Decision Time

The Book or Alfred or Neither?

Feeling guilty because I haven’t made much progress on my book.

To keep me accountable, I announced here that I was writing one, and wrote the preface.

But I haven’t written a word since because I’ve been distracted.

I rebuilt Alfred (my old start-up) using AI and have been loving be able to make things using coding agents (makes me feel like my unfinished computing degree wasn’t wasted!).

Plus some people have found Alfred useful, even got 2 paying users, so it’s been taking up most of my spare time outside my talks work.

But The Dock has also been absolutely pumping and R4R keeps going from strength to strength, which has left no time for the book.

And when I shared this dilemma with Jen, she suggested pausing it for a few years, as we both believe there’s a lot about to happen worth writing about.

So I paused it to focus on Alfred. But I’m not sure that’s the right decision.

Maybe I’m avoiding the discomfort of writing it? Or perhaps I’ve fallen guilty of being distracted by “shiny object syndrome” and that playing with AI is easier and more fun than doing the hard work of writing?

But I’m also hitting a limit with Alfred. There are memory and performance issues that genuinely need someone with stronger technical skills than me to fix.

Plus I’ve also realised that I’m no longer excited about Alfred, and wondering whether that early excitement was really just me trying to prove to myself, or others, that I could code?

Because since coming back from holidays this week, I just haven’t had the same energy for it and trying to work out whether that’s because it’s a bad idea? Or because it is a good idea and I’m scared of getting back into a startup? Or because I shouldn’t keep building until I find a co-founder?

Either way, I feel like I’m at a crossroads. The Book or Alfred? Or perhaps drop both and double down on my talks?

I don’t know.

I started writing the book because a few people I really respect encouraged me to do it, and thought the process would be fun. Plus I also thought it would help grow my talks business.

But like Alfred, once the initial excitement wore off, I’m left staring at the long, hard slog.

I also can’t keep using excitement as fuel. Have learned the hard way that it’s just as taxing on my nervous system as stress.

But I can use it as a signal that something might be worth exploring.

It just can’t be what keeps me going.

So whether it’s the book or Alfred, or neither, I need a system that keeps me moving forward long after the novelty wears off, and make a hard decision.

Or maybe I just need to be patient and let things unfold? Because I don’t have all the answers right now, and maybe that’s ok?

I don’t need to decide today. But would love to know what you think.

Thanks for reading.

PS: If you want to try Alfred for free, click here.