Transitioning to Full-Time Entrepreneurship: My Journey to Formable
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Chapter 1: The Decision to Go Full-Time
After experimenting with my project for some time, I've made the leap to commit fully. This narrative outlines the steps I took to reach this pivotal moment. Primarily, I’m documenting my experiences for my own reflection and to clarify my future direction. It’s also a chance to re-establish my writing habit, which has slipped since my last initiative, Find Better Questions.
While I lack a definitive strategy for detailing my progress with this venture, I’m starting here. If it proves unhelpful to anyone else, at least it aids me in organizing my thoughts. I’m now dedicating myself entirely to Formable after spending three years at Meister, working on MeisterTask.
Interestingly, I feel as though I’ve returned to a similar phase I experienced three years ago, which is somewhat disconcerting. I sense a bit of rustiness in my startup skills. This may stem from the overwhelming nature of launching a new project, but I’m also out of practice. I haven’t penned many articles, engaged in UI design, or structured my day effectively. I’m even debating whether to use British or American spelling. Am I overanalyzing these details? Perhaps revisiting an article I wrote in 2018 could assist me in planning my schedule.
Section 1.1: Discovering the Power of Relationships
In the spring of 2015, I encountered Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People. A key takeaway was to cultivate a genuine interest in others, including remembering their names. This inspired me to explore how technology could aid in nurturing relationships.
Subsection 1.1.1: Creating a Unique Solution
Recognizing the lack of existing software to facilitate this, I began designing my own. My vision was to create a journaling app that would allow users to access entries by date or by referenced individuals, making data entry more intuitive.
Section 1.2: The Competitive Landscape
When I developed Votre, I wasn’t aware of any competitors. However, after some market research, I soon found others addressing similar needs. Notably, in 2017, Monica gained traction on Hacker News, demonstrating a strong interest in personal relationship management solutions. This realization brought both motivation and a sense of urgency.
Despite competing offerings emerging, many personal CRMs struggled to find success over the years, and I hadn’t even transitioned Votre out of beta. The landscape is still evolving, and while there are no outstanding success stories in this sector, I found value in the competition.
Chapter 2: The Evolution of Formable
After using Votre, I discovered its potential for broader applications beyond relationship management. This realization prompted me to develop a versatile tool with robust features.
The first video, 7 Things I Did Before Quitting My Job To Become A Full Time Entrepreneur, explores essential steps taken prior to committing fully to entrepreneurship, offering valuable insights for anyone contemplating a similar path.
The second video, When is it time to LEAVE YOUR JOB (7 clues), highlights key indicators that may signal it's time to transition from a regular job to pursuing entrepreneurship.
My aim is to merge various productivity tools into one cohesive platform. As I rebranded to Formable, I set out to create a tool that integrates all my ideas into one user-friendly experience. Formable will allow users to customize their tools through various views and automations.
The Tools for Thought Market
I initially perceived Notion as a competitor, but it lacked the comprehensive capabilities I envisioned for Formable. Competitor research revealed various similar platforms, including Airtable and Coda. The launch of Roam on Product Hunt in early 2020 intensified my focus and ambition.
Formable is envisioned to encompass a range of functionalities, evolving from a singular user experience to a multi-user platform capable of fostering creativity.
What Can You Learn from My Experience?
This has always been my passion project, one I continually return to despite exploring other ventures. The financial success of either Votre or Formable has been uncertain, yet my enthusiasm for this project remains unwavering. I believe that a strong product-founder fit is crucial, and pursuing what truly excites you can lead to fulfillment.
As my journey unfolds, I invite you to follow along via my Twitter or subscribe to my newsletter for updates.