You Don't Need A Big Idea To Win As A Solo Dev
You just need a goal and a vague idea of how to get there.
Hey there Solo Dev!
You're still waiting for that perfect idea to hit you, aren't you?
That revolutionary concept that will change the world and make you the next big, important person. I've been there too, endlessly delaying actual work, thinking "all the good ideas are taken."
The truth? It doesn’t matter.
Needing a “perfect” idea is a myth.
Here's what seasoned Solo Devs know: the idea is arguably the least valuable part of building a successful solo business.
Let that sink in.
The internet is littered with the remains of brilliant ideas that were never finished. Meanwhile, "boring" products like project management tools and email clients continue to launch and thrive every year.
Why? Because execution trumps ideation every single time.
How will you know what’s on the path if you never walk it?
Think about driving at night. Your headlights only illuminate a short distance in front of you, but you can make the entire journey that way (with a little careful driving, at times).
Building as a Solo Dev works the same way:
You don't need to see the entire path
You just need to see far enough to take the next step
Each step reveals more of the path
Direction becomes clear through movement
Last week, we talked about confidence being a blocker to starting your own Solo Dev business. Don’t let “needing a perfect idea” be the excuse masking a lack of confidence.
You just need to start with what you know.
Instead of waiting for the perfect idea, start with a problem you personally experience or understand deeply.
Ask yourself:
What frustrates me in my daily work?
What manual process do I repeat that could be automated?
What knowledge do I have that others might pay to access?
The best businesses often start as simple solutions to the founder's own problems.
Another approach:
What problem seems fun to you?
What does the technology you are familiar with lend itself to?
What do you want to market?
When you execute you reveal opportunity.
Here's what happens when you focus on execution over ideation:
You build momentum that carries you through obstacles
You get real feedback from actual users
You discover opportunities you couldn't have imagined
You develop skills that make the next project more likely to succeed
Even "failed" projects become stepping stones.
The code, connections, and knowledge you gain transfer to whatever comes next.
Let me share something from my own journey.
Recently, I set out to build a small MVP for a product idea I had. But as I started working, something unexpected happened.
I realized that investing time in creating a more robust backend based on Clean Architecture would give me valuable experience for my day job, while simultaneously setting me up better for future projects.
So I pivoted.
Not because the original idea was bad, but because the act of executing revealed a different path I had not anticipated taking.
Instead of rushing out a small MVP (which is likely what you should do, I might add, to validate your product), I decided to take the time to dig into the technical aspect.
This is my first Solo Dev project. My audience is small. I don’t expect a massive success.
I decided that I’d prefer to have the extra experience.
Both for my job, and for future projects.
You don't always end up where you planned. But you’ll still go to where you need to be.
The only way to discover these opportunities is to start building something.
So, why don’t you challenge yourself?
If you have the time, I’d encourage you to:
Pick a small problem you personally face
Build the simplest possible solution (aim for a day, not weeks)
Show it to just one person who might use it
Iterate based on what you learn
Remember: the path becomes clear when you're in motion. You don't need to see the entire journey from the start.
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. The same applies to building your Solo Dev business.
See you next Saturday!
Until then, stop waiting for the perfect idea and join me in building a Solo Dev business one executable step at a time.