Rohan Gilkes
@rohangilkes.bsky.social
Being a solo founder at 40+ hits different.
No time for startup theater.
No conferences, conventions, random time wasting.
No patience for BS.
Just build. Ship. Sell.
No time for startup theater.
No conferences, conventions, random time wasting.
No patience for BS.
Just build. Ship. Sell.
January 15, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Being a solo founder at 40+ hits different.
No time for startup theater.
No conferences, conventions, random time wasting.
No patience for BS.
Just build. Ship. Sell.
No time for startup theater.
No conferences, conventions, random time wasting.
No patience for BS.
Just build. Ship. Sell.
["You're making it too hard for people to work with you.\n\nAnd here's what happens:\n\nThey won't.\n\nYou'll build alone while your competitors build teams.\n\nMake collaboration effortless or watch everyone choose someone else.\n\nHustling at the crib."]
January 13, 2026 at 8:15 PM
["You're making it too hard for people to work with you.\n\nAnd here's what happens:\n\nThey won't.\n\nYou'll build alone while your competitors build teams.\n\nMake collaboration effortless or watch everyone choose someone else.\n\nHustling at the crib."]
Most founders ignore the most obvious revenue stream.
Hint: I made $900K+ from courses while building SaaS. 💰
Why it's a good idea:
→ Validate demand before building
→ Build a list of buyers
→ Become the obvious expert
Courses aren't a distraction—they're the cheat code. 🔑
Hint: I made $900K+ from courses while building SaaS. 💰
Why it's a good idea:
→ Validate demand before building
→ Build a list of buyers
→ Become the obvious expert
Courses aren't a distraction—they're the cheat code. 🔑
January 9, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Most founders ignore the most obvious revenue stream.
Hint: I made $900K+ from courses while building SaaS. 💰
Why it's a good idea:
→ Validate demand before building
→ Build a list of buyers
→ Become the obvious expert
Courses aren't a distraction—they're the cheat code. 🔑
Hint: I made $900K+ from courses while building SaaS. 💰
Why it's a good idea:
→ Validate demand before building
→ Build a list of buyers
→ Become the obvious expert
Courses aren't a distraction—they're the cheat code. 🔑
Home office setup for 2026:
🖥️ Monitor
💻 Mac
📸 Camera
🧠 Voice saying "why not me?"
That last one is how everything gets done.
Happy New Year, let's get it!!!
🖥️ Monitor
💻 Mac
📸 Camera
🧠 Voice saying "why not me?"
That last one is how everything gets done.
Happy New Year, let's get it!!!
January 1, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Home office setup for 2026:
🖥️ Monitor
💻 Mac
📸 Camera
🧠 Voice saying "why not me?"
That last one is how everything gets done.
Happy New Year, let's get it!!!
🖥️ Monitor
💻 Mac
📸 Camera
🧠 Voice saying "why not me?"
That last one is how everything gets done.
Happy New Year, let's get it!!!
How I got my multi-7 figure exit:
• Solved my own problem first
• Shipped something basic that worked
• Let customers show me what's missing
• Filled in the gaps quickly
• Rinse, repeat
Solving your own pain is a goldmine.
• Solved my own problem first
• Shipped something basic that worked
• Let customers show me what's missing
• Filled in the gaps quickly
• Rinse, repeat
Solving your own pain is a goldmine.
December 23, 2025 at 5:08 PM
How I got my multi-7 figure exit:
• Solved my own problem first
• Shipped something basic that worked
• Let customers show me what's missing
• Filled in the gaps quickly
• Rinse, repeat
Solving your own pain is a goldmine.
• Solved my own problem first
• Shipped something basic that worked
• Let customers show me what's missing
• Filled in the gaps quickly
• Rinse, repeat
Solving your own pain is a goldmine.
2026: Year of the media co.
One piece of content → 5 times -> 10 channels -> 7 days
Using https://jadaworks.com/ to
• Tweet the core idea
• Threads/Bluesky/Insta
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Reddit x 3 subs
• Facebook x2
Alex Hormozi cranks out 450 weekly.
