Why I Got Kicked Out. Again. Should I keep doing this? | Build in public E174

All All All right, this is going to be a quick one right, this is going to be a quick one right, this is going to be a quick one today. I’m just going to go over uh the today. I’m just going to go over uh the today. I’m just going to go over uh the results of yesterday’s launch and talk results of yesterday’s launch and talk results of yesterday’s launch and talk about what’s going well, what’s not about what’s going well, what’s not about what’s going well, what’s not going well. First, my random story for going well. First, my random story for going well. First, my random story for today. Um, so before so this last year, today. Um, so before so this last year, today. Um, so before so this last year, I have not had a job. Um, I’ve been I’ve I have not had a job. Um, I’ve been I’ve I have not had a job. Um, I’ve been I’ve been throwing a lot of [  ] at the wall been throwing a lot of [  ] at the wall been throwing a lot of [  ] at the wall to see what sticks. I’ve I’ve tried to see what sticks. I’ve I’ve tried to see what sticks. I’ve I’ve tried number of little SAS number of little SAS number of little SAS MVPs. MVPs. MVPs. Um I played around with agents a lot. Um I played around with agents a lot. Um I played around with agents a lot. I’ve I explored like starting my own AI I’ve I explored like starting my own AI I’ve I explored like starting my own AI agency a little bit. Um agency a little bit. Um agency a little bit. Um I’ve done a lot, but I need to pay I’ve done a lot, but I need to pay I’ve done a lot, but I need to pay bills. So I’ I’ve had to fall back on bills. So I’ I’ve had to fall back on bills. So I’ I’ve had to fall back on freelance work, of course. Um I did a freelance work, of course. Um I did a freelance work, of course. Um I did a lot of freelance work for uh with with lot of freelance work for uh with with lot of freelance work for uh with with an agency back in California. Um, I was an agency back in California. Um, I was an agency back in California. Um, I was in California, so wasn’t too far away in California, so wasn’t too far away in California, so wasn’t too far away from these folks. It was in the same from these folks. It was in the same from these folks. It was in the same time zone, obviously. And, uh, it went time zone, obviously. And, uh, it went time zone, obviously. And, uh, it went okay. I had one big project for about 6 okay. I had one big project for about 6 okay. I had one big project for about 6 months. So, I I worked a good 6 months. months. So, I I worked a good 6 months. months. So, I I worked a good 6 months. Um, and you know, at a California, Um, and you know, at a California, Um, and you know, at a California, you know, software engineer salary, kind you know, software engineer salary, kind you know, software engineer salary, kind of low. I actually made less money than of low. I actually made less money than of low. I actually made less money than I did at my previous job, but the market I did at my previous job, but the market I did at my previous job, but the market is pretty messed up right now. So, you is pretty messed up right now. So, you is pretty messed up right now. So, you know, I made some money for the year. I know, I made some money for the year. I know, I made some money for the year. I I worked, you know, half the year and I I worked, you know, half the year and I I worked, you know, half the year and I made money, but they they came back to made money, but they they came back to made money, but they they came back to me and they they said, “Hey, can you me and they they said, “Hey, can you me and they they said, “Hey, can you take on another job? We want you to, you take on another job? We want you to, you take on another job? We want you to, you know, go work with with with a with a know, go work with with with a with a know, go work with with with a with a client that we have.” And I told them client that we have.” And I told them client that we have.” And I told them no. And I don’t think they like that no. And I don’t think they like that no. And I don’t think they like that because I this week got booted out of because I this week got booted out of because I this week got booted out of their Slack. They didn’t say anything to their Slack. They didn’t say anything to their Slack. They didn’t say anything to me. The way I communicate communicated me. The way I communicate communicated me. The way I communicate communicated with them was um you know I was on their with them was um you know I was on their with them was um you know I was on their Slack channel uh and they would ping me Slack channel uh and they would ping me Slack channel uh and they would ping me on Slack to talk to me and they didn’t on Slack to talk to me and they didn’t on Slack to talk to me and they didn’t say a word, no nothing, no message, no say a word, no nothing, no message, no say a word, no nothing, no message, no nothing. Just I just saw that I was I nothing. Just I just saw that I was I nothing. Just I just saw that I was I got disconnected. I tried to sign back got disconnected. I tried to sign