Arvid has been inspired by reading Paul Millard's book, The Pathless Path, and Rob Walling's new book, The SaaS Playbook, both of which he found highly inspirational and well done. He's considering writing more books and is contemplating whether to seek a publisher or continue self-publishing.
Arvid is exploring the concept of building in public and debating whether to involve a publisher or stick to self-publishing. He's uncertain about the best approach and has sought advice from various individuals in the publishing industry.
Tyler suggests that the topic of building in public might not be appealing to traditional book publishers, but Arvid believes it has wider applicability. They discuss the potential of the concept and its marketability.
Tyler shares his recent health struggles and the positive response to his announcement about reducing team size at CompFund. He expresses gratitude for the supportive messages he received.
Arvid Kahl expresses happiness and support for the individual's journey and the community's response.
He emphasizes the importance of sharing personal journeys and building in public for creating goodwill and support.
Arvid highlights the positive impact of sharing personal struggles on strengthening bonds and garnering support from others.
Building in public can create goodwill and trust from people by providing behind-the-scenes explanations and documenting decisions.
Honesty and transparency can mitigate potential backlash and complaints, as seen in the positive response to the discussed example.
The community's understanding of entrepreneurship and the acceptance of risk contribute to the positive reception of public communication about failures.
Arvid Kahl shared his experience of feeling socially isolated and unsupported while building a business, which resonated with many people at MicroConf and on Twitter.
He recounted how his father-in-law was unsupportive of his decision to start a business with his wife, and how his grandmother also didn't understand or support his entrepreneurial pursuits.
Despite facing skepticism and lack of support, Arvid persisted and eventually found success with Feedback Panda, a SaaS business that generated $20,000 a month, finally earning his grandmother's approval after years of frustration.
Tyler Tringas shares his experience of growing up in a family where entrepreneurship was normalized, which provided him with a supportive environment and a lack of pressure to pursue traditional jobs.
He also discusses the isolation he felt as an entrepreneur, lacking a support network and struggling to relate to others in social situations due to differing priorities and interests.
Arvid Kahl relates to this, expressing his frustration at being unable to contribute meaningfully to conversations on topics like AI and entrepreneurship, feeling isolated as a result.
Arvid Kahl discusses the challenges of social interactions as an entrepreneur, highlighting the difficulty in finding common ground with family and friends who have traditional jobs. He shares an example of a rare enjoyable conversation with family members working in marketing, emphasizing the disconnect between the perspectives of an entrepreneur and those in normal jobs.
Arvid Kahl also reflects on the pressure to maintain relationships while feeling isolated as an entrepreneur. He expresses empathy for individuals whose joy and successful ventures are not fully understood or appreciated by their partners, citing an example of a Star Trek podcast hosts' wives being embarrassed about their husbands' profession.
Furthermore, Arvid Kahl recounts instances where he had to defend entrepreneurship to his grandmother and peers, particularly when he was building his business while working a full-time job. He shares the animosity and lack of understanding he faced when he decided to quit his job, emphasizing the importance of not letting others' opinions deter one's entrepreneurial pursuits.
Arvid Kahl reflects on the role of partnership in his successes and failures, emphasizing the impact of meeting his co-founder and life partner, Daniel, in the same building where he is recording.
Their relationship faced early tests due to Arvid's half-remote work and long-distance commuting, but they started a business together in 2017, sold it in 2019, and moved to Canada in 2021.
The story highlights the compatibility and shared desire to build between Arvid and his partner, shaping their journey of building a life and business together.
Tyler Tringas discusses the challenge of gaining buy-in from skeptical partners or spouses, especially in the context of entrepreneurship.
He also mentions the feeling of being behind peers on a traditional path, particularly in terms of financial success and achieving tangible milestones like buying houses or having kids.
He invites others to share their stories and experiences related to these challenges.
Arvid Kahl discusses how he never felt the need to compare his lifestyle with others, especially in terms of financial security. He reflects on his late exposure to financial education and the impact it had on his decisions, including selling his business to secure his life through diversifying investments.
Tyler Tringas shares his experiences as an entrepreneur, emphasizing the benefits of embracing the unconventional aspects of entrepreneurship, such as the flexibility to travel and the avoidance of the hedonic treadmill. He encourages questioning societal narratives and finding inspiration from diverse lifestyles.
Both Arvid and Tyler stress the importance of building a community of like-minded individuals and seeking inspiration from others' unconventional paths. They also give a shout-out to influential figures and podcasts that have motivated them in their entrepreneurial journeys.