Why Most Side Projects Die in Year One

Sam sits down with indie maker Maya Chen to break down why most side projects fizzle out before month twelve — the silent quitting signals, the one growth tactic that actually moved the needle for her SaaS, and the pricing mistake she'd never make again.

Apr 22, 2026 1h 12m

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Why most indie projects quit in year one

The silent quitting signal Maya saw in 80% of failed launches.

Must Hear 9:02

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The one growth tactic that actually worked

Forget viral. Maya's boring weekly habit got her first 1,000 paying users.

Key Moment 31:13

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'Pricing is a positioning bet'

Maya on why charging more fixed her conversion problem overnight.

Mic Drop 19:47

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The pricing mistake I'd never make again

An honest breakdown of the $9/mo plan that almost killed Maya's SaaS.

Hot Take 43:46

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What I'd build first if I started over today

Maya's three-step playbook for shipping a profitable v1 in a weekend.

Reveal 1:03:05

Sam sits down with indie maker Maya Chen to break down why most side projects fizzle out before month twelve — the silent quitting signals, the one growth tactic that actually moved the needle for her SaaS, and the pricing mistake she'd never make again.

Published Apr 22, 2026 · Duration: 1h 12m

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