this is supposed to be my journal, but i find it ironic that i haven't spent much time talking about one of the most important things in my life these days...namely, this site.
being your own boss is an all-consuming, empowering and completely scary concept. i find that i wake up and think about DS, i go to work and work on DS, and then i come home and worry about DS. i have great days when the site is humming along, people are using the site the way we designed it, or when one of us dreams up some great new idea.
then there's bad days when we have issues, or someone's abusing the site, or something is just getting in the way of doing what we want to do.
probably my favorite thing to do these days, outside of friends, family and my wife, is push out new product features. i love that "eureka!" moment when we think of something, and then the process of taking a concept, expressing it on a page, and wiring it up. of course, the best moment is when you're validated by folks using the feature as you originally envisioned it.
what's been a surprising challenge on this site is what NOT to do...we're determined to build an easy-to-use product, and not just add features because we can, but because people will use them to better their lives. i can't tell you how many ideas seem great on paper, but are just too complicated when you try to turn them into a web page.
i've recently realized that i most likely have a mild-to-moderate case of ADHD, which is why i love the internet so much. we dream up ideas, and i don't even have the patience to write them down. waiting 2-4 weeks is about as long as i can stomach to get something up and out and running. i don't think i could ever make cars or design hardware...just takes too darn long.
anyway, this has definitely been the most empowering and stressful 9 months of my life...we're almost at a year...it's flown by so fast. fortunately, i'm surrounded by partners who tolerate my ADHD, and i think we've managed to find a partnership whereby we all play off each other's strengths.
i do take tremendous joy out of the fact that we've managed to create a product that can change people's lives. when i worked on Yahoo Mail or Chat or Groups, i felt that way as well - i remember a time when i saw an internet cafe in Italy advertising my products, and while it was definitely a stretch, i got satisfaction out of knowing that my product was being used to keep people in touch with friends and family. with DS, i take such pride in reading the hugs, and going through the messages that come into the Doug account. sometimes, like tonight, i read a message from someone and i want to shout "yes! that's exactly why we built this!"...but that would wake my sleeping wife, of course. ;)
anyway, that was a selfish post if i've ever seen one. i normally like to focus on my problems, or my kids, or my family situation, but this is an important part of my life...and also one that i truly enjoy.
on a totally, completely unrelated note, C and i went to see Keane in concert last friday. they're awesome, although Coldplay does put on a better show. I haven't told C yet, but i hear Rage Against The Machine is re-uniting and i really, really wanna go to that show. i suspect she don't feel the same way. ;)
being your own boss is an all-consuming, empowering and completely scary concept. i find that i wake up and think about DS, i go to work and work on DS, and then i come home and worry about DS. i have great days when the site is humming along, people are using the site the way we designed it, or when one of us dreams up some great new idea.
then there's bad days when we have issues, or someone's abusing the site, or something is just getting in the way of doing what we want to do.
probably my favorite thing to do these days, outside of friends, family and my wife, is push out new product features. i love that "eureka!" moment when we think of something, and then the process of taking a concept, expressing it on a page, and wiring it up. of course, the best moment is when you're validated by folks using the feature as you originally envisioned it.
what's been a surprising challenge on this site is what NOT to do...we're determined to build an easy-to-use product, and not just add features because we can, but because people will use them to better their lives. i can't tell you how many ideas seem great on paper, but are just too complicated when you try to turn them into a web page.
i've recently realized that i most likely have a mild-to-moderate case of ADHD, which is why i love the internet so much. we dream up ideas, and i don't even have the patience to write them down. waiting 2-4 weeks is about as long as i can stomach to get something up and out and running. i don't think i could ever make cars or design hardware...just takes too darn long.
anyway, this has definitely been the most empowering and stressful 9 months of my life...we're almost at a year...it's flown by so fast. fortunately, i'm surrounded by partners who tolerate my ADHD, and i think we've managed to find a partnership whereby we all play off each other's strengths.
i do take tremendous joy out of the fact that we've managed to create a product that can change people's lives. when i worked on Yahoo Mail or Chat or Groups, i felt that way as well - i remember a time when i saw an internet cafe in Italy advertising my products, and while it was definitely a stretch, i got satisfaction out of knowing that my product was being used to keep people in touch with friends and family. with DS, i take such pride in reading the hugs, and going through the messages that come into the Doug account. sometimes, like tonight, i read a message from someone and i want to shout "yes! that's exactly why we built this!"...but that would wake my sleeping wife, of course. ;)
anyway, that was a selfish post if i've ever seen one. i normally like to focus on my problems, or my kids, or my family situation, but this is an important part of my life...and also one that i truly enjoy.
on a totally, completely unrelated note, C and i went to see Keane in concert last friday. they're awesome, although Coldplay does put on a better show. I haven't told C yet, but i hear Rage Against The Machine is re-uniting and i really, really wanna go to that show. i suspect she don't feel the same way. ;)
Replies
I just want you to know.. I am so glad you devote your passion into something that has brought my life so much joy, support and enlightenment.
Let\'s go to rage together. You have done a great thing Doug and I personally would love to hear more about it. I gots to tell you what happened when I walked into a bar tonight across from Coupa. Maybe you can guess=)
Always love hearing what you have to say.
Post more often in your \'free\' time :)
hugs
judyL
you are doing a great job...what you wanted to create has taken off, and has helped so many people. I see it everyday in the journal entries I read. you have made a difference in many peoples\' lives, (and total strangers at that). I don\'t know too many people who can say that...
Ditto, vlt. Thank you for such a lifesaving site. I\'m very grateful for it.
you took on a monumental project. it is amazing how well it was executed. taking care of something so important and complex can weigh on your mind at times. one thing i learned is not to rate how i feel as good or bad. just recognize that i have feelings and that means i am alive and belong to the human race.
Your ability to consistently write clear and well-considered journal entries in a life as busy as yours is worth replicating.
WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL PLACE TO COME TO WHEN WE ALL NEED A FRIEND!!!OR JUST A LIFT ME UP THAT DAY!! LOVE YOUR STORY, GOD BLESS, LEIGH.