back got disconnected. I tried to sign back in and it said like no, you’ve been in and it said like no, you’ve been in and it said like no, you’ve been kicked out. So pretty interesting. Uh I kicked out. So pretty interesting. Uh I kicked out. So pretty interesting. Uh I I I feel conflicted. I’m I’m kind of I I feel conflicted. I’m I’m kind of I I feel conflicted. I’m I’m kind of kind of relieved, but also like I need kind of relieved, but also like I need kind of relieved, but also like I need money and what do I do now? Cuz um money and what do I do now? Cuz um money and what do I do now? Cuz um things are not going well as always. I things are not going well as always. I things are not going well as always. I feel like this is a recurring theme for feel like this is a recurring theme for feel like this is a recurring theme for me. Uh if you’ve, you know, if you’ve me. Uh if you’ve, you know, if you’ve me. Uh if you’ve, you know, if you’ve looked at the channel, there’s a lot of looked at the channel, there’s a lot of looked at the channel, there’s a lot of videos. There’s like coming up to 200 videos. There’s like coming up to 200 videos. There’s like coming up to 200 videos and I’ve been at this for a videos and I’ve been at this for a videos and I’ve been at this for a while, uh as you could see from my from while, uh as you could see from my from while, uh as you could see from my from my videos. And it’s just not going well. my videos. And it’s just not going well. my videos. And it’s just not going well. And I’m and I’m really sick of it not And I’m and I’m really sick of it not And I’m and I’m really sick of it not going well. I’m five weeks into to this going well. I’m five weeks into to this going well. I’m five weeks into to this little experiment of 25 projects in 25 little experiment of 25 projects in 25 little experiment of 25 projects in 25 weeks. You know, it’s a lot of work to weeks. You know, it’s a lot of work to weeks. You know, it’s a lot of work to ship, to build, to ship, to to to ship, to build, to ship, to to to ship, to build, to ship, to to to market, like every single week. It’s market, like every single week. It’s market, like every single week. It’s really exhausting. I’m working. I really exhausting. I’m working. I really exhausting. I’m working. I literally start working in the morning literally start working in the morning literally start working in the morning and I just don’t stop until like 1:00 and I just don’t stop until like 1:00 and I just don’t stop until like 1:00 a.m. I I mean, I’m really working hard. a.m. I I mean, I’m really working hard. a.m. I I mean, I’m really working hard. It’s just really frustrating um how long It’s just really frustrating um how long It’s just really frustrating um how long I’ve been at this and how I’ve been at this and how I’ve been at this and how hard it is and how little results. I’m hard it is and how little results. I’m hard it is and how little results. I’m really really getting discouraged. Um really really getting discouraged. Um really really getting discouraged. Um and now and now it’s like these people and now and now it’s like these people and now and now it’s like these people are just done with me. Pretty obvious are just done with me. Pretty obvious are just done with me. Pretty obvious that they’re done with me. Um I wasn’t that they’re done with me. Um I wasn’t that they’re done with me. Um I wasn’t really liking working with these with really liking working with these with really liking working with these with these people to be completely honest. Uh these people to be completely honest. Uh these people to be completely honest. Uh I didn’t the last project they gave me I I didn’t the last project they gave me I I didn’t the last project they gave me I just bailed. I was like you guys told me just bailed. I was like you guys told me just bailed. I was like you guys told me you needed me for a week. It’s been 10 you needed me for a week. It’s been 10 you needed me for a week. It’s been 10 days. I’m bailing. Um, just not really days. I’m bailing. Um, just not really days. I’m bailing. Um, just not really great work to be completely honest. Uh, great work to be completely honest. Uh, great work to be completely honest. Uh, just a crazy deadlines. Just just I I just a crazy deadlines. Just just I I just a crazy deadlines. Just just I I was getting burnt out working for those was getting burnt out working for those was getting burnt out working for those people. Anyways, so let’s talk about my people. Anyways, so let’s talk about my people. Anyways, so let’s talk about my launch yesterday. launch yesterday. launch yesterday. Uh, there is some progress. It’s it it’s Uh, there is some progress. It’s it it’s Uh, there is some progress. It’s it it’s it’s like so little like progress that it’s like so little like progress that it’s like so little like progress that I’ve I’ve had in the last five weeks. So I’ve I’ve had in the last five weeks. So I’ve I’ve had in the last five weeks. So yesterday I launched this emojis time. yesterday I launched this emojis time. yesterday I launched this emojis time. It’s like a search engine for emojis