Day 878 - Is being "indie" limiting? - https://golifelog.com/posts/is-being-indie-limiting-1685231324853
Is being associated as an "indie hacker/maker/dev" limiting?
Are there any limiters and limiting beliefs to being one that holds you back from getting the results you want?
Mike here started a great conversation about it:
> Just a feeling here, but, I bet if you remove the “indie” label/identity, you’d 10x your revenue. 🔥 – [@CSMikeCardona](https://twitter.com/CSMikeCardona/status/1662414161555628032)
And [Dominic](https://twitter.com/dqmonn/status/1662593406105780226) laid out a few which were hit the nail on the spot:
> Burning passion for developing product, but not distributing it.
> Small set of „approved“ growth channels (SEO, Twitter), long list of ones you would not use (Cold Mails, Partnerships, Lead Magnets)
> Only MRR / digital goods is „good money“
> Accepting when growth is slow (as opposed to solving it)
> Everything needs to be polished
> Everything needs to be shared
> Everything needs to be celebrated
> VC is the devil
Looking through the list, I'm thankful that many on that aren't huge problems for me by now, like the first one. I mean, I still have a burning passion for building yes. Give me building, any day. But I'm no longer opposed to doing it. Marketing was hard to unlearn and learn but it wasn't due to being indie, but more a learned reflex from growing up seeing slimey sales tactics. Don't seem to have problems doing marketing now. Still need to work on that impatience for results though.
But going back to the original question: Is being "indie" really limiting? I think some of those limiting beliefs aren't just confined to indie hackers. It's common for creators, entrepreneurs. We all got our own limiting beliefs, indie or not... We all come with our own sets of biases and beliefs, many which can help or hinder... or both! Depending on context. The ability to work hard is both a boon and a bane. Hard work is good when you're working on the right opportunity, bad when [you're digging on the wrong spot](https://golifelog.com/posts/working-hard-is-overrated-so-is-working-smart-1685086071076).
I'm not sure "indie" was limiting for me, even though I'm aware I had to unlearn many limiting beliefs conditioned through the years. It's just a convenient label to signal I'm part of a community, to connect with others here. In fact, been doing this way of working before "indie hacker" was even a thing! Back then we were just "self employed', "freelancer". The names change, but the beliefs we carry don't.
As [Paul G says, keeping your identity small](http://www.paulgraham.com/identity.html) is the way.
Anytime you over-identified with something, that virtue just became a vice.
Are there any limiters and limiting beliefs to being one that holds you back from getting the results you want?
Mike here started a great conversation about it:
> Just a feeling here, but, I bet if you remove the “indie” label/identity, you’d 10x your revenue. 🔥 – [@CSMikeCardona](https://twitter.com/CSMikeCardona/status/1662414161555628032)
And [Dominic](https://twitter.com/dqmonn/status/1662593406105780226) laid out a few which were hit the nail on the spot:
> Burning passion for developing product, but not distributing it.
> Small set of „approved“ growth channels (SEO, Twitter), long list of ones you would not use (Cold Mails, Partnerships, Lead Magnets)
> Only MRR / digital goods is „good money“
> Accepting when growth is slow (as opposed to solving it)
> Everything needs to be polished
> Everything needs to be shared
> Everything needs to be celebrated
> VC is the devil
Looking through the list, I'm thankful that many on that aren't huge problems for me by now, like the first one. I mean, I still have a burning passion for building yes. Give me building, any day. But I'm no longer opposed to doing it. Marketing was hard to unlearn and learn but it wasn't due to being indie, but more a learned reflex from growing up seeing slimey sales tactics. Don't seem to have problems doing marketing now. Still need to work on that impatience for results though.
But going back to the original question: Is being "indie" really limiting? I think some of those limiting beliefs aren't just confined to indie hackers. It's common for creators, entrepreneurs. We all got our own limiting beliefs, indie or not... We all come with our own sets of biases and beliefs, many which can help or hinder... or both! Depending on context. The ability to work hard is both a boon and a bane. Hard work is good when you're working on the right opportunity, bad when [you're digging on the wrong spot](https://golifelog.com/posts/working-hard-is-overrated-so-is-working-smart-1685086071076).
I'm not sure "indie" was limiting for me, even though I'm aware I had to unlearn many limiting beliefs conditioned through the years. It's just a convenient label to signal I'm part of a community, to connect with others here. In fact, been doing this way of working before "indie hacker" was even a thing! Back then we were just "self employed', "freelancer". The names change, but the beliefs we carry don't.
As [Paul G says, keeping your identity small](http://www.paulgraham.com/identity.html) is the way.
Anytime you over-identified with something, that virtue just became a vice.