project_log: 029

Yo.

This week has been messy.

I've been up at 2:30am multiple times for client launches in different timezones. I've sorted another client's hosting provider issues over the weekend. I've launched a portfolio that's been on the cards for the past year. I've built one of the coolest section transitions to date (Twitter post incoming).

All this while trying to make progress on the SaaS I'm building, trying to write this newsletter, and trying to improve at my craft.

Safe to say, I'm pretty fucked.

But here's the thing that's been eating me: There's this voice. sometimes it's mine. sometimes it's others. Telling me to 'just say no' to these requests. Like it's that simple.

It's not that simple.

When you're grinding through the hard shit, everyone becomes an expert on your life. People will look at your situation, spot the things that are difficult, and immediately question your reasons for doing them. Even my own brain does this. Makes sense, right? You're in pain. They (and you) want to escape that pain as quickly as possible.

Problem is, there's never been a time in my life where something I wanted was on the other side of comfort.

Getting better at surfing? I've been smoked by big waves multiple times.

Getting better at skiing? I've taco'd multiple rails multiple times.

Getting better at development? I've pushed code that's broken production and caused performance issues.

Each time it feels like I've eaten literal shit. But each time I've learned something that improved my situation for the future.

The problem with advice without context

Here's what pisses me off: Whether it's someone else telling you to "just say no" or that voice in your head whispering "this is too hard," neither carries the full weight of your decisions. They don't understand the long term implications. They don't see the context of your situation.

That internal voice doesn't factor in that you need this client financially to support your family. So when it screams "just quit," it's not helpful when you've got bills to pay.

External voices are just as bad. Some Twitter dude's post about "just say no more bro" doesn't help when they live in their mum's basement and you're supporting a household.

Maybe you're building something long-term that requires short-term sacrifice. So both the internal voice saying "take it easy" and external advice to "slow down" miss the point entirely.

Another example: I get constant remarks from someone in my life about how much time I have because I don't have children. How my life is "so easy" because I don't have kids yet. I just smile and ignore it because they don't have context on what I do day in, day out.

Everyone's hard is fucking hard. It’s subjective.

The solution: a framework for when you're eating glass

I read a book once called "Someday is Today." It taught me that putting things off while they're hard is how you stay in the world of "Someday I'll do that." It's how you wake up after six months and realise you've made no progress toward your long-term goals.

When you're in the thick of it, overwhelmed and exhausted, you need a way to decide what's worth pushing through and what's not.

I ask myself these questions when I'm tempted to quit or when others (including my own brain) are telling me to "just say no":

Is this pain moving me toward something I actually want?

Not what sounds good on paper. Not what will impress others. What do I actually want? For me, the 2:30am client launches this week have supported me financially for the past 2 months while I build the SaaS. They've pushed me closer to what I'm chasing.

What's the cost of quitting right now?

This isn't just about money. It's about momentum, relationships, and future opportunities. When I think about dropping a difficult client, I consider: Will I lose momentum on my larger goals? Will I regret this in six months? Sometimes the answer is still yes, quit. But at least you're making an informed decision.

Who's giving me this advice and what's their context?

Is the person telling you to "just say no" where you want to be? Do they understand your situation? Are they living in their mum's basement while you support a family? Are they venture-backed while you're bootstrapping?

And be honest about your internal voice too. Is it trying to protect you from real danger, or is it just afraid of discomfort?

Take advice from people who've walked your path, and question whether your own resistance is wisdom or just fear.

Most meaningful shit requires you to push through periods where you feel overwhelmed. But not all struggle is created equal. Some pain builds toward something. Some pain is just pain.

Your job is to know the difference.

To Recap:

Everyone's hard is subjective. What's easy for them might be impossible for you, and vice versa.

Both internal and external advice without context can be worthless. People mean well, but they don't live your life.

Own your decisions. If you're pushing through something difficult for a reason, trust that reason.

Focus on your end goal. However winning looks like for you, that's what matters.

Your hard is hard. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Keep pushing through the mess. Talk soon.

Will