I never thought I’d say this, but here it goes: writing a blog—like mine—and building a startup—like FAVORIOT—feel like two sides of the same coin. Strange, isn’t it? At first glance, they seem worlds apart. One requires you to pour your thoughts onto a blank screen, while the other demands strategic planning, pitching ideas, managing teams, and scaling businesses.
But as I look back on both journeys, I see an uncanny resemblance. It’s like déjà vu but in different dimensions.
The Blank Page vs. The Blank Canvas
I remember when writing my first blog post. The blank page felt like it was mocking me—”So, what’s your big idea, Mazlan?” No audience, no followers, just me and my thoughts.
Now, compare that to the early days of FAVORIOT. We had a big dream: to simplify IoT adoption. But dreams are just dreams until you take that terrifying first step. No customers, no revenue, just a vision and an empty business plan.
Starting both felt like standing at the edge of a cliff. Do you jump? Or do you hesitate? I jumped. Twice.
Defining Your “Why”
Here’s the thing about starting anything meaningful—you need a “why.” Without it, you’ll burn out faster than a cheap lightbulb.
For FAVORIOT, my “why” was crystal clear: help businesses and cities leverage IoT for smarter operations. For my blog, it was about sharing my journey, my thoughts, my lessons—hoping they’d resonate with someone out there.
When challenges hit—and trust me, they did—my “why” kept me grounded. It’s like having an internal GPS when the road ahead gets foggy.
The MVP (Minimum Viable Product): Perfection Can Wait
Every startup guru talks about the MVP. It’s your rough draft—a version that works but isn’t perfect. FAVORIOT’s first platform wasn’t a masterpiece. It had bugs, limited features, and a UI that would make today’s designers cringe. But it solved a problem, and that’s what mattered.
Guess what? My early blog posts were my MVPs. Not polished, not viral-worthy, but raw and honest. Some articles were barely 500 words, rushed between meetings, but filled with genuine insights.
You don’t wait for perfection. You launch, you learn, you iterate.
Audience vs. Customers: The Art of Connection
In startups, they say, “If you build it, they will come.” Lies. They won’t come unless you hustle.
At FAVORIOT, we had to identify our target market, pitch relentlessly, and prove our value. Blogging? Same game, different players. I had to find my niche—IoT, smart cities, entrepreneurship—and consistently write content that mattered.
But it wasn’t just about publishing and hoping for the best. Engagement was key. Responding to comments, sharing posts on LinkedIn, having meaningful discussions—these were my “sales calls” in the blogging world.
Consistency: The Unsung Hero
Let me be brutally honest—there were days I felt like giving up. Some months, FAVORIOT saw zero growth. Some weeks, my blog had views I could count on one hand.
But here’s the secret sauce: consistency. Not motivation. Not talent. Just showing up, day after day.
At FAVORIOT, we kept refining our platform, talking to clients, and pivoting when needed. On my blog, I kept writing—even when no one was reading. Over time, both grew. Not overnight, but gradually. Like watering a plant, wondering if it’ll ever sprout. Then one day—it does.
Feedback: The Mirror You Didn’t Ask For
Feedback can sting. Whether it’s a customer pointing out a flaw in FAVORIOT’s platform or a reader criticizing my writing style, it’s tough.
But it’s gold.
At FAVORIOT, customer feedback shaped our roadmap. What to improve, what to drop, what to double down on. My blog? Comments, shares, even silent metrics like “read time”—they told me what resonated.
Criticism isn’t an attack; it’s a compass.
Scaling: Doing More of What Works
Once FAVORIOT found its footing, it was time to scale. New markets, more features, global partnerships. But scaling isn’t just about doing more. It’s about doing more of what works.
I learned that lesson the hard way with my blog. I tried writing about everything—tech trends, personal growth, productivity hacks. Some of it flopped. I realized I needed to double down on my strengths: IoT, entrepreneurship, storytelling.
Passion: The Invisible Fuel
No passion? No progress.
I’m obsessed with IoT—not just as a technology, but as a force that’s reshaping our world. That passion fuels FAVORIOT. It also bleeds into my writing.
You can’t fake passion. Readers sense it. Customers sense it. It’s what keeps you going when logic says, “Quit.”
The Payoff: Beyond Metrics
Today, FAVORIOT has global partners. My blog reaches thousands of readers. But the real payoff? It’s not the numbers.
It’s the email from a reader who says, “Your article inspired me to start my own business.” It’s the client who says, “FAVORIOT helped us transform our operations.”
Impact. That’s the real currency.
Final Thoughts: Start. Just Start.
Whether you’re building a startup or a blog, the rules are surprisingly similar:
- Start before you’re ready.
- Find your ‘why.’
- Launch imperfectly.
- Engage with your audience.
- Stay consistent, even when it’s hard.
- Embrace feedback.
- Scale smartly.
- Fuel it with passion.
Looking back, both journeys shaped me. They taught me resilience, humility, and the art of storytelling—whether through code or words.
So, if you’re hesitating to start that blog or launch that business, let me leave you with this:
The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time? Today.
Dr. Mazlan Abbas 