I'm fairly sure at this point that Derek is a Dilbert-esque character working in some anonymous cube farm making these posts to make everyone else as miserable as he is.
At least, that's what I need to believe to keep my world view coherent.
No one can be this happy with their job/life, can they?
No really maybe I've just forgotten, but I just don't remember starting my company to be very hard. Just lots of little “taking care of business” things in a row, that were all pretty interesting.
interesting use of words Derek. Starting your company wasn't very hard just 'taking care of business', but isn't business normally considered work?
Having said that, when you are working on a product you love, it shouldn't feel like work. It's not a daily slog. You look forward to creating and getting the work out there (music, technology, cooking...).
Dictionary.com says work is 'Physical or mental effort or activity directed toward the production or accomplishment of something.'
Derek, you created a great business, and if I'm not mistaken, you actually learned how to program in the process of creating CDBaby. I'm sure there were challenges along the way, but you saw them as that. Challenges. Opportunities to get better. Opportunities to build something great.
But if you didn't have that passion to create, if you were doing it because you were told you needed to, or some other reason, I'm sure it would feel like work.
It's all in the perspective, and where a person finds there passion. Unfortunately for far too many people, they never find it.
I've heard your story (on Venture Voice, I think) and your timing to market sounded just right. It sounds similar to the story of the Plenty of Fish founder as well. Not a ton of work, just a good idea of what to do in the market at the right time.
Also, I dunno about anyone else, but changing a kid's diaper feels like work.