Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on Seattle 2.0, and imported to GeekWire as part of our acquisition of Seattle 2.0 and its archival content. For more background, see this post.
By Aaron Franklin
I left Microsoft to embark on a one year experiment. 12 months later, much is still up in the air. I thought we could launch a product within a few months, and either gain traction or fail by the end of the year. While LazyMeter is almost in beta, it’s clearly taken longer than planned. This week, a few friends naturally asked how I feel about the first year of my experiment, and whether I have any regrets.
Life is good. I’m thrilled with the product we’re building, our LLC had significant revenue from consulting, and for the first time in recent memory, I can say I’ve grown. I’ve left my comfort zone, networking and returning to code, and I’ve rediscovered things I love to do like writing. This was very different than the years I spent distracted by things like salary, levels and promotions that now feel meaningless. While I couldn’t figure out the source of my dissatisfaction at Microsoft, I now realize I had to leave because I was waiting instead of growing. Looking back on the past year, I’m not upset with the opportunity cost, or things taking longer than planned. I’m thrilled that I no longer feel stuck and have made steps in the right direction. When I look to the future, I have countless options. I’ve never been closer to where I want to be, and I’m figuring out where I want to be at the same time. Leaving Microsoft to found a startup has been nothing short of a successful journey, no matter where I end up.
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Aaron Franklin is co-founder of LazyMeter, a personal productivity application nearing beta. His interest in to-do lists is closely related to his interest in how people can find work they love. Ultimately, it’s all about feeling satisfied at the end of the day.
