Unlearning the Factory mindset

Working on your own projects is nothing like working at a job.

The key difference is: Nothing matters but the doing, and learning from the results of what you've done.

There's nobody to punish you or praise you. There's nobody you have to defend your decisions to (at least, until you have people relying on your work), and conversely, nobody to shield you from consequences. You can't talk your way out of a problem any more than you can be forced into one.

A lot of people, when they strike out on their own, try to take the Factory with them.

They lack the structure, oversight, and punishment/rewards of the Factory; they can't seem to get anything done… and so they look for an accountability partner. Or maybe even dream of hiring a boss.

But no matter what promises you make to this third party, you'll always know that you're the one ultimately responsible.

What happens if you ignore the boss you pay? Nothing. They're actually your employee.

And if your only goal is that your accountability partner thinks you're a good little worker, well, what does that say about the importance and success of the work itself? Nothing. You replace all your real-world goals with emotional ones.

Working for yourself, on your own projects, is innately different than working at a job or for a client.

If you refuse to face and grapple with the fundamental differences, all you can do is wallpaper over them. But eventually, cracks will show. You can fight the grain, but you won't win.

Face the differences — learn to embrace them — build a new way of working with the grain, though… and nothing will be able to stop you.