Some people are starters. Others are finishers.
I fall into the former. I love starting things. I love the beginning stages of building.
The rush of creating something from nothing and seeing people find value in that something is invigorating. It’s addicting.
The problem with being a starter is that I often struggle to finish what I start. I get so caught up in the excitement of starting something new that I lose interest once the initial novelty wears off. This has led to a trail of half-finished projects and unrealized potential. It's a constant battle to stay focused and see things through to completion. The contrast between starters and finishers is stark. Finishers have the discipline and determination to persevere through the challenges and obstacles that inevitably arise.
They possess the ability to see the bigger picture and prioritize long-term success over short-term gratification. As a starter, I envy their consistency and tenacity.
My current project Cartfuel, which started in late 2021, is going into it’s third year. But it has never gone past 3k/mrr. It’s kinda dead to be honest.
But deep down I still believe that there is something here to build…hoping that this is the ticket to freedom. Time freedom and money freedom that I’ve been looking for my entire life.
I’ll be 30 this year and I no longer have the advantage of young age.
I can't afford to keep starting new projects without seeing them through.
This makes me wonder, should I stop Cartfuel altogether and begin something new? Something that has more fire, larger distribution and a business model that scales well?
Or do I become the finisher that Cartfuel needs, even if it fails?
This decision is haunted by two specific readings:
- Nathan Barry from Convertkit who was in a similar position as me decided to go SUPER niche and find his footing and had a breakout. Now he does multiple seven figures per year in revenue.
- This tweet that Jason Fried created: https://x.com/jasonfried/status/1739693296283480337?s=20
Businesses just need to stay afloat and I;ve been able to do that for the last three years. But now I need to decide if I want to settle for just staying afloat or if I want to push for something more. It's a tough choice to make. On one hand, I could start something new and potentially find success on a larger scale. On the other hand, I could continue working on Cartfuel and try to turn it into a thriving business, even if it means facing the possibility of failure.
It's a decision that requires careful consideration and weighing the pros and cons. I need to think about what I truly want and what will bring me the most fulfillment.
Regardless of what I decide, I know that being a starter will always be a part of who I am.