Scaling Jada w/ Jada
One piece of content → 5 times -> 10 channels -> 7 days
Using https://jadaworks.com/ to
• Tweet the core idea
• Threads/Bluesky/Insta
• Indeed
• Reddit x 3 subs
• Facebook x2
Alex Hormozi cranks out 450 weekly.
Scaling Jada w/ Jada
December 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
2026: Year of the media co.
One piece of content → 5 times -> 10 channels -> 7 days
Using https://jadaworks.com/ to
• Tweet the core idea
• Threads/Bluesky/Insta
• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• Reddit x 3 subs
• Facebook x2
Alex Hormozi cranks out 450 weekly.
Scaling Jada w/ Jada
One piece of content → 5 times -> 10 channels -> 7 days
Using https://jadaworks.com/ to
• Tweet the core idea
• Threads/Bluesky/Insta
• Indeed
• Reddit x 3 subs
• Facebook x2
Alex Hormozi cranks out 450 weekly.
Scaling Jada w/ Jada
I shipped 18 "imperfect" products in 12 years.
Coming up on $25 Million.
They were mostly wack If I'm being honest.
But they all solved ONE thing WELL ENOUGH.
Meanwhile, perfectionist folks are still "almost ready"!
Perfect is the enemy of 💰
SHIP!
Coming up on $25 Million.
They were mostly wack If I'm being honest.
But they all solved ONE thing WELL ENOUGH.
Meanwhile, perfectionist folks are still "almost ready"!
Perfect is the enemy of 💰
SHIP!
December 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I shipped 18 "imperfect" products in 12 years.
Coming up on $25 Million.
They were mostly wack If I'm being honest.
But they all solved ONE thing WELL ENOUGH.
Meanwhile, perfectionist folks are still "almost ready"!
Perfect is the enemy of 💰
SHIP!
Coming up on $25 Million.
They were mostly wack If I'm being honest.
But they all solved ONE thing WELL ENOUGH.
Meanwhile, perfectionist folks are still "almost ready"!
Perfect is the enemy of 💰
SHIP!
The cruelest irony of AI:
When I write a Reddit post from scratch, there's always comments like:
"Enough of this AI slop!"
When I actually do use AI to write something?
"This is genius!"
Have we crossed into a world where AI writing is more enjoyable? Without us knowing? 😂
When I write a Reddit post from scratch, there's always comments like:
"Enough of this AI slop!"
When I actually do use AI to write something?
"This is genius!"
Have we crossed into a world where AI writing is more enjoyable? Without us knowing? 😂
December 22, 2025 at 3:23 PM
The cruelest irony of AI:
When I write a Reddit post from scratch, there's always comments like:
"Enough of this AI slop!"
When I actually do use AI to write something?
"This is genius!"
Have we crossed into a world where AI writing is more enjoyable? Without us knowing? 😂
When I write a Reddit post from scratch, there's always comments like:
"Enough of this AI slop!"
When I actually do use AI to write something?
"This is genius!"
Have we crossed into a world where AI writing is more enjoyable? Without us knowing? 😂
The benefits of finding one industry and go deep.
I started with home cleaning and built:
• Cleaning co. ($20 Million Rev)
• CRM ($2 Million ARR)
• 2nd CRM ($400k ARR)
• Hiring app ($53k)
• AI Chat ($7k ARR)
• Payroll (up next)
Every industry has 5-10 problems waiting for solutions.
I started with home cleaning and built:
• Cleaning co. ($20 Million Rev)
• CRM ($2 Million ARR)
• 2nd CRM ($400k ARR)
• Hiring app ($53k)
• AI Chat ($7k ARR)
• Payroll (up next)
Every industry has 5-10 problems waiting for solutions.
December 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The benefits of finding one industry and go deep.
I started with home cleaning and built:
• Cleaning co. ($20 Million Rev)
• CRM ($2 Million ARR)
• 2nd CRM ($400k ARR)
• Hiring app ($53k)
• AI Chat ($7k ARR)
• Payroll (up next)
Every industry has 5-10 problems waiting for solutions.
I started with home cleaning and built:
• Cleaning co. ($20 Million Rev)
• CRM ($2 Million ARR)
• 2nd CRM ($400k ARR)
• Hiring app ($53k)
• AI Chat ($7k ARR)
• Payroll (up next)
Every industry has 5-10 problems waiting for solutions.
