Hey everyone, I’m a 27-year-old software engineer at a major tech company. For the past year, I’ve been focused on building a product that stands out. I’ve come up with plenty of ideas, but I often find out that someone else has already built it, or I lose interest along the way. I constantly feel underutilized, like I’m meant to create something more meaningful. The thought of working for someone else for the rest of my life just doesn’t sit well with me.
I feel this way because I’m confident in my technical skills—I’m great at coding and designing complex systems. I’ve tried the FAANG interviews three times, preparing for eight months each time, but always fell short because of those algorithm and data structure questions that don’t seem relevant to real-world problems. After that, I thought about learning new skills like ServiceNow development or getting into crypto, just to avoid feeling like I’m wasting my time. But honestly, neither of those interests me.
Lately, I’ve been meeting people to understand the problems they’re facing, hoping to find some inspiration. I’ve even walked around the city without my phone, looking for opportunities to build something new.
Is this normal? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences, even if they don’t directly address my situation.
I have the same thoughts. However, the goal is to grow and market the product rather than creating it. Even if you create excellent software, you won’t make any sales.
Just get started; I believe it’s best to avoid doing research. Choose a market that has some promise, identify a need, then fill it. If you claim to be proficient in coding, it will come naturally to you.
Stop obsessing over finding the “big idea” or the perfect product. Start small. One of the most common mistakes is believing you need a groundbreaking, world-changing concept before taking any action. The truth is, most successful entrepreneurs didn’t begin with a revolutionary idea—they simply started by solving a small problem, and things evolved from there.
It’s great that you’re talking to people and searching for opportunities. Keep doing that, but don’t wait around for the perfect idea to strike. Sometimes, just building something—even if it’s not the next big thing—can give you the momentum to discover something more impactful. Solving real problems and gathering feedback can lead to insights you’d never gain by just brainstorming or wandering around without your phone (though kudos for the creativity there!).
And don’t worry too much if someone else has already built something similar. If an idea excites you, even if it’s been done, think about how you can execute it better or put your own spin on it. Execution often matters more than originality.
Most importantly, find something that genuinely excites you, even if it’s small or niche. Passion will carry you through the challenges and help you stick with it. Action leads to clarity, not the other way around. So get started, build something, and see where it takes you.
Three big rivals with sizable development teams for the SaaS I’m now working on exist. Clearly, there is a market for a second competitor, so all I need to do is complete the work of a development team, and I’ll be good to go. Ultimately, identify a SaaS that is performing well and simply improve upon it.
Just curious as to why you are pursuing this product given that you are aware that you are up against three well-funded competitors.
It is not intended to be disparaging. I’m interested in your reasoning because I’ve been having a discussion with a business partner about this.
Constructing something for yourself is far more enjoyable than creating something for someone else. It’s good to be able to take ownership of it, make all the decisions, and continue to derive benefit from your prior labor.
I would much rather use my hands to dig a ditch in my backyard than write computer code for a living.
I can totally relate. I’ve been a software engineer for a year but have been coding for five. I’ve built dozens of apps and always felt the urge to create something impactful but didn’t know what. Eventually, I decided to develop a software similar to what my previous company used.
There are plenty of people already making similar software, but that’s normal. The key is finding a way to stand out, and that comes from building business acumen.
You also need grit and resilience. Keep working on your project even when motivation is low—though it helps if you’re genuinely passionate about it. I’m really enthusiastic about my project and enjoy working on it. Find something you love and can see yourself committing to for the long haul.
IMO you need something outside of programming as a passion or experience, if you say, had 5 years as a call center agent, or were heavily involved in some hobby you could easily find pain points to apply your skills to.
You’ll never know what to build until you have a goal as intensely motivated as building.
Not only is it typical, but hundreds of other posts exist that are identical to yours. Greetings from the SaaS sect! You’ve joined thousands of others who share your beliefs and way of thinking.
Perhaps put some money aside for that tedious job you have, take a year or two off, and use that time to reflect on your life and career. And use independent judgment. Jumping a trend train like SaaS or FAANG will not do it.
Hi there! I have assisted entrepreneurs of early-stage startups with customer discovery (just like you are doing by circulating and striking up conversations with folks). Please feel free to direct message me; I’d be pleased to talk more or offer any resources that might be helpful. I’m kind of the opposite of you in that I have an MBA and a psychology background, but I have no digital skills. The Mom Test is a book that’s a useful resource for trying out concepts and customer discovery techniques.