How we built Dojo Learning - part 6

This is the final part of a series of posts about how we built Dojo Learning (part one, two, three, four and five).

Software is easy to start, hard to finish

Persistence and hard work are the key to succeeding in software as in most things. If you can maintain the persistence, you'll keep going until you've made your wrong idea into a right one through subsequent iterations.

When we started Dojo, despite it being my 3rd company we still figured we could get something up and running in no time. We quickly discovered we had a much bigger idea on our hands than we originally thought, which is usually the case.

If one thing is true of starting a company, it's that no matter how much work you think it will be, it will be more than that. So find ways to keep motivated and keep each other going, because you'll need it. And if you survive long enough, it means you didn't fail. It means you've bought yourself enough time to get it right, and to make something people truly want and love. Something you can be proud of for the rest of your life.

My last point on Dojo is one way I keep motivated and keep going when things don't go according to plan or when problems arise, as they always do.

Take a step back

Stepping back puts things in perspective. It helps you see the forest for the trees, helps expose imbalances in your work habits that aren't sustainable, and helps you truly appreciate what you're building and who you're building it with and for. Taking a step back helps keep you motivated too, which is critical in a startup.

There's something deeply personal about building a startup. For me, I look at it like writing an album or a book. You pour your heart and soul into a startup. You put in unquantifiable hours. You wake up after dreaming of new ideas and go to bed way too late trying to fix one last bug. And it's the nature of software that much of this happens in your head, alone.

In teams, it's something that brings you closer to another person in a way that few things do. Because of the risks and the ups and downs, you're exposed and your character shows to each other. Bad habits can kill startups, and dying startups often kill friendships too as a result. That's another risk you take in a startup. You face uphill battles, substantial difficulty, and that's something that win or lose you share as a team.

Taking a step back has helped me realize what an amazing thing Les and I have accomplished over the past year or so, and as much as it's been hard work it's also been a privilege to work alongside someone like Les and get to know him in this way.

We started out as acquaintances who would sit in the corner and geek out over technology at parties, teamed up on some projects together (Les hooked me up with a few really sweet clients, who have been awesome to work with too!), and then somehow we decided starting a new startup together was the thing to do. Funny how things work out, but taking a step back helps me fully appreciate it all for the amazing experience it's been so far.

I can't recommend starting a company enough - I'm hooked - but make sure that if and hopefully when you do, you step back enough to realize and appreciate the ride.

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