The Side Project That Actually Changed Everything

Most side projects fade. This one didn’t. In this video, I explain how choosing meaning over hype changes how you build, why you stay consistent, and what finally makes a project worth finishing instead of abandoning halfway through. We’ve all been there. You see a trending framework on Twitter, get excited, start a new project, build for three days, then... it just sits there. Unfinished. Forgotten. Added to the graveyard of abandoned repositories with a README and nothing else. Here’s what I’ve learned: projects built on hype die the moment the hype fades. You start because something looks cool or you think it’ll be impressive on your portfolio. But when the initial excitement wears off and you hit the boring middle part? There’s nothing left to keep you going. Choosing meaning over hype changes everything. When you build something that solves a real problem you care about, the motivation is completely different. You’re not building because it’s trendy. You’re building because you genuinely want this thing to exist. That deeper purpose carries you through the hard parts where most people quit. Well... staying consistent becomes natural when the project actually matters to you. It’s not about forcing yourself to work on it or setting arbitrary goals. You just... keep coming back to it. Because you want to see it finished. Because you’re excited about using it yourself or seeing others benefit from it. And here’s what makes a project worth finishing: it solves something real. Not theoretical. Not “this might be useful someday.” Real problems that you or someone else faces right now. When you can picture the exact person who’ll benefit from what you’re building, finishing stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling necessary. Thanks for reading The Healthy Scientist: Build Using AI With Healthy Habits 🔥! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. I’ve built many projects on my GitHub over the years. Check them out for inspiration or contribution! I’ve got plenty more content coming your way on my LinkedIn! Hit the ‘follow’ button so you won’t miss out! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.pierrehenry.dev