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Too Many Devs, Not Enough Dollars: The silent crisis in full-stack land (and how to escape it)

Ever stare at your VS Code like it owes you money?

You’ve got a brain full of JavaScript, backend skills sharper than Gordon Ramsay’s insults, and a GitHub history that looks like the Matrix. And yet… your bank account looks like it hasn’t committed in weeks.

What gives?

Welcome to the full-stack curse:
Too skilled to be broke, but too busy coding to make money.

Let’s fix that.


👾 Problem: You're Building Features, Not Businesses

Most devs are trained to think in code, not value.

So you:

  • Build the perfect app... and never launch
  • Tweak that Next.js animation for 3 hours
  • Forget to ask: “Will someone pay for this?”

You’re not lazy. You’re overengineered.


🧙‍♂️ Solution: Build Dumb, Sell Smart

Here’s the trick:
People don’t pay for clever code. They pay for solved problems.

Let me show you how clever devs are skipping custom builds and launching quick, scrappy, profitable digital businesses — using skills you already have.

But with a little twist 🌀


🧩 Use #1: Launch Something Dumb (That Works)

Ever tried building a SaaS and gave up by Day 3 because you started rewriting your CSS reset file?

Here’s a better idea:

👉 Launch Your SaaS in 7 Days

It’s like SaaS on training wheels — no code, just quick validation, and actual buyers in a week.

Use Notion. Use Carrd. Use AirTable.
Don’t build a dashboard. Sell a solution.

🧠 Problem solved: “I want to launch a SaaS but I keep restarting.”


🧩 Use #2: Stop Consuming, Start Packaging

You read too much.
(Yes, I said it.)

You research everything. AI. APIs. Market gaps. Hacker News rabbit holes.
But did you know you could turn that habit into $200+ digital products?

👉 Turn $0 Research into $297 Products

It shows how to:

  • Find public info that solves real problems
  • Package it into slick PDFs or tools
  • Sell to niche buyers on autopilot

Example: Find a boring PDF on sleep science, repackage it as “The Sleep Coach Toolkit for Founders.” Done.

🧠 Problem solved: “I’m smart but I don’t know what to sell.”


🧩 Use #3: Don’t Freelance — Productize

What if you could look like an agency without hiring anyone?

👉 Turn $10 into a $3K/Month Agency

Use:

  • AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Midjourney)
  • No-code automations (Zapier, Make, Tally)
  • Prebuilt systems from this kit

You get done-for-you systems that clients pay for — and no one cares if you used Bubble or code from 2018.

🧠 Problem solved: “I want client money without client stress.”


💥 Stack These → Escape the Dev Hamster Wheel

Here’s your new model:

🔧 Skill 📦 Package 💰 Buyer
Build Tiny SaaS MVP Solopreneurs
Research Niche PDF Kit Course Creators
Automate AI Workflows Agencies & Coaches

Stop selling hours.
Start stacking tiny wins.


🚨 Common Excuses (and Counterattacks)

“I need to learn more before I launch.”
👊 No you don’t. You just need to launch badly, once.

“I don’t want to be salesy.”
👊 Then don’t. Be helpful. Help is the new sales.

“I’m just a dev.”
👊 You’re a dev with the internet and Stripe. That’s dangerous.


🔥 What to Do in the Next 48 Hours

  1. Pick one of the above ideas
  2. Use one of the resources (they’re like cheat codes)
  3. Ship something in public
  4. Sell to 3 people
  5. Profit
  6. Rinse & remix

It’s way easier to edit a messy launch than a perfect idea stuck in your head.


😅 Dev Business Life in Emoji Form

Starting out: 🧠🧑‍💻🕳️
After 3 tutorials: 🤯📉💸
Shipping your first offer: 🚀👀
Getting your first sale: 🥹💵🕺
Friends still stuck on “next.js + AI + GPT + Web3” combo: 🪦🧌🪦


TL;DR

You don’t need another framework.

You need:

  • A dumb but clear offer
  • A fast launch process
  • A way to sell without burnout

These help:

Now go do dumb stuff that pays well.


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Top comments (3)

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nevodavid profile image
Nevo David

kinda hits close to home not gonna lie, i always overthink and end up in research mode forever, maybe just going for a messy launch really is better. you ever find yourself stuck chasing the perfect feature instead of actually putting stuff out there?

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nathan_tarbert profile image
Nathan Tarbert

been there, that coder life grind is real - way too easy to get stuck tweaking and never shipping. kinda love the reminder it's not about perfect code but solving problems and just getting paid. respect for the straight talk.

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nevodavid profile image
Nevo David

kinda crazy how just packaging up basic stuff can actually make money like that, blows my mind every time

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