[HN Gopher] Ask HN: Burned out SaaS founder: how to go minimal
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       Ask HN: Burned out SaaS founder: how to go minimal
        
       Not trolling. I am a regular HN'er but throwaway account. I the
       solo founder of a SAAS company and personally I made $400K from the
       business for myself last year. I have a million dollar home. I have
       paid off cars. I have a great life on paper BUT lately I am
       miserable as hell. I have been trying to figure out what went wrong
       because I thought I am living my dream (running my own business
       which I do)  I am so lonely. I am strong enough that I don't
       consider killing myself or anything like that but I feel so lost
       right now.  I am considering selling EVERYTHING (including the
       business and my home) and going really minimal. I have not lived
       minimally since 2006 (started making 100K plus since then). I am
       worth 2 Million dollars but feel like a failure. I know you will
       say 1st world problem and all but I have worked my ass off to get
       here and nothing came to me handed. I had to earn every bit of it.
       I work 60-70 hours per week on the business.  I am just so tired of
       this race. Trying to grow the business (solo founder), customers
       bullshit, employees bullshit and what not. My wife and I fight
       about doing upgrades in the house which is never enough. The more
       money we make, the more we are trying to keep up with in this rat
       race of materialistic things.  Looking for advice from people like
       me who went minimal since I think that may be a possible option for
       me. Live a simpler life and then focus on doing things that may
       bring back that sense of happiness I used to have when I was in
       college. I know I cannot be caged in corporate jobs. What do I do ?
       I do have 2 kids and a wife so I am not sure what do but I feel
       stuck in this life style.
        
       Author : burnedout008
       Score  : 4 points
       Date   : 2022-02-05 22:02 UTC (59 minutes ago)
        
       | grujicd wrote:
       | > I feel so lost right now.
       | 
       | What makes you lost, but in a positive sense? Playing or
       | listening music, books? Riding bicycle, running? Hiking? Physical
       | activities tend to help.
       | 
       | Scale down these 60-70 hours per week, that's ridiculous. There's
       | no life/work balance there. You're running a SAAS, in theory it
       | just keep bringing cash. I know it's not like that but still, see
       | how long the business can coast with your minimal involvement.
       | Use that to your advantage. Who says that business has to always
       | grow? Even if it slows down but you end up happier that's a net
       | positive.
        
         | burnedout008 wrote:
         | "Who says that business has to always grow"
         | 
         | Yea that's what I am grappling with. I guess I am becoming the
         | victim of FOMO and Social Media pressures of always doing
         | better in business. For the 1st time in my entire life, I have
         | lost clarity on what I want. It is not just about the money but
         | the confusion is how far is enough ? I want to get to 10M in
         | ARR but it is killing me.
        
       | sbinthree wrote:
       | It is normal for financial freedom to trigger depression. Seek
       | therapy. Don't sell all your stuff before you have really
       | explored what might be the origin of the problem. No extreme
       | lifestyle changes are going to fix clinical depression.
        
         | burnedout008 wrote:
         | Appreciate your response. How do I know it is clinical
         | depression ? What type of professional can help with this ?
        
           | davidandgoliath wrote:
           | Multi-million dollar business but can't Google?
        
       | sergiotapia wrote:
       | You feel lost because of your wife. Your wife is supposed to be
       | your sanctuary not bring you more troubles. This is the root of
       | your problem. You are misaligned with your family.
       | 
       | I would speak to your wife about what _you_ want to do (go
       | minimal and sell the business) and try to find togetherness
       | there. You are building on sand if you are not aligned with your
       | wife.
        
         | burnedout008 wrote:
         | Thx for replying. I think that would be a bit harsh on her
         | because honestly she has been very supportive overall on the
         | things that I do. I don't think it is her. I think it is me. I
         | just don't know what is wrong ?
        
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       (page generated 2022-02-05 23:02 UTC)