It Is Now or It Is Never
(kottke.org)
It is now or it is never, and if it is never, I will not continue to work here.
It is now or it is never, and if it is never, I will not continue to work here.
How I Stay Motivated Working on My Solo SaaS (When It Feels Like Nobody Cares)
(ycombinator.com)
I’ve been grinding on my solo project—a little app to help remote workers find coworking spots nearby—for months, and some days it feels like I’m yelling into the void.
I’ve been grinding on my solo project—a little app to help remote workers find coworking spots nearby—for months, and some days it feels like I’m yelling into the void.
Putting Bounties on My Goals
(krayorn.com)
Sending 30€ to my friend if I didn't post on my blog this month.
Sending 30€ to my friend if I didn't post on my blog this month.
Ask HN: If you work for Elon Musk, what keeps you motivated?
(ycombinator.com)
Many brilliant people work for Musk at companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Given the recent controversies surrounding him, I'm genuinely curious—how do they stay motivated to do their best work?
Many brilliant people work for Musk at companies like Tesla and SpaceX. Given the recent controversies surrounding him, I'm genuinely curious—how do they stay motivated to do their best work?
Ask for no, don't ask for yes (2022)
(mooreds.com)
I think it is important to have a bias for action. Like anything else, this is something you can make a habit of. Moving forward allows you to make progress. I don’t know about you, but I’ve frozen up in the past not knowing what the right path was for me. Moving forward, even the smallest possible step, helped break that stasis.
I think it is important to have a bias for action. Like anything else, this is something you can make a habit of. Moving forward allows you to make progress. I don’t know about you, but I’ve frozen up in the past not knowing what the right path was for me. Moving forward, even the smallest possible step, helped break that stasis.
Ask HN: Wantrepreneur who's run out of energy/ideas. What now?
(ycombinator.com)
I’ve been trying to launch startups on the side for the past 3 years, indie hacker style. Many evenings and weekends were burnt. Yet I gained very little traction, and made a big fat 0 dollars.
I’ve been trying to launch startups on the side for the past 3 years, indie hacker style. Many evenings and weekends were burnt. Yet I gained very little traction, and made a big fat 0 dollars.
The Selfish Contributor Revisited
(lwn.net)
Open source is often described as a "gift economy"—an ecosystem where contributors are motivated by a desire to make the world a better place. That is, sometimes, true. However, James Bottomley used his main track slot at FOSDEM 2025, on February 1, to make the case that it is better to bank on the selfish motivations of individuals to drive community success than to rely on their altruism.
Open source is often described as a "gift economy"—an ecosystem where contributors are motivated by a desire to make the world a better place. That is, sometimes, true. However, James Bottomley used his main track slot at FOSDEM 2025, on February 1, to make the case that it is better to bank on the selfish motivations of individuals to drive community success than to rely on their altruism.
I conditioned myself to fail
(brainbun.com)
Over the years I’ve literally built hundreds of projects. Some with a lof of potential. Others just batshit crazy ideas.
Over the years I’ve literally built hundreds of projects. Some with a lof of potential. Others just batshit crazy ideas.
Show HN: Hold yourself accountable for gym visits with a $10 stake
(gymbully.fit)
Hit your target or donate to charity. Ready to challenge yourself?
Hit your target or donate to charity. Ready to challenge yourself?
Work Is Just Work
(robinrendle.com)
I love work. It drives me. It’s exciting. Everything about building things with folks is a pure thrill.
I love work. It drives me. It’s exciting. Everything about building things with folks is a pure thrill.
Nobody cares
(grantslatton.com)
Why does nobody care about anything? The world is full of stuff that could be excellent with just 1% more effort. But people don't care.
Why does nobody care about anything? The world is full of stuff that could be excellent with just 1% more effort. But people don't care.
Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things
(ycombinator.com)
Seeking recommendations for books about how hard things got done.
Seeking recommendations for books about how hard things got done.
Haunted by my own projects
(cassidoo.co)
I feel like my own side projects haunt me sometimes. I want to build new and shiny things, I buy domain names, I get 90% of the way there… and then eh. Time for something new and shiny again.
I feel like my own side projects haunt me sometimes. I want to build new and shiny things, I buy domain names, I get 90% of the way there… and then eh. Time for something new and shiny again.
Ask HN: What projects are you going to work on if no need to work?
(ycombinator.com)
Ask HN: What projects are you going to work on if no need to work?
Ask HN: What projects are you going to work on if no need to work?
We avoid effort even though it can improve our well-being
(newscientist.com)
Understanding the “effort paradox” can help you reshape your relationship to exertion so that you commit to those hard but truly meaningful activities
Understanding the “effort paradox” can help you reshape your relationship to exertion so that you commit to those hard but truly meaningful activities
Clever, Brave, Persistent
(camhashemi.com)
I wonder: is there anything more predictive of success than being clever, brave, and persistent?
I wonder: is there anything more predictive of success than being clever, brave, and persistent?
Ask HN: Anyone else get depressed when you're not actively digging into a topic?
(ycombinator.com)
Sometimes I'll be "done" exploring a topic/project, but haven't yet found another one to dig into (or just run into some sort of a break/gap in mental activity), and I'll basically get depressed (not technically, just temporary low mood) without having something keeping my brain engaged.
Sometimes I'll be "done" exploring a topic/project, but haven't yet found another one to dig into (or just run into some sort of a break/gap in mental activity), and I'll basically get depressed (not technically, just temporary low mood) without having something keeping my brain engaged.
How to Become So Good They Can't Ignore You (2014)
(businessinsider.com)
When asked for advice, comedian Steve Martin likes to say, "Be so good they can't ignore you."
When asked for advice, comedian Steve Martin likes to say, "Be so good they can't ignore you."