Let’s break down some common advice and see what actually works…
“Ship fast, build fast, learn fast, fail fast”
Yeah, moving quickly is good, but here’s the truth: putting zero effort into something WILL show. The days of easy money are gone – people won’t throw cash at random stuff anymore. Do your homework, talk to actual humans, find real insights. Don’t just build and hope for the best.
“Launch with minimal features”
Look, I get it. But you don’t get a second chance at first impressions. Would you eat at a half-built restaurant? Neither would your customers. Sure, reduce scope if you need to, but whatever you ship better be spotless. People are trusting you with their money – act like it.
“No sales? Next project!”
NO. Just… NO.
This might be the worst advice I’ve seen. You don’t spend 6 months building something just to give up after a week without sales. And here’s what everyone forgets: marketing isn’t something you do AFTER building. It takes time to find your market and shape your product to fit it. Nobody cares that you shipped – it’s YOUR job to find people, not the other way around.
Keep Your Promises
Everything I promise, I deliver on time. This matters more than you think, especially if you’re playing the long game. No debate needed here.
Make Real Connections
Follow people, engage genuinely, help with their problems, learn from them. Not just empty networking – build actual relationships. This stuff matters.
Niche Down (Kind of)
Yes, focus on a specific niche you know has potential. Get that money first, then think about expansion. But don’t get lost in the “self-improvement” rabbit hole.
“Build in public!”
Honestly? Overrated and overhyped. Not everyone needs to be an influencer, and not every product needs your face plastered all over it. Building in public isn’t some magic marketing trick anymore.
Be Real
I’ll tell you straight up – I haven’t made millions from my apps. I don’t post fake Stripe screenshots or make up numbers. And I’ve worked plenty of 9-to-5 jobs building for companies. You know what? That’s FINE. Actually, it’s better than fine – it’s valuable experience.
Here’s the thing – most advice you see comes from people selling courses who’ve never built anything but courses. The reality? 9-to-5 jobs are great for most developers and always will be. There’s nothing wrong with that.
Play Your Own Game
Don’t chase hype. Some folks make $10k in their first month and vanish by month three. Others might take two years to hit that same number but keep growing for a decade.
Remember what Ben Affleck said in Pearl Harbor? When they asked if he was in a hurry to die, he said “I’m not in a hurry to die, I’m in a hurry to matter.” That’s tech right now in a nutshell.
The truth is, success in this industry isn’t about following someone else’s playbook. It’s about building something real, something that matters, whether that’s your own product or contributing to something bigger at a company. Just make it count.
P.S. – If you have the time you can watch this video as well. It’s the first time i see this creator but her video is mostly the same as mine.