Raman Shalupau is the founder of Crypto Jobs List — #1 community to find and post web3 jobs.
The company was featured in Bitcoin.com, Coindesk, New York Times and recently interview by De/Centralized, an international blockchain conference in Singapore.
Raman worked as an early engineering ex-employee of Redmart.com, and is a serial entrepreneur, with experience founding startups like Crypto Jobs List, RSVPD, Cherrypick and ReadByHumans. He’s been also doing JavaScript consulting for companies (such as Nugit.co, Smove, Cinarra, ChasingLights.com and others). Currently he’s focused on Crypto Jobs List and experiments with Ethereum/Solidity.
Where did the idea for Crypto Jobs List come from?
Back in September 2017, after a few failed bootstrapping ideas i thought it’s time to get back into software engineering consulting, or to find a job. At the time I was also looking closely at cryptocurrency markets and at the blockchain technology. I felt that was a promising field and I started googling for a tech job in the space.
I checked several exchanges, browsed several “careers” pages of major crypto companies (exchanges, wallets, etc…). Aaaand at some point thought, why not create a job board where anyone could find all crypto jobs. That’s how the idea for Crypto Jobs List came about.
Before I wrote a single line of code, I suspected that this will be yet another failed project. So I thought I might as well not spend too much time on it. Coded it over a weekend, soft-launched Around 1st or 2nd October 2017… and it took off!
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
In the past year I’ve been very deliberate about my workflow, productivity and health. I believe a productive day starts with high quality quality sleep. I try to sleep 8 hours a night, and get to bed by 10-11pm. I wake up around 7am on most days. Immediately do some push-ups, sit ups, basic exercise; cold shower; 10-15 min meditation; high fiber + protein breakfast. The key here, I figured, is not these exact steps, but rather a disciplined approach and a daily habit.
Once I’m done with a morning routine, I’m heading to some coffee shop, library or a coworking space — where I open my laptop and get to work. Typically it starts with talking to customers via email, social media and scheduling meetings… As I’m writing and thinking about this, I’m not exactly excited about such use of my time and I’d like to minimize these small, daily errands and, instead, code improvements to my site, or create content, which would be helpful to Crypto Jobs List’s audience.
I lunch around 3pm — to avoid afternoon crowds (1pm lunch-time hours get crazy in Singapore) as well as to ensure an extended uninterrupted workflow windows between 10am and 3pm.
After lunch I try to get more work done.
And then to get to bed by 10pm.
Repeat…
How do you bring ideas to life?
I either code them up, or try to talk to other people who can help me make ideas happen.
What’s one trend that excites you?
Decentralization. I know it sounds cliche, and it is sort of a buzzword these days, but it is what it is. I mean several things here:
1. The decentralized cryptocurrencies tech — that value is controlled and stored by code, instead of governments + banks, hence allowing for more high-value transactions to happen without 3rd parties (e.g. without banks, notary services, governments etc…)
2. Decentralized apps — especially the fact that others can see your deployed code and know that’s what’s going to get executed, and not some other arbitrary modified code.
3. Decentralized work – i.e. remote work — a growing community of digital nomads who travel around the globe and are able to make $$$ online anywhere they have internet access.
What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?
My morning routine. It’s huge! Having a conscious morning routine, that you execute on autopilot every day, makes a huge difference in my productivity every day. One more subtle thing that I love about it, is that once you have some sort of a daily morning routine, it’s easier to add to it and build more healthy habits on top. For example: I just learned that doing “power pose” every day in front of a mirror is good for boosting confidence and positive mood. If i did not have a daily morning routine, I’d be lost in trying to find a time and place in my day where+when I’ll do a power pose. And I’d fail. But with a morning routine, Iknow that I can just “attach” this new action to my routine, and do it right after i brush my teeth and looking in the mirror anyway. Success!
What advice would you give your younger self?
Get disciplined earlier. Maintain a healthier balance between work and socializing, building relationships.
Build a daily reading habit (I still fail to read books consistently on daily basis)
Fail faster and don’t get attached to ideas that don’t work + avoid sunk cost fallacy.
Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.
Haha, you got this question from Paul Graham did not you?! 🙂 Or was that Peter Thiel’s favorite question ????? Anyway… not sure what this is. Got to think about that.
As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?
I don’t remember the exact quote nor who’s the author, but it goes like this:
“Be ordinary and almost boring in your personal life, so that you can be relentless and creative in your work life”. I’d just like to emphasise again how important that is to set part of your life on autopilot, becoming disciplined and habitual, so you can focus all mental energy and creativity on work. — that’s one thing I’d recommend everyone to do every day in their personal lives.
One thing I’d recommend doing every day in business, is talk to your customers. Again and again. Every day. Whether you are on idea stage, Seed, Series A, ICOed or IPOed — talk to your customers, understand them and serve them.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?
For me, I’ve been attributing a lot to keeping expectations low. That’s how Crypto Jobs List got started and took off. It’s also how I started some of the most meaningful relationships in my life — by not expecting anything, yet giving my most, staying present and enjoying the moment.
What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?
Hahha… I think asking entrepreneurs what is their one failure is like asking an avid reader what’s his/her one favorite book. There are tons, and all of them teach a bunch of lessons. These lessons are valuable in a combined/connected context, not in isolation. But okay, here is one: I failed to stop working on one business for about 2.5 years… and I just kept going and going and burned myself in the process. I wont say exactly what business that was here, but if you follow me on Twitter @ksaitor — I eventually will.
What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?
Black baby powder. You know that baby powder you put in your shoes and socks, to keep the smell nice? Yes, that thing. That powder is always white. But I want it black, to put that black powder in my black sneakers ????There are thousands of “black-color” obsessed people in the world, who wear nothing but black, and they’d go nuts about this! If you end up working on this idea, would appreciate if you could send me a pack ????as a way to say thanks, ahaha!
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
It’s not business related, but I bought the UR Roll 2 — a bluetooth speaker. It’s amazing. Sounds great, crazy durable, waterproof, and you can attach it to anything. I’m in love! ????
What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Workflowy. Simple yet crazy powerful todo/notes/organizer app.
What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?
If you feel your life is hard? “Read The Hard Thing About Hard Things” by Ben Horowitz. That’s one hell of a story from a CEO.
What is your favorite quote?
“Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right.” Henry Ford
Key learnings:
- “Be ordinary and almost boring in your personal life, so that you can be relentless and creative in your work life”. set part of your life on autopilot, becoming disciplined and habitual, so you can focus all mental energy and creativity on work
- Get disciplined earlier. Maintain a healthier balance between work and socializing, building relationships.
- Keeping expectations low by not expecting anything, yet giving your most, staying present and enjoying the moment.
- Talk to your customers. Again and again. Every day. Whether you are on idea stage, Seed, Series A, ICOed or IPOed — talk to your customers, understand them and serve them.
Connect:
Crypto Jobs List on Twitter:
Crypto Jobs List on Linkedin:
ksaitor on Twitter:
Carlyn runs the day-to-day publishing operation here at ideamensch and interacts with our awesome customers and entrepreneurs. She is likely editing this with a cat on her lap.