This is a guest post from Noah Bragg, founder of Potion.so.
My name is Noah.
I’ve been trying to build successful tech startups for the last 6 or 7 years. I’ve got a few failures under my belt. I built a cookie app where you could order homemade cookies from neighbors around you. I built a pixel art website where users could create art together.
Neither of these made money.
But recently, I’ve found some success. I built a little SaaS tool for support teams on the side and sold it for $27k. More recently, I launched a SaaS tool that allows you to create websites with Notion — this tool earns $5K MRR.
Starting a business is tough, there’s no denying that. But if you’re willing to stick with it and keep trying and learning as you go, you’ll eventually make it. You’ll continue to learn about your customers and understand their needs better.
Here are my three keys to launching a sustainable and successful startup.
Work for customers you enjoy being with
As anyone who has worked in customer service can attest, not all customers are created equal.
Some are friendly and easy to deal with. Others can be demanding and challenging. In many cases, the difference between a good day and a bad day can come down to the quality of the customers you’re dealing with.
That’s why it’s important to work for customers you enjoy being with. When you enjoy your work, it’s easier to be patient and persistent when challenges arise. And when you spend your days helping people you enjoy being with, it’s much easier to clock in and give your best every day. So if you’re looking for a business idea that will make every day a good day, be sure to work for customers you enjoy being with.
It helps if these are customers that you understand and have similarities with. This is why when I was looking for an idea, a Notion website builder made a lot of sense for me. Because I love hanging out with founders and creators. This, in large part, is the kind of customers that use Potion.
Have a work process that doesn’t burn you out
If you can work in a way that doesn’t burn you out, you will be able to keep going and make progress. It will also give you more time to figure out your customer’s problems and solve them. So here are some steps you can take to not burn out.
First, it’s important to be realistic about the amount of work you can realistically get done in a day or week. Trying to do too much in too short a time frame is a recipe for disaster. Second, be consistent in your work habits. Work a set number of hours each day or week, and stick to that schedule as much as possible.
Finally, don’t overdo it. Know when to take breaks and when to call it quits for the day. If you can find a work process that meets these simple standards, you’ll be well on your way to avoiding burnout.
I work on my SaaS businesses in a very flexible way. I work from home and take breaks going outside a few times a day. I get to eat 3 meals a day with my kids and family. I try to create an environment that lets me enjoy the work and persist.
Focus on learning
It can be easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks of running a business and forget the bigger picture. Remember that your ultimate goal is to build a successful business, and everything you do should be in service of that goal. Learning should be your top priority with every step you take. Because then, even if you fail, you will be able to take your learnings to move forward with your business or even a new business.
I once had a business called CoffeePass where we made an “order ahead app” for local coffee shops. We ended up selling it for some money, but it wasn’t a huge success. I learned a ton from trying to build that startup, like how to sell and how to focus on the most important things.
Read our recent post: How to Make Data Driven Decisions for Your Startup
So don’t be discouraged if things don’t work out perfectly right away. The important thing is to keep moving forward and learning from your mistakes. By building a business the right way, you can persevere through the tough times and come out ahead in the end.
Conclusion
Even if you’re not where you want to be yet, know that it’s possible to get there. Just keep working and don’t give up!
My three keys to launching a sustainable and successful startup: Build a business around something you love, work with people you enjoy being around, and find a process that doesn’t burn you out. Focus on learning and understanding your customers — if you can do all of those things, you’ll find traction over time.
Got a new product (or feature) idea? Launch your a market research survey today. Every successful venture begins with feedback from real consumers. Let’s get building!