People who do "12 projects a year" kind of challenge, why?

Question

I see a bunch of indie hackers doing a "12 projects a year" kind of challenge. While an interesting exercise on its own, it looks counter-intuitive.

I would rather find one project that works and double down on it.

What's your take on this?

Joan Mateo Duarte 🚀 · Accepted Answer

One is more than enough. It's really hard to succeed in 12 of them at the same time.

Alara Akcasiz · Answer

I agree, but one has to admit, if you build side projects and launch a month you get a really good & consistent traffic

phprunner · Answer

@jack95 it does sound like a waste of time. This is a good exercise, build fast, ship fast, fail fast but I cannot see how you can build a sustainable business this way. Find something that works and double down on it.

Raju Sivaram · Answer

I believe on working and mastering a single startup is a hercules task, I want to execute it to the core.

Uma Venugopal · Answer

I suppose it's more along the lines of "Shoot for the moon, if you fail you'll be among the stars."

Yassin Bouacherine · Answer

12 projects a year sounds insane, would be curious to know the nature of the projects. It seems to be something that successful entrepreneurs would engage in, since they may have the data and resources to enroll in that many projects within only 12 months. They throw stuff and see what sticks on the wall.  For somebody who is starting from the bottom, one project is already a luxury, I don't think that's recommended to split the time, energy, and money within 12 different ones, except if they require little to no resources to try. But still, based on my experience, a good concept requires some serious dedication to even get to validate the idea. It's not a bad idea to look at different options but it shouldn't take you away from what you are best at. It has to stay within your field of expertise. I could think of 3 different ways I could come across mine, 12 sounds outlandish!

phprunner · Answer

@sanat_mohanty Lots of small bets, like buying a bunch of different lottery tickets. Usually this doesn't work work for most people.

Sanat Mohanty · Answer

I can think of a business'ish jargon: Risk minimization.

In theory: Bunch of small bets, odds of failure is lesser.

In real life - pieter levels has proved it's efficacy.

Perhaps that's the reason.

Alara Akcasiz · Answer

@sergey_kornilov1 I mean side projects of a main project. Like new features. It would be a great traffic to a single domain

phprunner · Answer

@joanduarte Hard or rather impossible I would say

phprunner · Answer

@uma_venugopal Right, people just hope to find the right idea that will take them to the moon. They kind of forgetting that execution is more important.

Yassin Bouacherine · Answer

@sergey_kornilov1 I agree with tou!

Aurelie Giard-Jacquet · Answer

It might be helpful for training, like they want to upskill on one app or language. I find it hard enough to work on two projects!

Uma Venugopal · Answer

@sergey_kornilov1 very important, indeed.

phprunner · Answer

@raju_sivarama_gadiraju Exactly. It might be useful as an exercise on its own but not a way to build a successful business.

People who do "12 projects a year" kind of challenge, why?

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