and It’s like a search engine for emojis and It’s like a search engine for emojis and text art. Like there’s 15,000 of these. text art. Like there’s 15,000 of these. text art. Like there’s 15,000 of these. Like you can search for things and you Like you can search for things and you Like you can search for things and you copy and you and you paste it. But I I I copy and you and you paste it. But I I I copy and you and you paste it. But I I I put I put this on Reddit like I pointed put I put this on Reddit like I pointed put I put this on Reddit like I pointed directly to the museum, not to the site. directly to the museum, not to the site. directly to the museum, not to the site. And I made like an emoji a museum. And And I made like an emoji a museum. And And I made like an emoji a museum. And I’ve never seen anything quite like this I’ve never seen anything quite like this I’ve never seen anything quite like this with all the old emojis and the history with all the old emojis and the history with all the old emojis and the history of like of like of like emojis. So I put it on Reddit emojis. So I put it on Reddit emojis. So I put it on Reddit and the response is pretty good. Like I and the response is pretty good. Like I and the response is pretty good. Like I think these are mostly Reddit, too. I think these are mostly Reddit, too. I think these are mostly Reddit, too. I don’t know why it always says direct. It don’t know why it always says direct. It don’t know why it always says direct. It drives me nuts. But um it started doing drives me nuts. But um it started doing drives me nuts. But um it started doing really well. was just like it was really well. was just like it was really well. was just like it was getting slowly getting more and more up getting slowly getting more and more up getting slowly getting more and more up votes and I hit about 800 votes and I hit about 800 votes and I hit about 800 views yesterday and something really views yesterday and something really views yesterday and something really really really frustrating happened. Um, really really frustrating happened. Um, really really frustrating happened. Um, some idiot mod just deleted. I some idiot mod just deleted. I some idiot mod just deleted. I used so my Reddit account is like 15 used so my Reddit account is like 15 used so my Reddit account is like 15 years old. I used to use Reddit way back years old. I used to use Reddit way back years old. I used to use Reddit way back in the day and it just got worse and in the day and it just got worse and in the day and it just got worse and worse and worse and worse and I gave up worse and worse and worse and I gave up worse and worse and worse and I gave up on Reddit a long time ago because I I on Reddit a long time ago because I I on Reddit a long time ago because I I just can’t stand the weird thing with just can’t stand the weird thing with just can’t stand the weird thing with the mods there. It’s just such an echo the mods there. It’s just such an echo the mods there. It’s just such an echo chamber. You got these weird people who chamber. You got these weird people who chamber. You got these weird people who are Reddit mods who just, you know, they are Reddit mods who just, you know, they are Reddit mods who just, you know, they just have no life but sitting there just have no life but sitting there just have no life but sitting there doing that and I just I I just I just doing that and I just I I just I just doing that and I just I I just I just don’t like it. just became don’t like it. just became don’t like it. just became so different than what it was way back so different than what it was way back so different than what it was way back in the day. I’m I’m It’s really in the day. I’m I’m It’s really in the day. I’m I’m It’s really frustrating because what I have no frustrating because what I have no frustrating because what I have no choice but to post there cuz that’s, you choice but to post there cuz that’s, you choice but to post there cuz that’s, you know, I’m trying to build an audience of know, I’m trying to build an audience of know, I’m trying to build an audience of people who are like-minded who want to people who are like-minded who want to people who are like-minded who want to see really interesting, cool stuff. They see really interesting, cool stuff. They see really interesting, cool stuff. They want to experience the old internet. want to experience the old internet. want to experience the old internet. They don’t want to be on Reddit and They don’t want to be on Reddit and They don’t want to be on Reddit and threads and X and all this crap where or threads and X and all this crap where or threads and X and all this crap where or just mindlessly watching Tik Tok videos. just mindlessly watching Tik Tok videos. just mindlessly watching Tik Tok videos. They want to see more of the old web They want to see more of the old web They want to see more of the old web like cool, interesting, like cool, interesting, like cool, interesting, thoughtprovoking, you know, content. I’m thoughtprovoking, you know, content. I’m thoughtprovoking, you know, content. I’m trying to make such