Filed under: startup, technology | Tags: 37signals, godaddy, Ruby, startup, technology
So I have a pretty clear idea in my head of what I’ll be doing with the new company. Correction, I have a very clear idea of what I’ll be doing (I’ve heard that’s important). Essentially, I’m building a web app that people will pay a monthly fee for, and in return, hopefully get a service that makes their life easier. I’m going to keep that service a secret for now, just because I feel like it.
I’m literally starting from scratch on this by the way. I don’t have a development server ready and I’ve never used the programming language I’m going to develop in (Ruby). I don’t have any money set aside or anything. So I’m really going to be starting from step one. For me, the steps start here….
1) Buy a beginner’s Ruby programming book
2) Read the book
That’s where I’m at right now. I’m a LAMP developer by night, and a more traditional IT consultant by day. Until this past weekend when I bought a book, I had never even read a line of Ruby code. Now I’m about 400 pages into the book and starting to get a feel for it.
To keep it honest, I chose to learn Ruby because of 37signals.com. I’m a big fan of their web apps, and a big fan of their development guide, Getting Real.
So for now, I guess I’ll keep reading. Oh, and I’ll have a find a dev server too. I’m thinking rebuild junk PC in my closet, install a new VM on my already busy 2003 server, or sign up with someone at GoDaddy. I don’t know which option I like best…
I guess I started this blog because I’m in a state of transition in my life. I’m moving on from a night job, that used to be a lot more than just a job, but then ended up being just another job. It was time again to find something more.
I work days at a job I am very good at, and enjoy, but don’t have the passion I used to. The night job I recently resigned from used to push my brain to new areas, new learning, but a few things changed, and the growth stopped, I found myself wondering why I was working so many hours and having so little fun. There was no passion for work anymore.
So, I am on to my 3rd company-project or “startup” to be trendy. The first effort was successful, but there was no scaling there, it was pretty much a small business with me doing work for clients. The second attempt was the night job I just spoke of, it had potential for so much, and still does with the team that’s left, but it’s best served without me on the team.
I thought I would take a few weeks off, stare at the ceiling, watch TV, sleep, who knows.. But that didn’t work out, my brain started going again and here I am.
This time I’m going to document it though, this is my journey building a new company, a technology company, one that takes advantage of all that I’ve learned in the past few years. I think I know what I’m doing this time (that’s not true). It sure will be fun to see what happens.
Welcome to MinneApp, a tech blog from a guy trying to find the right mix of work, family, and anything else.
