Every time I build something— a little tool, a fun side project, an experiment, or something I just had to make—
I always get the same questions:
***“What’s your monetization plan?”***
***“How will you scale this?”***
***“What’s your growth strategy?”***
And sure, sometimes those questions matter.
Sometimes your work turns into something bigger.
But not everything has to start with a business plan.
Sometimes you build because you’re curious.
Because your hands itch to make something real.
Because creating is how you explore the world—and yourself.
Every project teaches you something.
Even the small, scrappy ones that never leave your laptop.
You learn by trying, failing, fixing, experimenting.
By chasing what excites you, not what trends on Product Hunt.
I built my first Figma plugin simply because I had a problem I wanted to solve.
No roadmap, no revenue goals—just a need and an idea.
I released 3dicons not because I wanted to sell a paid pack,
but because I thought, ***“Maybe someone else will smile when they see this too.”***
And yeah, those projects later opened doors I never expected.
They connected me with amazing people, brought opportunities, and helped me grow.
But they didn’t start with success in mind.
They started with joy.
With curiosity.
And honestly, some of the most meaningful things I’ve ever made are the ones I built just for the fun of it.
No optimization.
No strategy decks.
Just something honest. Something alive.
## Everyone Has That Idea And you know what’s funny?
Whenever I interview someone or have a one-on-one chat,
I always ask them one simple question: ***“What are you building on the side?”***
Almost every time, they light up and say,
***"Oh, I’ve been meaning to build this thing..."***
or
***"I have this idea I really want to try..."*** But when I catch up with them weeks or months later and ask, **"So… did you start it?"**
the answer is usually,
***"Not yet... been busy... not sure if it’ll work... someone else already did it..."*** And sometimes, they’ll say, ***"I had this idea before that other person launched it!"*** ## Ideas Are Nothing Without Action And honestly, yeah — maybe you did.
But ideas mean nothing if you don’t make them real.
You still can. It’s not too late.
Even if someone else built something similar, your version will be different, because it’s yours.
So stop waiting for permission.
Stop waiting for the perfect moment.
Go build that random thing you’ve been thinking about.
No matter how silly, how small, or how pointless it seems. [

](https://x.com/realvjy/status/1445288290479861766) **So yes—build smart.** Earn from your work when it makes sense. Turn your craft into a career if that’s your dream.
**But also—** give yourself permission to create without a reason. Make that silly side project only ten people might use.
Design something beautiful no one asked for.
Build a tool that solves a problem only you care about.
Because you are worth creating for.
And joy?
**Joy is enough.**

Make It, Even If It Makes No Sense

Jul 14, 2025 · 3 min read

stay hungry, stay foolish

-Steve Jobs