content. I’m trying trying to make such content. I’m trying trying to make such content. I’m trying to share to share to share uh content that I found, you know, uh content that I found, you know, uh content that I found, you know, across the years. Um, I have thousands across the years. Um, I have thousands across the years. Um, I have thousands of really cool, interesting URLs to of really cool, interesting URLs to of really cool, interesting URLs to share. I’m trying to make really share. I’m trying to make really share. I’m trying to make really interesting stuff, too. Where do I find interesting stuff, too. Where do I find interesting stuff, too. Where do I find these people? I I I I’ve tried YouTube. these people? I I I I’ve tried YouTube. these people? I I I I’ve tried YouTube. YouTube’s not going anywhere anywhere. YouTube’s not going anywhere anywhere. YouTube’s not going anywhere anywhere. It’s it’s such a slog. like I get like f It’s it’s such a slog. like I get like f It’s it’s such a slog. like I get like f you know so few viewers of of of a video you know so few viewers of of of a video you know so few viewers of of of a video uh so Reddit or where these people are uh so Reddit or where these people are uh so Reddit or where these people are and it’s so frustrating to post on there and it’s so frustrating to post on there and it’s so frustrating to post on there cuz I post something like this something cuz I post something like this something cuz I post something like this something interesting and you know just some slack interesting and you know just some slack interesting and you know just some slack jaw mod just whatever is having a bad jaw mod just whatever is having a bad jaw mod just whatever is having a bad day doesn’t like your thing for whatever day doesn’t like your thing for whatever day doesn’t like your thing for whatever reason and they kill it and it had like reason and they kill it and it had like reason and they kill it and it had like up votes it I mean people were starting up votes it I mean people were starting up votes it I mean people were starting to comment I was having you know upwards to comment I was having you know upwards to comment I was having you know upwards to a thousand views so it’s very very to a thousand views so it’s very very to a thousand views so it’s very very frustrating like Everywhere I turn to frustrating like Everywhere I turn to frustrating like Everywhere I turn to try to get my content out there, I just try to get my content out there, I just try to get my content out there, I just I just get murdered by the algorithm. It I just get murdered by the algorithm. It I just get murdered by the algorithm. It just goes nowhere by a Reddit mod is so just goes nowhere by a Reddit mod is so just goes nowhere by a Reddit mod is so hard. This is so so so so far. There’s a hard. This is so so so so far. There’s a hard. This is so so so so far. There’s a silver lining. silver lining. silver lining. This has done um better in like one day This has done um better in like one day This has done um better in like one day than any of my other projects have in than any of my other projects have in than any of my other projects have in weeks or in one day I got as many views weeks or in one day I got as many views weeks or in one day I got as many views as my last big project, Turkey Hands. as my last big project, Turkey Hands. as my last big project, Turkey Hands. That’s where you can turn your hand into That’s where you can turn your hand into That’s where you can turn your hand into a turkey. It’s pretty fun. a turkey. It’s pretty fun. a turkey. It’s pretty fun. So, that’s good. And one thing I wanted So, that’s good. And one thing I wanted So, that’s good. And one thing I wanted to point out is this is getting some to point out is this is getting some to point out is this is getting some traction on this site. But somebody put traction on this site. But somebody put traction on this site. But somebody put this in a newsletter. Somebody shared this in a newsletter. Somebody shared this in a newsletter. Somebody shared this in a Substack newsletter and I got this in a Substack newsletter and I got this in a Substack newsletter and I got got a bunch of views. Like that’s that’s got a bunch of views. Like that’s that’s got a bunch of views. Like that’s that’s awesome. Lot of random lot of random awesome. Lot of random lot of random awesome. Lot of random lot of random places this is getting getting some places this is getting getting some places this is getting getting some views from. So that’s that’s good news. views from. So that’s that’s good news. views from. So that’s that’s good news. I think it’s slowly slowly getting I think it’s slowly slowly getting I think it’s slowly slowly getting better, but it’s been really better, but it’s been really better, but it’s been really frustrating. It’s just, you know, that frustrating. It’s just, you know, that frustrating. It’s just, you know, that this could have had like five to 10,000 this could have had like five to 10,000 this could have had like five to 10,000 views, but no, somebody had to kill it views, but no, somebody