I started coding at around 13 when I got my first computer and the itch to make something and start a business shortly after. I’ve been building and selling software products in some form or fashion ever since! I built my first successful software product in high school, a business program that helped companies manage their service orders, inventory, vendors & customers. In 2013, I founded my most recent venture, Apps by Tajddin, which specializes in the product development and go-to-market strategy for tech startups. My partner of 10 years and I work with companies of all sizes to bring their ideas to fruition.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them?
Being a perfectionist and a passionate workaholic, proper time management has been the most challenging hurdle to overcome. It took me a while to learn how to estimate how long something would take & its cost.
What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?
Your health and personal time are more important to the success of your business than you might think! Society conditions us to believe that overworking is a good thing — it’s not. I love coding, but even I take time off on the weekends to do other things so that my passion isn’t exhausted. The end result is that I’m far more productive.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits?
How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?
I’m very fortunate that my family has always been nothing but extremely supportive of my entrepreneurial ambitions. My father helped put $50 into the bank account of my first business.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
Pride in my work play the largest role in the success of my businesses.
What advice would you give to an upcoming young and old entrepreneur locally and internationally?
Failure is a part of success! It’s ok to fail as long as you learn and keep trying.
