- Published on
There's No Big League. You're Already In the Game.
- Authors
- Name
- Dan Mindru
- @d4m1n
- Name
- Sandra Djajic
- @TakoTreba
Hello makers,
I decided to write you a letter today, not about some new products, not about the "next big thing," but about the truth we don't say out loud enough:
There's no "big guys" vs "small guys." No secret league we're shut out of.
The playing field isn't handed to anyone—it's built by the people willing to step on it.
And if you're reading this, you're already in the game.
You Don't Need Permission
You don't need permission. You don't need a title. You don't need a gatekeeper's blessing.
What you need is the courage to keep building when nobody's watching.
I learned that the hard way.
A year ago, I was in a VC-backed startup. We did all the things you're supposed to do: MVP, traction, raise money. We joined an accelerator, got the press hits, booked the board meetings.
But once the money hit, the compass started spinning.
Every week: new target audience, new "core strategy," new copy, new channels. The traction we'd worked for? Gone in the churn.
I listened because I thought they knew better. I was wrong.
And I burned out.
Fast Forward to Now
Fast forward to now, I'm at Chatbase. Bootstrapped. Focused. No one tells us to "pivot" every Thursday. We still move fast, but we move with intent. We test, we prove, we ship. We know the mission and work backwards from it.
And here's what's wild: I see the same thing we do in our indie maker community now creeping into massive companies.
PayPal is hiring someone just to run the CEO's social content.
Why? Because they've figured out that people trust people, not logos.
We've known that for years.
We've been telling our stories. Building in public. Sharing the messy middle.
Earning trust one post, one launch, one "failed experiment" at a time.
The Truth About Competition
The truth? There is no "competition" in the way we imagine it.
Big companies can't out-honest you. They can't out-care you.
They can't move as close to the customer as you can in 24 hours.
So don't wait until you feel "ready" to share.
Pick a feature. Pick a win. Pick a failure. Post it.
Not because the algorithm needs feeding, but because that's how the game is played now.
Next week, put something out there. Tag me if you do—I'll be the loudest voice in your corner.
We don't need permission to play the big game. We just need to keep showing up.
Fix Issues in Your Code Fast with Sentry
Before I wrap this letter, a quick shoutout to Sentry—because shipping fast is great, but catching errors before your users do? That's even better.
We Just Hit 5,000 Subscribers on YouTube
And before I wrap this letter… Today, Dan and I want to celebrate something with you.
We just hit 5,000 subscribers on YouTube.
When we started the podcast, it was never about us. It was about sharing your stories. Celebrating your wins. And showing the world what indie makers can do.
So this milestone? It belongs to all of us.
Keep building. Keep rocking.
And I want to give a huge thank-you to our sponsors, the ones who give us the power to keep moving: Sentry (the leader), CodeRabbit (our favorite rabbit), Sevalla, Toolfolio, and Let's Jelly.
We've tested these products ourselves. Use them. Support the people who support this community.
Here's to the next win we'll celebrate together.
Until next time,
Sandra and Dan.