had to kill it views, but no, somebody had to kill it because whatever [  ] reason. It’s because whatever [  ] reason. It’s because whatever [  ] reason. It’s just very discouraging. This is not just very discouraging. This is not just very discouraging. This is not going well. Um, there was merch on there going well. Um, there was merch on there going well. Um, there was merch on there and no one even added anything to the and no one even added anything to the and no one even added anything to the cart. So, that’s very bad sign. No one’s cart. So, that’s very bad sign. No one’s cart. So, that’s very bad sign. No one’s interested in the merch and people interested in the merch and people interested in the merch and people complained about it. No one subscribed complained about it. No one subscribed complained about it. No one subscribed to the newsletter after a thousand to the newsletter after a thousand to the newsletter after a thousand people. So, it’s very very very people. So, it’s very very very people. So, it’s very very very disheartening. Um, I’m just at my ants. disheartening. Um, I’m just at my ants. disheartening. Um, I’m just at my ants. I I don’t sleep at night. This this this I I don’t sleep at night. This this this I I don’t sleep at night. This this this [  ] stresses me out so much. I I just [  ] stresses me out so much. I I just [ __ ] stresses me out so much. I I just endlessly just think about it, research, endlessly just think about it, research, endlessly just think about it, research, get upset, don’t sleep. Like, I really I get upset, don’t sleep. Like, I really I get upset, don’t sleep. Like, I really I literally don’t sleep at night. I’m not literally don’t sleep at night. I’m not literally don’t sleep at night. I’m not sleeping these days because I just it sleeping these days because I just it sleeping these days because I just it keeps me up stressing so hard about all keeps me up stressing so hard about all keeps me up stressing so hard about all this stuff cuz I need money. I I I’m this stuff cuz I need money. I I I’m this stuff cuz I need money. I I I’m making zero money. My savings is just making zero money. My savings is just making zero money. My savings is just being depleted. The agency I work for, being depleted. The agency I work for, being depleted. The agency I work for, they don’t want to work with me anymore. they don’t want to work with me anymore. they don’t want to work with me anymore. Rightfully so. I’m now in London. They Rightfully so. I’m now in London. They Rightfully so. I’m now in London. They know I’m here. I’m in a weird time zone. know I’m here. I’m in a weird time zone. know I’m here. I’m in a weird time zone. And you know, I I don’t super love And you know, I I don’t super love And you know, I I don’t super love working for those people. Any It’s very working for those people. Any It’s very working for those people. Any It’s very very upsetting. I just I’m getting very upsetting. I just I’m getting very upsetting. I just I’m getting nowhere. I’m getting nowhere. I mean, nowhere. I’m getting nowhere. I mean, nowhere. I’m getting nowhere. I mean, yeah, this did okay, but yeah, this did okay, but yeah, this did okay, but like the whole idea of this is to build like the whole idea of this is to build like the whole idea of this is to build an audience and get out of the an audience and get out of the an audience and get out of the algorithms and not be, you know, relying algorithms and not be, you know, relying algorithms and not be, you know, relying on some Reddit mod having a good day, on some Reddit mod having a good day, on some Reddit mod having a good day, you know, the algorithm just deciding to you know, the algorithm just deciding to you know, the algorithm just deciding to to to to to to to show your content. It’s it’s it’s not show your content. It’s it’s it’s not show your content. It’s it’s it’s not going well. It’s this is I’m now a going well. It’s this is I’m now a going well. It’s this is I’m now a quarter way through the experiment. Five quarter way through the experiment. Five quarter way through the experiment. Five weeks. I don’t know. Should I continue? weeks. I don’t know. Should I continue? weeks. I don’t know. Should I continue? What do you think? Should I even What do you think? Should I even What do you think? Should I even continue? Should I just give up and just continue? Should I just give up and just continue? Should I just give up and just try to find a job and just be like, I’m try to find a job and just be like, I’m try to find a job and just be like, I’m not an entrepreneur. I’m not an online not an entrepreneur. I’m not an online not an entrepreneur. I’m not an online creator. No one’s interested. creator. No one’s interested. creator. No one’s interested. I don’t know. I really don’t know. Um I don’t know. I really don’t know. Um I don’t know. I really don’t know. Um I’m I’m struggling and I’m just I need I’m I’m struggling and I’m just I need I’m I’m struggling and I’m just I need to see more results faster. So anyways, to see more results faster. So anyways, to see more results faster. So anyways, that’s all I got for today.