Ten years ago today, I founded Karbon. I’ve been trying to write something about what the past 10 years has meant for me personally and professionally, but it has been hard to get it out of my head coherently because, frankly, it’s just such an enormous milestone.
When I started the company March 1, 2010, my optimistic hope was two years of business. Hired @shawnm day one and told him I could guarantee his salary for at least one year. A year later I hired @billgriesau and told them both I could guarantee one more.
But then something amazing happened: We showed up every day and did the best work we could, we kept getting better at making iOS apps, and I kept getting better at booking work. We got lucky with some opportunities and made the most of them.
This company would not exist today without Shawn and Bill. They have worked so hard every single day and their dedication can’t be understated. Watching them both grow as developers has been remarkable. Spending the last 10 years working with them every day has been a gift.
I could write a 50-page Twitter thread about how much I’ve learned running this business. Managing people, managing clients, paying taxes (!!!!!), contract negotiation, breaking down a task (or 1,000 tasks), delegating, and, not least of all, writing code.
People ask how I can stand to work remotely for so long. Honestly can’t imagine NOT working this way. Being able to see my kids during the day and spend more time with them is invaluable. Karbon has given me the flexibility and income to live a truly amazing life.
In 2019 I expanded the company from 3 people to 8—a gigantic change for us and something I didn’t undertake lightly. While I think we’re at or close to the biggest I’d ever like to grow the company, I don’t know what the future holds.
Like every other year, though, whether we’re 3 people or 20, the goal is to show up each day and work together to build quality software for our clients. If we can keep doing that, maybe I’ll be writing this same thing about our 20-year anniversary in 2030.
When I started the company March 1, 2010, my optimistic hope was two years of business. Hired @shawnm day one and told him I could guarantee his salary for at least one year. A year later I hired @billgriesau and told them both I could guarantee one more.
But then something amazing happened: We showed up every day and did the best work we could, we kept getting better at making iOS apps, and I kept getting better at booking work. We got lucky with some opportunities and made the most of them.
This company would not exist today without Shawn and Bill. They have worked so hard every single day and their dedication can’t be understated. Watching them both grow as developers has been remarkable. Spending the last 10 years working with them every day has been a gift.
I could write a 50-page Twitter thread about how much I’ve learned running this business. Managing people, managing clients, paying taxes (!!!!!), contract negotiation, breaking down a task (or 1,000 tasks), delegating, and, not least of all, writing code.
People ask how I can stand to work remotely for so long. Honestly can’t imagine NOT working this way. Being able to see my kids during the day and spend more time with them is invaluable. Karbon has given me the flexibility and income to live a truly amazing life.
In 2019 I expanded the company from 3 people to 8—a gigantic change for us and something I didn’t undertake lightly. While I think we’re at or close to the biggest I’d ever like to grow the company, I don’t know what the future holds.
Like every other year, though, whether we’re 3 people or 20, the goal is to show up each day and work together to build quality software for our clients. If we can keep doing that, maybe I’ll be writing this same thing about our 20-year anniversary in 2030.