["You know what's crazy?\n\nI've made more money from a Reddit series about home cleaning than most startups make with $1M in funding.\n\n847 days later, still no VC meetings.\n\nJust customers who pay their bills on time.\n\nWhy complicate what works? 🤷🏾♂️"]
December 19, 2025 at 6:36 PM
["You know what's crazy?\n\nI've made more money from a Reddit series about home cleaning than most startups make with $1M in funding.\n\n847 days later, still no VC meetings.\n\nJust customers who pay their bills on time.\n\nWhy complicate what works? 🤷🏾♂️"]
Day 847 update:
✅ $1.9M Revenue
✅ Zero AI pivot pressure
✅ Zero drama
✅ Zero regrets
Another day of solving real problems for real people.
They pay. They stay.
Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy. 📈
✅ $1.9M Revenue
✅ Zero AI pivot pressure
✅ Zero drama
✅ Zero regrets
Another day of solving real problems for real people.
They pay. They stay.
Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy. 📈
December 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Day 847 update:
✅ $1.9M Revenue
✅ Zero AI pivot pressure
✅ Zero drama
✅ Zero regrets
Another day of solving real problems for real people.
They pay. They stay.
Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy. 📈
✅ $1.9M Revenue
✅ Zero AI pivot pressure
✅ Zero drama
✅ Zero regrets
Another day of solving real problems for real people.
They pay. They stay.
Sometimes the best strategy is no strategy. 📈
AI voice agents are worse than everyone claims. Sell them anyways.
Reality:
>The tech still glitches
>It fumbles 1 in 10 calls
>Accents throw it off
But a 90% solution still rocks when a missed call could cost a realtor $20,000.
Just keep it realer about expectations.
Reality:
>The tech still glitches
>It fumbles 1 in 10 calls
>Accents throw it off
But a 90% solution still rocks when a missed call could cost a realtor $20,000.
Just keep it realer about expectations.
December 19, 2025 at 3:50 PM
AI voice agents are worse than everyone claims. Sell them anyways.
Reality:
>The tech still glitches
>It fumbles 1 in 10 calls
>Accents throw it off
But a 90% solution still rocks when a missed call could cost a realtor $20,000.
Just keep it realer about expectations.
Reality:
>The tech still glitches
>It fumbles 1 in 10 calls
>Accents throw it off
But a 90% solution still rocks when a missed call could cost a realtor $20,000.
Just keep it realer about expectations.
Freedom is closer than you think.:
$200/month × 10 customers = Ramen profitable
$200/month × 100 customers = Comfortable
$200/month × 1000 customers = Life changing
Find 10 people with the same problem.
Solve it.
Repeat.
What y'all aiming for in 2026? 🚀
$200/month × 10 customers = Ramen profitable
$200/month × 100 customers = Comfortable
$200/month × 1000 customers = Life changing
Find 10 people with the same problem.
Solve it.
Repeat.
What y'all aiming for in 2026? 🚀
December 18, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Freedom is closer than you think.:
$200/month × 10 customers = Ramen profitable
$200/month × 100 customers = Comfortable
$200/month × 1000 customers = Life changing
Find 10 people with the same problem.
Solve it.
Repeat.
What y'all aiming for in 2026? 🚀
$200/month × 10 customers = Ramen profitable
$200/month × 100 customers = Comfortable
$200/month × 1000 customers = Life changing
Find 10 people with the same problem.
Solve it.
Repeat.
What y'all aiming for in 2026? 🚀
You're bleeding money on failed free trials.
Here's the fix: Charge $1 instead of $0.
• 73% fewer fakes
• Higher conversion to paid
• Filters out tire-kickers automatically
That tiny friction saves thousands and gets you more serious buyers.
Off to look for a co-working spot.
Here's the fix: Charge $1 instead of $0.
• 73% fewer fakes
• Higher conversion to paid
• Filters out tire-kickers automatically
That tiny friction saves thousands and gets you more serious buyers.
Off to look for a co-working spot.
December 17, 2025 at 8:28 PM
You're bleeding money on failed free trials.
Here's the fix: Charge $1 instead of $0.
