having that "box" checked. Maintain "Backlog" Innovative Features You will feel the "urge" to explorer new ideas while you develop you main idea. That's nice. But remember Gladiator: "Hold the Line! Stay with Me!" - Stay in controll - In the path of your goal. Your main goal is to launch as soon as possible. You will want you product or service to be perfect as you don't want to introduce a "buggy" product. Therefore, stick to the basic idea - this will save you time, allow you to release a perfectly robust product. The other innovative featur

Apr 8, 2025 - 13:40

I know it sounds funny...

But seriously, people start and bring startups to success.
Even as individuals, on their own. Yes - This Is Possible.

Moment of Decision

All you need is that one moment of decision.

I'll describe in this post two main things:

Explain the mental "trick" to overcome obstacles.
Explain technical "todo" to implement your goal.

1. Mental Trick to overcome obstacles

Try it on something you might think impossible - stop drinking sugary drinks. including those with artifical sweeteners.

Decide right now that you switch to water only instead of some sweet drink you normally drinks.
You don't have to say I'll start by tomorrow or after this weekend etc.

Decide right now - this moment - that you only drink water instead. Clean Clear Fresh Water Only.
And That's It!

From now on, You will see you never want that sweet drink.
Simply because you have decided - You intentionally, conciously brought this decision to your attention.
So now you are in control. Not your biology, not you impulses, not even your brain.

And it is not even a "fight" anymore - because once you have intentionally decided - other factors of your personality have no "say" anymore.

In fact, you became more alive then you were before.
Why? think of the opposite - what's alive but has no control of it's biology?

So the more in control you are on your biology - the more alive you are - the more happy and joy you gain from life!
There are levels of livelyhood!

So why is it difficult for many to overcome such obstacles?
Simple: My brain is not me! My brain is also a biologicl tool that I use.
If I'm in control - I will use my brain to serve me.
If I'm not in control - my biology - my impulses - will use my brain to serve them.

"You're a Slave Neo. Born into bondage."

(The Matrix)

Therefore, the smarter I am, the more intelligent I am - my biology - my impulses - uses my brain so they have a stronger tool to convince me to serve them.

So the solution is to bring the decision to my attention - to intentionally decide that all my bilogical powers starts to serve me! I am drinkning only fresh water from now on.

You completely remove the "debate" between yourself and your brain - because you have decided.

(That wisdom free us from any kind of "slavery" making us all better people, more alive and happy. No matter what nation you belong to, I'm sure you'll find that wisdom deep in your tradition and laws of your culture. I'm just telling what I know of my Israeli way which stems deep in our Jewish laws and tradition and I guess it's no surprise I write this days before we celebrate "Pesach" our free from slavery holiday)

So the first step - Decide you're starting to implement your dream Today! Now! This Moment!
All successful saas, products, gadgets, inventions exists because someone first decided to start it!

2. TODO

Set a Top Goal.

Set a top goal and break it down to sub goals - That will beautifuly - almost automatically - define your tasks.
Your goal will change on the way - probably many times - that's fine!
So you'll shift your sub goals and those will introduce different tasks but you will always follow a clear path. A plan.

Time is your paramount resource - not money!

To develop on your own, time is top priority.
Developing daily keeps you in context, saving you time.

What to do first? what to keep for later?

You will feel the "urge" to implement and actually "code" the parts you have experience and comfortable with.
That's natural and necessary to create a proof of concept for yourself so you can feel how your idea actually runs.
But, don't postpone to much those things you have no experience with, or no idea how to implement.
Those might cause huge redesigns, in some cases starting everything from scratch.

So you can start with a minimal POC with the technologies you know, keeping in mind all might be a "throw away code".

Then, move right away to tackle those "unknown variables" - implement them even as minimal proof of concept - just so you'll not have design or architectural surprises when you implementing them fully.

For example, if you're not familiar with role based access controll, explore at least a minimal permissions logic based on the logged in user role, learn about the tools in your programming language supporting that and implement a minimal POC, having that "box" checked.

Maintain "Backlog" Innovative Features

You will feel the "urge" to explorer new ideas while you develop you main idea.
That's nice. But remember Gladiator: "Hold the Line! Stay with Me!" - Stay in controll - In the path of your goal.

Your main goal is to launch as soon as possible.
You will want you product or service to be perfect as you don't want to introduce a "buggy" product.

Therefore, stick to the basic idea - this will save you time, allow you to release a perfectly robust product.

The other innovative features will come later - and on a solid base!

Technically Running Product is Not the End

Keep in mind you will need time to spread the word and understand no matter how revolutinary you service is, most users are "stuck" with the familiar.

Sticking with the good old familiar that is proven to be good is wise! Unless our familiar is wrong.
And sticking to the familiar when it's wrong - even when we see a proof in front of our eyes - is one way of letting habbits control us. (slavery anyone?)

So most users will not try your revolutinary service.
It's those open minded users who likes techonology, who like exploring new ideas that will be the first to enjoy your idea and spread the word. Show your appreciation - give them back.

Lastly, Explore your own culture wisdom

I'm sure deep in your won culture there is a vast common knowledge sometimes hidden as tradition and holidays - these are golden treasures! I encourage you to seriously learn your traditions and embrace them to our modern times.

It is both tradition and innovation that empower success.

Respectfully yours,
David.