Sam Hartmann

ok, honestposting time Since I sold Talknotes for $200k last year, I have been pretty miserable My bet was to lock in for a year and double down. And it failed. I've made almost no progress toward my goals since then It was after 2 years of grinding non-stop, from learning to code, up to the $200k cash exit. When I sold, I was already burned out, and I didn't take time to cool off cause there was 2 other apps I wanted to grow. But neither really went anywhere (reasons in first comment) In October, I started getting super depressed cause I was not growing a biz anymore, and that drove me crazy. Started to have really dark thoughts. Even started to get white hairs (I'm 28!!). Gym didn't help. I also shipped less, cause I think I became scared of failing and wasting more time I still got some sales ($1,300 MRR from the B2B app + its $25k exit in April + other projects), but nowhere near what I aimed for. I feel like every hour not spent working is wasted, cause there will be more and more competition + less opportunities cause of AI (total bullshit btw, I know it's not true, but I always think of the worst, so that's still how I feel) When I try taking time off, I want to go back to work immediately. And it sucks, cause I can't make good decisions with the head "in" the business. Also lots of instances where there are so many things I can do that I end up doing nothing (analysis paralysis) I'm lucky cause my GF is super understanding with how much I work, otherwise it would have cost my relationship too Tbh I don't mind not being happy in the present if I know I'm moving toward my goals (cause once I'm rich then I can chill down, focus on relationship, family etc). But right now I have neither I don't post much about all that cause I don't like whining. But I think it's also important to show the reality, and it's not always happy, cause ppl only post the best part on social media So, yeah monk mode + solopreneur is amazing to get shit done fast. But if you don't have a plan or if it fails, you get double the slap Will try to force myself to take vacations soon, my last day off was in December. Hopefully, this will help me think.

So a few things: I think the uncomfortable truth is that many of the immigrants that come to Portugal (and rest of Southern Europe) particularly South Asia work really hard, many work harder than Portuguese because they have more at stake Majority of the Uber drivers are South Asian, their cars are generally cleaner and they're much friendlier than the very frustrated, stressed and angry native Portuguese Uber drivers (who are probably angry cause they getting squeezed out of the market by immigrants to be fair) 99% of the South Asians in Portugal I talked to are very honest about their game plan: - Stay in Portugal 5 years then get the passport - They work hard, in farming, factories as Uber driver - Often their wife also works, but they don't register as a couple. Why? Well.... - A large share of them often work illegally (as in unregistered), while registering as unemployed and apply for free welfare benefits which are very easy to get in Portugal, this is 100% welfare fraud - A lot of the money (both work + welfare) is sent back to families in their home countries, some of the money is invested in real estate at home or in places like Dubai - Once they get their Portuguese passport after 5 years, they get instant access to the European Union, can live anywhere and they say they will move to UK or Germany, for better work opportunities (and possibly welfare too) You have to understand one thing, to us this feels like dishonest fraud and it absolutely is but to them they're just hacking the system without considering much about the long term damage One thing I learnt is the South Asians I met were all very friendly to me and they're just trying to get themselves out of poverty, you gotta imagine what you would do in their situ What we have to do in Europe is completely shutdown welfare for new immigrants first 10-20 years or so or at least until you've paid net into the system enough

When you feel at rock bottom... When you're crying like a lost child... When you feel like giving up... ...but you're finally ready to keep going without changing the direction. And then suddenly wonderful things accumulate.☀️🙏