i'm scared.
most introverts are. we struggle to share, to sell, to show up.
that's why i still suck at marketing.
that's why i still suck at marketing.
i had leads for my startup superfast.
2 users wanted to hop on a call because they really wanted to buy my product.
i skipped both.
2 users wanted to hop on a call because they really wanted to buy my product.
i skipped both.
p.s. in the last 3-4 months i learned one thing: just show up. no matter what.
now back to story,
in 2021, when i was 17, i got this wild idea - a social media platform for college students.
i had just joined college in sep 2021.
no coding skills. no clue. just a dream.
i watched “the social network” and thought i was the next zuckerberg.
i had just joined college in sep 2021.
no coding skills. no clue. just a dream.
i watched “the social network” and thought i was the next zuckerberg.
but dreaming isn't building.
i wasted 8 months on random open source projects and internships.
nothing shipped.
i wasted 8 months on random open source projects and internships.
nothing shipped.
still, the idea stuck in my head. i kept daydreaming - billionaire at 20, forbes cover, startup fame.
reality: 8 more months wasted.
reality: 8 more months wasted.
then on 9 dec 2022, i finally bought the domain thepairup.in.
that gave me a small push. i started learning how to make a website.
but soon reality hit - i needed a team, servers, money, time.
and i was just an introvert kid.
that gave me a small push. i started learning how to make a website.
but soon reality hit - i needed a team, servers, money, time.
and i was just an introvert kid.
new year's eve 2022, i was at my brother's place in blr when i discovered chatgpt.
i felt unstoppable. i made a landing page on 27 dec.
it was bad. but at least i had something.
i felt unstoppable. i made a landing page on 27 dec.
it was bad. but at least i had something.
i promised myself 2023 was the year i'd launch.
but that landing page stayed the same for 7 months.
but that landing page stayed the same for 7 months.
then i failed a subject in college. it crushed me.
i shifted focus to academics. lost 5 more months.
i shifted focus to academics. lost 5 more months.
in may 2023, i discovered nextjs + reactjs.
i knew what i had to do to build that huge product.
i knew what i had to do to build that huge product.
so in may i learned javascript
june: reactjs
july: nextjs
june: reactjs
july: nextjs
finally i started building thepairup.in in august 2023.
3 months. 12–14 hour days.
and on 4 sep 2023, thepairup.in was ready.
my dream project. 2 years of work.
and on 4 sep 2023, thepairup.in was ready.
my dream project. 2 years of work.
but the story didn't end.
i told myself i wasn't ready to launch.
truth: i was hiding.
scared of being judged.
scared of launching and getting 0 users.
scared of hearing “no”.
truth: i was hiding.
scared of being judged.
scared of launching and getting 0 users.
scared of hearing “no”.
so i added it to my resume.
open sourced the code.
and never launched.
open sourced the code.
and never launched.
"i wasted 2 years because i didn't do the simplest thing: show up."
the lesson:
> build less, ship more
> fear never leaves, but you can move anyway
> showing up beats overthinking
> build less, ship more
> fear never leaves, but you can move anyway
> showing up beats overthinking
btw, this is my desk wall, i put everything i built on it.
it reminds me that you have to show up, no matter what.
this isn't a regret blog. it's a reminder.
if you've got something half-done on your desktop, please just ship it.
send the email. take the call. post the link.
if you've got something half-done on your desktop, please just ship it.
send the email. take the call. post the link.
p.s. i still feel scared sometimes. but now, i show up.