Success is a lie

Author

johann sathianathen
July 27, 2025

You’ve heard it before. “If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?”

Now replace "bridge" with "college" or "job," and most people say yes.

Just because everyone else is doing it, you shouldn’t follow blindly.

Most people never stop to ask if this is what they actually want.
They just chase what looks like success, because it’s what everyone else is chasing.

But here’s the truth that hit me hard:

Success is a lie.

Not real success.
But the one we’re sold:

  • Fancy job title

  • Big paycheck

  • “Work-Life” Balance

To me, success is true freedom. Building cool things. Working with people I actually like.

Forget money and the superficial things society pushes on you. Ask yourself, “What do I really want in life?”

Focus on it, and chase that. Nothing else matters.

Freedom is the goal, money is just a tool to get there.

Sausalito office

Lifetime deals = a bootstrapper’s cheat code

I say it all the time: ship fast. The real focus? Ship profitably.

That’s why I love Lifetime Deals:
→ Validate your ideas with payments
→ Instant cash = longer runway
→ Feedback loop = build what they actually want

BTW, I’m hosting a dinner for founders in SF on August 3rd. If you or someone you know might be interested check this out

Jars Updates

  1. Outbrand 

    1. Now powering LinkedIn content of 3 C-suite members. Tailoring to improve their experience, then doubling down on onboarding more founders.

  2. DMpro

    1. Started lifetime deals, became profitable under 50 days from idea. Shipping fast → modern way of startups is here.

  3. Saylo

    1. Now the main product management tool for all Jars products. The best to build in public and ship fast (what bias? 😉)

  4. Stealth

    1. Partnering with an amazing builder, acquiring 3 new companies to join the portfolio.

Always cafe hopping 🙂 

Johann Sathianathen

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