🚀 Jumping Off The Deep End

So... I did the thing. I quit my job as Head of Product at tendercare to bet on myself as a founder.

This is something I've wanted to do for as long as I can remember, to build something of my own. PMs spend their careers learning how to race the track. Now I'm in the driver's seat—time to see if I can actually drive, vroom vroom.

The first week, I woke up and opened my calendar. No meetings. No standups. No 1:1s. Just... blank. I remember thinking: "Now what?"

Turns out, when you're a founder, you have to create your own work. You have to generate your own momentum. It's obvious in hindsight, but in that moment? It felt like standing at the edge of the deep end.

For the next couple of newsletters, we're trying something different (shoutout to my friend Ronnie for the nudge). If you've ever been curious what it's like to leap from product manager into building your own company, this is for you. If not, don't worry, I promise to keep the meme and the riddle.

Here's what the first month has taught me.

My Three Goals (And What They Actually Look Like)

Goal 1: Become a builder again

When I was working, I was acutely aware of how much I didn't understand. Vibecoding, AI video generation, the latest tools that make shipping feel like magic—I knew about them, but I didn't know how to use them.

So I've been upskilling fast. YouTube and Twitter (I refuse to call it X) have been my main sources. I've been learning vibecoding platforms like Rork and Create Anything. On my computer, I've been coding through Claude Code and Codex.

Claude Code is really cool. It's also incredibly poorly named because you can use it for so many things beyond just coding. Case in point: I had it download all my previous newsletters and generate a writing style guide for me to help better edit my writing. It's like having a writing coach who actually studied your work, rather than giving generic feedback.

My strategy right now is to launch a few different consumer iOS apps and learn to market them. Build → Launch → Market. Over and over until it becomes muscle memory.

It's also a lot of fun once you get the hang of it. Emphasis on once you get the hang of it.

Goal 2: Find the problem I actually want to solve

When I left my job, I thought I had a few solid ideas. Then I did some validation work and... they weren't as appealing as I thought.

Take my first idea: a vibe email marketing tool specifically for indie app developers. I thought it was cool. The problem felt real. So I posted about it on Twitter and went deep into Reddit threads to validate demand.

Turns out indie app developers neither have money for email marketing tools nor does the idea of email marketing even cross their minds. They're too busy trying to figure out how to get their first 100 users. Email marketing is a concern for later, if ever.

I still think the idea is cool. But it's the wrong target market. That's the lesson: a good idea for the wrong audience is still a bad idea.

So right now I'm in what we call the "spinning plates" phase. I have a bunch of problems that might be worth solving, but I need to dig deeper to figure out if they have real potential.

Here's the thing, though—it's not just about finding a good problem. It's about finding a problem you're excited about and that you have proximity to. I could be super interested in solving problems for sumo wrestlers, but if I don't know any sumo wrestlers (I don't) and have no way to reach them (I don't), it's probably not a great problem for me to solve. That's founder-market fit.

The good news: there are plenty of problem spaces I do have proximity to. Now it's just about figuring out which ones I care about most. And honestly? That's proven harder than I expected.

The fix is simple: just talk to your intended audience. Find your sumo wrestlers. Ask them questions. Shadow them in their day-to-day if you can. You'll know pretty quickly if you want to keep diving deep with them or move on.

That's where I am right now.

Goal 3: Build a community of other builders

Working at a company is great because you have a team. Sometimes, even a nice office with snacks.

I'm by myself with no office or snacks.

It can get lonely. So it helps to find people working through the same thing. I've been having coffee chats with friends and acquaintances who are on their own building journey. Without fail, every time I leave one of those conversations, I feel more energized. Even if we're solving completely different problems, there's something about commiserating over shared struggles like realizing your "brilliant idea" already exists, or trying to explain to your family what you actually do all day.

I also decided to start working out of a coworking space. It doesn't have the frills of a WeWork, but it definitely has more of a community feel.

And I've been using Twitter to connect with other builders, learn from their wins and mistakes, and build an online community. It can honestly be a very supportive place if you choose to make it one.

The Anchor: Morning and Night Routines

Here's my saving grace in the chaos: a repeatable morning and night routine.

When every day is unpredictable, and you're not sure if you'll spend the day building, talking to users, or questioning all your life choices, having bookends that stay the same creates a sense of normalcy. You start and end each day with something familiar.

If you're thinking about making this leap, I'd highly recommend solidifying your routines before you jump. Future you will thank you.

The First Few Steps

Look, I've only taken the first few steps into this journey. But I've already learned so much about building and about myself.

The daunting part? Realizing that everything depends on you now. No team to fall back on. No established process to lean into. Just you, your laptop, and your ability to figure things out.

The exciting part? Same thing.

Next time, I'll show you some specific things I've learned: the tactical stuff, the surprising stuff, the "why didn't anyone tell me this" stuff. In the meantime, I’ll be out searching for my sumo wrestlers.

Reply to this email and let me know if you liked this email!

The Riddle

The Meme