• 73% fewer fakes
• Higher conversion to paid
• Filters out tire-kickers automatically
That tiny friction saves thousands and gets you more serious buyers.
Off to look for a co-working spot.
Here's the fix: Charge $1 instead of $0.
• 73% fewer fakes
• Higher conversion to paid
• Filters out tire-kickers automatically
That tiny friction saves thousands and gets you more serious buyers.
Off to look for a co-working spot.
I stopped listening to tech folks and made more money.
Turns out:
>HVAC folks have never heard of Cursor.
>Coffee shop owners haven't heard of Claude.
>Electricians don't use Notion
But they'll pay $300/month for a product that solves their problems.
The offline world is 💰
Turns out:
>HVAC folks have never heard of Cursor.
>Coffee shop owners haven't heard of Claude.
>Electricians don't use Notion
But they'll pay $300/month for a product that solves their problems.
The offline world is 💰
December 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I stopped listening to tech folks and made more money.
Turns out:
>HVAC folks have never heard of Cursor.
>Coffee shop owners haven't heard of Claude.
>Electricians don't use Notion
But they'll pay $300/month for a product that solves their problems.
The offline world is 💰
Turns out:
>HVAC folks have never heard of Cursor.
>Coffee shop owners haven't heard of Claude.
>Electricians don't use Notion
But they'll pay $300/month for a product that solves their problems.
The offline world is 💰
Solo founder reality check:
❌ Building the "next big thing"
❌ Chasing unicorn valuations
❌ Impressing other founders
✅ Solving real world problems
✅ Getting customers to pay
✅ Keeping things simple
Used to be in the 1st group. I no longer waste time.
❌ Building the "next big thing"
❌ Chasing unicorn valuations
❌ Impressing other founders
✅ Solving real world problems
✅ Getting customers to pay
✅ Keeping things simple
Used to be in the 1st group. I no longer waste time.
December 16, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Solo founder reality check:
❌ Building the "next big thing"
❌ Chasing unicorn valuations
❌ Impressing other founders
✅ Solving real world problems
✅ Getting customers to pay
✅ Keeping things simple
Used to be in the 1st group. I no longer waste time.
❌ Building the "next big thing"
❌ Chasing unicorn valuations
❌ Impressing other founders
✅ Solving real world problems
✅ Getting customers to pay
✅ Keeping things simple
Used to be in the 1st group. I no longer waste time.
My solo founder journey:
Month 1: "SEO Services!" Failed.
Month 12: "Agency: Why isn't anyone using this?" Failed
Month 18: "Affiliate marketing..." Failed
Month 24: "Dating site." Failed
Month 36: First $10K month.
Overnight Success! 🚀
Month 1: "SEO Services!" Failed.
Month 12: "Agency: Why isn't anyone using this?" Failed
Month 18: "Affiliate marketing..." Failed
Month 24: "Dating site." Failed
Month 36: First $10K month.
Overnight Success! 🚀
December 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My solo founder journey:
Month 1: "SEO Services!" Failed.
Month 12: "Agency: Why isn't anyone using this?" Failed
Month 18: "Affiliate marketing..." Failed
Month 24: "Dating site." Failed
Month 36: First $10K month.
Overnight Success! 🚀
Month 1: "SEO Services!" Failed.
Month 12: "Agency: Why isn't anyone using this?" Failed
Month 18: "Affiliate marketing..." Failed
Month 24: "Dating site." Failed
Month 36: First $10K month.
Overnight Success! 🚀
Solo founder, day 847:
✅ $1.3 M ARR from boring home services software
✅ Zero VC
✅ Zero AI Pivot
✅ Zero drama
While everyone was chasing the next hot unicorn, I was solving scheduling for HVAC guys.
They pay. They stay. They refer.
Boring = beautiful. 🚀
✅ $1.3 M ARR from boring home services software
✅ Zero VC
✅ Zero AI Pivot
✅ Zero drama
While everyone was chasing the next hot unicorn, I was solving scheduling for HVAC guys.
They pay. They stay. They refer.
Boring = beautiful. 🚀
December 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Solo founder, day 847:
✅ $1.3 M ARR from boring home services software
✅ Zero VC
✅ Zero AI Pivot
✅ Zero drama
While everyone was chasing the next hot unicorn, I was solving scheduling for HVAC guys.
