The tale to introduce all tales
Before I get stuck into this latest post I just wanted to thank everyone who reached out in response to my first post and for the positive messages. I honestly never expected that and it really helped, so thank you.
So the good news is that I have already started various posts on this blog. The bad news is that I have already started various posts in this blog. Starting doesn't seem to be an issue but hopefully I can finish enough of them to provide you all with some content. 😄
I have set myself a few rules when posting new content.
0) I will start and finish were I need to and where i feel appropriate. It's a blog about my experiences setting up a new venture and it's not a self help novel that has to have a linear narrative. It may not align to other people's timelines and that's just the way it is.
1) I will always try and keep things positive. I want this experience to inspire, even when things go wrong so I will always try to find a positive moment, even when things are at their darkest.
2) I will try and post a mixture of past experience, current updates and random cultural things that I like. I spend a lot of time building things and fill any spare time with my family and the music, films, books, games and other things we're into so occasionally I will post about things like that. I'll always try and make it relevant and in context though. Promise.
3) This is a personal experience blog but I want to avoid mentioning other people unless I am shining a light on positive things they do and contribute. I have no time these days for bitching about people but with historical stuff it's hard not to call out people's crappy behaviour. When there is a negative player in a tale then I will avoid revealing who it is. I will focus on the events, what they did or said and how it played out. Let's not hate the player, but aspects of the games they play, and hopefully we can all learn from them.
4) Every post will endeavour to replicate a story heading from classic 1950's comic book Tales from the Crypt or affiliated publications of the same type. I love graphic novels and horror/sci-fi/fantasy so there will be references. Sorry in advance.
Self Help 101 : Don't compare yourself to others.
I have experienced many discussions with key influencers across this shimmering blue/green orb spinning through space and there is always something interesting to take away, especially the ones on this beautiful green island i live on. Over the last week or so I attended a few seminars, fireside chats, symposiums etc and as entertainment goes results do vary. You can always be guaranteed to learn something though.
I've been working with several founders as an EIR over the last few months as part of Founder Labs in Ormeau Labs (previously Baths) in Belfast. Most founders get to a point early on where the fear creeps in and they start doubting themselves, their abilities or even their mental fitness to make adult decisions. I most definitely include myself in this founder group from time to time. It's only natural after all. When stepping out on your own it's easy to get disheartened, especially when friends and family, on a more traditional track, can seem to be progressing better than you. You know how it goes. Someone in your group says "you're brave" or asks "but what if it doesn't work out?". Sometimes you wonder if doing all this founder stuff is worth it. Wouldn't a regular, solid wage with less responsibility be better? Well........maybe but in Dublin, at the fantastic Dogpatch Labs last week, there was a fireside chat where a key member of the leadership team was speaking to the cohort of founders i help look after at Founder Labs and one of the things that resonated with me and the team was this (and i'm paraphrasing) statement.
"Normal people have normal jobs and normal lives and they are all very happy with those. That's not us. We're probably not normal and that's totally fine."
It's totally acceptable and fine to not be like everyone else and we shouldn't be comparing ourselves to others. You know this. It's in every Instagram, TikTok and Facebook feed going back to around 2010. It's the kind of thing the Live, Laugh, Love brigade probably have as a framed inspirational poster on their hallway walls.
It's almost impossible to do though as we all look for reference points, especially when we are doing something new or alone. I've had loads of these recently and they appear randomly when I least expect it. I could be designing a database table, setting up website T&Cs, deploying code or trying to setup a new accountancy package online.
So how do we combat these crises of faith? Well, my advice? Let it happen. Have the self doubt. Get annoyed with yourself and question why you are doing it. When you do this, and you will, multiple times a week if you are like me, just remember what we are doing is ok and fine. In fact I would just say that it's another type of normal. We're doing this, not because we expect to win, not because we have overflowing confidence in ourselves and ideas or even because someone says we should/could do it. No we typically do it because we need to and it's not designed to easy. You chose the harder path, the riskier path, the path with more opportunity and ambition. You decided to watch the metaphorical YouTube tutorial and removed your own glass ceiling.
So when the self doubt demons come creeping. Do it. Doubt it, challenge it, listen to it.......and when you're done just remember. That's not us and that's ok.
You're going to do it! I have no idea what it is and neither do you perhaps. You may pivot several times, but your gonna do something and it will be yours and it will be special. It may be massive, it may be miniscule but it will be your contribution to this shimmering blue and green orb floating through space and that's more than some people can ever hope to do.
If you can, you should totally come along to Founders Night at Ormeau Labs on September 5th. You will hear some experiences from new founders, how they have got on and where they are going next. Rachel and Mark are fantastic founders and have had very different journeys. If you, or anyone you know, are interested in setting up a new tech business you can also find out where to get some support and info for future programmes.
https://lu.ma/onvm8lk5
Coming soon - Announcements / Fighting with T&Cs / Prototypes and MVPs
