My default is to say, "it's going great!!", but deep down I also know that's not the whole truth.<p>The truth is I am having the best time of my life, getting to build something from scratch, with a bunch of other smart people who inspire me every day. It's impossible to describe how rewarding it is to have real world people using and loving your product. It's more than any joy I've had working within another company. I get to wake up, have a new idea, and turn it into something that people use in a matter of days...no silly decks to put together, no approvals to get, no aligning of stakeholders...just running with the wind at my back.<p>BUT....<p>I'm also more stressed than I've ever been. I have to worry about runway. I have to worry about funding. I have to worry about random tax filings, and legal docs, and running payroll. I have to worry about getting to market fast enough, keeping users, keeping team members motivated, making sure we're aligned and moving fast. I have to worry about the fact that there's a ton of stuff I should be worrying about that I don't even know exists yet.<p>And I know a lot of people say at a startup you experience the highest highs and lowest lows, sometimes in the same day. But for me it's more like both things exist at the same time. It's just constantly feeling this deep sense of reward and purpose, while also feeling a nagging sense of dread and low grade stress. I don't want to say everything's great because it's not true, but I also don't want anyone to pity me for the stresses because there is nothing in the world I'd rather be doing.<p>So, I just smile and say things are great, and then post here to see if there's anyone else that feels the same way :)