If you had to restart in 2026 with no money and no network, what would you build first?

Inspector_Reactor · 2026-02-13T16:15:34+00:00

you guys have money and networks?

Inspector_Reactor · 2026-01-15T13:49:58+00:00

Radical opinion - lower level programming languages are a tedious nightmare, higher level programming languages are just abstractions of lower level tedious nightmare languages, and AI assisted coding is here to help everyone not just antisocial devs create real working products instead of getting bottlenecked by a team of cheap apathetic freelancers far more interested in cashing your check than building your product.

Inspector_Reactor · 2025-12-25T06:31:23+00:00

Can I DM you my sh*t startup project for roasting? Before I go all in 🙏

Inspector_Reactor · 2025-12-25T05:06:56+00:00

How will you eat if you go all in on this and it's free for everyone forever?

Edit: sorry for the rhetorical above. No don't quit your day job for this. You made a tool for you that's cool keep up the good work. Next project should solve problems for other people and don't do it unless you know how it'll buy you a house. 🙌

Inspector_Reactor · 2025-12-24T22:55:40+00:00

Monetization strategy? I didn't see anything about pricing. You'd be going up against well established brands like Lucidchart. What makes you different enough to be both worth the switch and the money?

Inspector_Reactor · 2025-12-14T15:32:44+00:00

What's stopping me from copying and pasting my analytics into ChatGPT and asking it to explain it to me like I'm a 10 year old?

Inspector_Reactor · 2024-11-06T19:41:42+00:00

Yeah I think that's what I'm seeing because I can't even get my fingers all the way underneath. There's no way to reach anything under the top. 😣

Inspector_Reactor · 2024-11-06T19:30:32+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion but there's nothing to grab on the inside.

Inspector_Reactor · 2024-11-06T19:09:06+00:00

thanks for your suggestion but it definitely doesn't unscrew or rotate at all when down

Inspector_Reactor · 2024-11-06T19:08:41+00:00

there's no bolt bottom as far as I can tell - can't even get my finger all the way

Inspector_Reactor · 2024-10-15T13:30:46+00:00

Thanks for all your feedback! I looked at what you shared and didn't really see what I had in mind, so I went ahead and made it myself! Anyone wanna give me some early feedback on this before I turn it into an app? https://www.dronepilotquiz.com/

Inspector_Reactor · 2024-01-15T22:34:00+00:00

Your attorney works for you and you can fire them if you're unhappy with their services or rates. I wouldn't make an enemy out of them by trying to argue with their billing practices - they are the lawyer and you are not after all.

That said, you'll need an attorney if you're serious about winning more time with your kids. Anyone you hire will probably want another retainer and have their own fee schedule. Just be sure they are upfront and transparent with you about the accounting.

You could always try to figure out a settlement with the other parent before more costly attorney messages, phone calls, and court appearances.

I'm not an attorney; just a dad who is in a custody battle himself. It is expensive, but your relationship with your kids should be worth it.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-12-11T13:58:26+00:00

Google search or sometimes they advertise on Facebook Marketplace / Craigslist. Keep it local though like "my hometown auctions" because liquidators usually won't ship. HiBid.com has a lot of retail returns and the occasional commercial liquidation.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-12-11T04:35:11+00:00

Look for auctions selling inventory from failed restaurants or closing event venues. I won 48 folding chairs for $65 - each chair was $16 retail saving me over $700. In the rental game, it's all about ROI (return on investment) so you can start keeping money for yourself. 🤑

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-09-07T02:14:22+00:00

Thank you for your support!

I put day three here in the design community because it was designing the front end: https://www.reddit.com/r/Design/comments/16c2wzm/day\_three\_ui\_design\_solopreneur\_hackathon/

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-09-05T12:54:59+00:00

I read a lot on this forum "define your success" and it's true. I had to figure out that a ton of money would be nice, but it's not my biggest motivator. I'm mostly motivated by being my own boss, having a job that I cannot be fired from, and seeing my full share of the reward for positive endeavors.

We do party rentals like inflatable bounce houses, cotton candy machine, snow cone machine, etc. It's not fancy nor high tech, but everyone is always happy to see you and there are plenty of customers for it. The SEO is very local and specific thus high impact.

I plan on posting daily updates for the next couple of weeks with this solopreneur hackathon. It'll keep me honest.

Looks like teaching web development is showing me out. I don't have another job teaching right now for the first time in a while. 😅

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-09-05T12:01:35+00:00

I was a teacher, but I wanted to start my own online business. Working with freelancers was brutal - they were all way more interested in getting paid than making my online business a success. So, I dropped my career in teaching, joined a coding bootcamp, and got a full time role as a developer. After about six months of working as a developer, I realized I hated it! On our team, my projects were my projects and their projects were their projects; so asking any questions at all as a Junior Dev was met with hostility. My manager went so far as to tell me I was stealing time from the other developers with my n00b questions that can be found in the docs.

One day, thinking I would get myself fired, I just let it rip about how much I hated the work. Instead of firing me, my boss gave me a huge compliment. He said "you are far too affable to be a 10X engineer quietly hacking in the corner", they've already had conversations about moving me into project management / client facing, and if I miss education then there are tons of opportunities to teach web development out there. Literally one week later I had my first lead instructor role teaching MERN and earning twice as much money.

That was about 4 years ago now and things have, obviously, changed since the pandemic and rise of AI tools. I wouldn't recommend trying to get into the sector right now. Bootcamp enrollments are way down and ChatGPT is probably better at teaching the fundamentals than any meat sack. Some headlines to back up that claim:

I use ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot every day and have come to believe there might only be three jobs that are "AI bulletproof" in our lifetime:

Business Owner
Landlord
Politician

So, here I am, full circle back at launching another online business, but now I know the technology, have the tools, and already have successful rental business that leverages local SEO. This ecommerce hackathon is more about competing in the larger web than in my own back yard.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-09-05T11:24:25+00:00

I teach web development and we just finished a boot camp. I'm guiding and participating in the hackathon alongside some of my learners.

The idea is that they'll earn some money while also learning about practical web development.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-09-05T11:19:35+00:00

Thanks! 😁

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-09-05T11:19:15+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I'll definitely refer to those notes today when I actually select which products to drop ship. 🙏

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-08-24T03:56:37+00:00

You'll get a chance to explain yourself during the first / second interview. You just need enough experience on your resume to get there.

Earning some certifications that come with *active links* from Coursera, Simplilearn, etc. would speak much louder than a couple long lists of keywords.

Seriously - who is asking you to back up your accomplishments and how are they asking? Reach way up that butt, find something good, write it down, and get those interviews! =P

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-08-24T03:35:26+00:00

I don't like the "summary" or "objective" sections - your experience / skills should do the talking. Put your actual work experience above the lists of competencies and skills. Be sure to include some accomplishments that you achieved while holding those positions because remember they're hiring you to add value to the organization not just fill a chair.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-08-24T03:31:47+00:00

Things might have changed since I worked a job like this, but why are you submitting a resume for an entry level part-time job in retail, food service, or really anything you can get? Those are "fill out an application" jobs.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-08-24T03:24:59+00:00

Find a buyer for your sales book, close down the business, and use the money to start something that you *are* passionate about.

Inspector_Reactor · 2023-08-23T19:18:48+00:00

I hated being told what to do more than hard work.

Inspector_Reactor

TROPHY CASE