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Comment by maximp | Hacker News Reader

I think the last sentence summarizes the unspoken assumption in the article:

> it takes incredible amounts of courage, grit, discipline and patience to build a major company without outside financing

Maybe I've been spending too much time on Indiehackers, but I don't think many bootstrappers are trying to build "a major company", in the vein of huge, VC-funded businesses. I think the end goal for many indie hackers is a company that pays like a great job, but with less work and more autonomy and fulfillment (a "lifestyle business") - not one that puts a "dent in the universe".

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I agree, however I would even say that "less work" isn't always what people strive for. If it's your company then it does not feel like work, so hours don't matter so much. It's much more about things like: not having to sit through countless meetings with no clear purpose and lots, and lots of meaningless BS.

Agreed. In my case, daydreams regardless, I'm not expecting to build a multi-billion $ exit. It's more about building something useful for people, that I can control the direction of, and guide to some kind of "success".

Success here can be a nice side-income, but also just making a solid, valuable tool for customers.

I also think that many founders aren't trying to always 'build a major company' but instead want to 'do their own thing' and earn a living without being entirely beholden to corporate types.

Don't think that the 'less work' is generally the case, even if the idea might be nice, but rewards that correspond to work can be good. Autonomy must be a strong driver.

However, once bootstrapped and operating, that can seem like a distant dream if the business requires more staff, with admin and management becoming 'a thing'. Later, looking to sell the business can mean a whole load more work but if all the stars align well, can give a large return. Or not.

My reason exactly. Hard to do so, it turned out. I had time for one "pivot", which I am doing right now. Doesn't seem to work to good so far...

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