How Building a CRM on the Weekends Changed My Career Forever
You know those Saturday mornings when you wake up, sip your coffee, and think, "Today's the day I change my life"? Yeah, neither do I. That's not how this story starts. My journey into building a CRM for photographers began with a simple itch: I wanted to solve a problem that had been gnawing at me for months. I wasn't setting out to launch a business or create something that would one day be acquired. I just wanted to make something useful, something *cool*.
The Spark: Solving My Own Frustrations
My wife, a portrait photographer, had been using an Excel spreadsheet to manage her business. It worked, but it was clunky and time-consuming. Watching her juggle clients, contracts, and deadlines manually sparked an idea: why not build something better tailored to her needs?
Spoiler alert: That tiny experiment changed my career trajectory in ways I never expected.
From Side Project to Sleepless Nights
Weekends turned into my sacred build time. I'd dive into my laptop with my favorite playlist blasting, slowly piecing together what would eventually become a niche CRM tailored to photographers. The magic of Laravel made the process almost therapeutic. Its elegant syntax and powerful tools turned my messy ideas into a polished, functioning product faster than I ever thought possible.
The first version was scrappy. It didn't have any flashy features, but it did one thing well: it streamlined client management for photographers. When my wife started using it and raved about how much time it saved her, I knew I was onto something.
A Crash Course in Customer Support
Building the CRM taught me more than just coding. As more photographers stumbled upon my little project and started using it, I faced an entirely new challenge: customer support. Let me tell you, nothing teaches humility faster than a bug crashing someone's workflow before a big photoshoot.
Every support ticket, feature request, and even the occasional rant became an opportunity to learn. I began to understand not just what users wanted but *why* they wanted it. That shift in perspective, from builder to problem solver, was a game changer.
Scaling, Refining, and Learning to Let Go
As the user base grew, so did the demands. I implemented features like automated invoicing, contract templates, and a client portal. Laravel's ecosystem made these additions surprisingly smooth, but scaling a side project while working a full-time job wasn't exactly a walk in the park.
Eventually, I listed the CRM on acquire.com. Within weeks, I had multiple inquiries, and soon, I was negotiating its acquisition. Parting ways with the project was bittersweet, but it opened doors I never knew existed.
The Career Shift
Post-acquisition, I found myself flooded with opportunities. Companies were more interested in my ability to identify and solve real-world problems than in my technical skills alone. I went from being just another developer to someone who could envision and execute products that made a tangible difference.
The experience also made me a better communicator, a more empathetic developer, and someone who truly values user feedback. These skills have been instrumental in every project I've tackled since.
Takeaways for Laravel Devs
If you're a Laravel developer itching to do something more, here's my advice:
1. Solve a Real Problem: The best projects stem from real-world frustrations. Talk to friends, family, or even strangers in your network. Find their pain points and build something to fix them.
2. Start Simple: Your MVP doesn't need to be perfect. Get something functional out there and iterate based on feedback.
3. Embrace Customer Support: It's not just about fixing bugs. It's about understanding your users and building trust.
4. List Your Project: Platforms like acquire.com make it easy to sell your side hustle when the time feels right. Don't underestimate the value of what you've built, even if it started as a weekend experiment.
Final Thoughts
Building that CRM on the weekends didn't just teach me Laravel tricks or make me a better coder, it reshaped my career. It taught me the value of solving problems for others, listening to feedback, and staying curious. Whether your weekend side project turns into the next big thing or just a stepping stone, the journey itself will transform you in ways you can't yet imagine.
So, what are you waiting for? Open up your editor, pour another cup of coffee, and start building. You never know where it might take you.