I’ve recently been reading Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan, a book dedicated to the art of starting a business simply, quickly, and without the fear that paralyses. (Actually, by the time I’m writing this, I need to re-read it—I’ve got the fear of asking again…)
It was an eye-opener.
As I read through the book, I started looking at my “business” as an abstract dream that was just a dream and started considering my own situation with Questline Creations. I’ve had to be really honest with myself about what I am building and why I am building it. I’m going to try to break down my realisations here.
1. Don’t turn Passion into a Business
Firstly, with Questline Creations, I have to realise what it is. This isn’t a dropshipping scheme, it isn’t a generic software business, or a startup built solely for the exit.
I admit, all the “slop” I see on YouTube right now makes me dream. It’seasy to get sucked into the idea of the make money fast dream with an ai startup especially after 80 Million-dollar deal to a solo creator
But this currently, is a creative passion project. I’m trying to build a business around something that I genuinely care about, something artistic and personal. That changes the stakes—a passion, if you will. Which leads to the next point.
2. Create a Business With Passion
These subheadings remind me of that video: “Don’t love your work, Work your love.”
It is incredibly hard to make money from a solely creative passion product because the development of the product becomes the only focus. Market trends are ignored for creative style. I make something that feels cool to me, not necessarily what is broadly appealing. The process of writing this blog is making me consider the aim for this: passion or profit?
3. How to Fail.
I had to reassess my resources, my aim, and what my investments were going to be. Okay, so I’m still starting from not a lot, but moving off the starting line is more than a lot of people dreaming of working for themselves can say.
So what did I do? Firstly, I made Access the Bridge a choose-your-own-adventure path book.
And looking back, I realise: Wow, I’m going to make loads of the mistakes that Million Dollar Weekend told me to avoid. I need to pivot more and make sure that I actually validate ideas before building them.
4. The Mindset Shift
Questline Creations is going to have a slight shift; the north star is now going to be success rather than just creative passion. It will still be within the niche of physical games—experiences focused on the social side of gaming, but not party games. I’m gonna have to learn about advertisement, creating a following, and providing value.
Let’s set a goal here. It’s near the end of December, and I’m looking for a job (which I still will because I need to move out of my parents’ house ASAP), but next year I want to be making £100 a month.
Now, this is a low amount, but I’ll update this blog every time I change or smash that goal.
Henners x
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