They pay. They stay. They refer.
Boring = beautiful. 🚀
✅ $1.3 M ARR from boring home services software
✅ Zero VC
✅ Zero AI Pivot
✅ Zero drama
While everyone was chasing the next hot unicorn, I was solving scheduling for HVAC guys.
They pay. They stay. They refer.
Boring = beautiful. 🚀
"But I've never done this before."
Doesn't matter!
The people crushing it in your industry RIGHT NOW had the same excuse last year.
Same doubts.
Same imposter syndrome.
They just decided their inexperience wasn't the end of their story.
Doesn't matter!
The people crushing it in your industry RIGHT NOW had the same excuse last year.
Same doubts.
Same imposter syndrome.
They just decided their inexperience wasn't the end of their story.
December 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"But I've never done this before."
Doesn't matter!
The people crushing it in your industry RIGHT NOW had the same excuse last year.
Same doubts.
Same imposter syndrome.
They just decided their inexperience wasn't the end of their story.
Doesn't matter!
The people crushing it in your industry RIGHT NOW had the same excuse last year.
Same doubts.
Same imposter syndrome.
They just decided their inexperience wasn't the end of their story.
The downside of building businesses:
Every time you build you encounter a problem that could be it's own business.
Which is also the upside of building businesses.
Every time you build you encounter a problem that could be it's own business.
Which is also the upside of building businesses.
December 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The downside of building businesses:
Every time you build you encounter a problem that could be it's own business.
Which is also the upside of building businesses.
Every time you build you encounter a problem that could be it's own business.
Which is also the upside of building businesses.
What if we all just pretended this timeline was our private whatsapp group?
No corporate voice. No overthinking.
Just real conversations about real stuff we're dealing with.
That's prob what people want to see anyways.
No corporate voice. No overthinking.
Just real conversations about real stuff we're dealing with.
That's prob what people want to see anyways.
December 9, 2025 at 1:34 AM
What if we all just pretended this timeline was our private whatsapp group?
No corporate voice. No overthinking.
Just real conversations about real stuff we're dealing with.
That's prob what people want to see anyways.
No corporate voice. No overthinking.
Just real conversations about real stuff we're dealing with.
That's prob what people want to see anyways.
You know what changed everything for me?
Not the first win. Not even the first dollar.
It was looking around and seeing regular people doing exactly what I wanted to do.
If THEY can figure it out, why can't I?
Plus I grew up here, what do I have to lose?
Not the first win. Not even the first dollar.
It was looking around and seeing regular people doing exactly what I wanted to do.
If THEY can figure it out, why can't I?
Plus I grew up here, what do I have to lose?
December 8, 2025 at 11:09 PM
You know what changed everything for me?
Not the first win. Not even the first dollar.
It was looking around and seeing regular people doing exactly what I wanted to do.
If THEY can figure it out, why can't I?
Plus I grew up here, what do I have to lose?
Not the first win. Not even the first dollar.
It was looking around and seeing regular people doing exactly what I wanted to do.
If THEY can figure it out, why can't I?
Plus I grew up here, what do I have to lose?
Daily reps starting now.
Check back in six months when folks will call me amazing.
When I'm just...
Check back in six months when folks will call me amazing.
When I'm just...
December 4, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Daily reps starting now.
Check back in six months when folks will call me amazing.
When I'm just...
Check back in six months when folks will call me amazing.
When I'm just...
I know what I'm doing next.
Solving a problem that's big enough to impact every person in America.
Solving a problem that's big enough to impact every person in America.
December 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
I know what I'm doing next.
Solving a problem that's big enough to impact every person in America.
Solving a problem that's big enough to impact every person in America.
The gap between small teams and big companies?
It's basically gone.
You've never had a better shot than right now.
Imagine being lucky enough to be alive right this minute.
It's basically gone.
You've never had a better shot than right now.
Imagine being lucky enough to be alive right this minute.
December 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The gap between small teams and big companies?
It's basically gone.
You've never had a better shot than right now.
Imagine being lucky enough to be alive right this minute.
It's basically gone.
You've never had a better shot than right now.
Imagine being lucky enough to be alive right this minute.