Passive recurring revenue sounds like a pretty good deal. Especially when you can plow idle hours (weekends, evenings, etc.) to "optimize" it.
I'm not sure the opportunity costs are that high... especially when you're 1. Only spending a handful of hours on it (his claim) and 2. Your whole schtick for your consulting services is how you deserve $$$$ because using your A/B optimization whatever skills you can improve conversion/traction by xxxx%!
He spent 9 years on BCC that resulted in ~30K (edited, misread as 60K) in ARR.
I think his ideas and insights are valid. I just find it odd the contrast between his curated HN celebrity image as an uber-hacker with his actual results.
Doesn't seem like his skills resulted in much success with BCC but it sure helps his consulting career...
Sorry I'm the awkward guy at the party that makes people feel uncomfortable :)
Patio's street cred doesn't come from the results of BCC, which was designed to be a small low-effort business. It comes from A.) His tremendous skill as a writer-teacher and B.) His track record of consulting success.
BCC seems to have been a learning playground that gave him a real business on which to sharpen the skills he's now known for, and which produced a bit of profit on top to boot. But a small competitive market is still a small competitive market. There's only so far optimization can take you in that scenario--if you have the skills, you're better off seeking a bigger pie to apply them to.
His inflated "profile" comes from being one of few who actually put their numbers and specifics out there. And because there are still loads of aspiring lifestyle-business hopefuls for whom $30k is a fantastic goal.
Not to say I don't find it strange in some ways too - I've had passive projects make more with less effort - but I don't talk about it, thus no profile.
Well, the site was in a year over year downward trend in revenue. Why invest time in it to make it more profitable when he's got other ventures that are making mor or are more promising? He could let it die or make a small chunk of change on it and focus on things elsewhere.
I don't know about the image of uber-hacker, but it would be fair to say that he's been seen as a very good marketer---both of BCC and his own skillset.
Those skills are clearly that which people envy, even though it's not hacking.
