I shut down Spine

I shut down our pilot project for SPINE a few weeks ago.

If you missed it, it was a Google Sheets add-on that would easily import and sync data from 40+ tools directly into Sheets.

I’ll share more about the project that’s replaced it. Follow for an update next week.

Why so quick?

Four weeks after sharing the brand, and two weeks after going live with the first testable product; my co-founder wasn’t feeling it and asked to walk.

A younger me would’ve wanted him to stay or drawn it out to “make it work.

Today, I know, I can’t have a partner who’s not 100% with me and the morning after we spoke; I shutdown our app in the marketplace and all servers, closed his accounts, and decided to shut down the entity.

It’s hard to share these things because it’s easy to blame myself or consider it my flaw.

In the end, it’s not important.

What’s important is that it took an evening for me to finish sulking before making myself move on, and a week to have a new direction and prototype in the hands of our community.

Moreover, I learned a lot which I’ll share later.

The worst thing I can do is focus on the things I can’t change (him) rather than asking: “what’s the path forward given my new constraints and freedoms.

I believe in the thesis that underpinned SPINE.

I know Spreadsheets are a home to hundreds of millions.

Heck, Google just opened up workspaces for free which expands the opportunity.

There continue to be opportunities to improve spreadsheets rather than compel customers to leave the tools they love.

I’m grateful.

I’m grateful to you for your support and feedback.

I’m grateful for the tight-knit community that’s been supportive as we’ve poked and prodded at their problems, and proposed solutions.

I’m grateful for my wife, brothers and parents who haven’t flinched in their unwavering support for my crazy endeavors over the past two decades.

I’m excited for what’s to come. Onward!