Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 122 posts

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#11

Post by cube00 »

ianai wrote: post #10

Those questions seem like they’re a part of a course assignment. Ie the replies here will be reproduced in an essay.

> Your passion may be a dream job, a special course (masters, software bootcamp, course in another field like marketing or airplane pilot etc.) or a startup. It just has to be something you love but are not doing because you think (you're) job is currently the safest option for you

Hopefully it's not part of a course assignment otherwise the instructor may need a course of their own.

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#12

Post by Lumiaric »

This was me at my last job. I was there for 10 years, stuck for 5. As other's have said here it is as simple as just quit, but go deeper than that. I'm sure you have come to the same conclusion on how to escape, but you should since down and ask yourself, "Why haven't I quit yet?". Are you simply scared of failing somewhere else, knowing that your current situation is guaranteed? Are you not confident in your skills? Analyze the reasoning for your reluctance, and then working on your confidence. This is at least what worked for me. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#14

Post by cube00 »

LeonM wrote: post #2

Just quit. Really, that's it. Just quit, and go do the work you enjoy.

Sorry, but this is terrible advice. Do not quit until you have something else lined up. Quitting with no plan for the next day will leave you out on the street. Go part time if you want more time to set something up.

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#15

Post by peterwwillis »

> How did you escape

Out the window. I had to back up quite a bit and take a running leap, but I was able to easily shatter the floor-to-ceiling pane glass. Marge from Accounting tried to stop me, but luckily I had begun taking Parkour classes recently and was easily able to dodge her.

> Did you have a strategy or was it a leap of faith?

It was a literal leap of faith. Some banners set up to advertise a corporate conference broke my fall.

> Did you regret it later on?

Well, yes and no. I didn't regret choosing to leave my job, as I was able to take a chance and see what I could achieve. But I did regret the broken legs and fused vertebrae.

> Are you happy with the decision you made?

Yes.

> Where do you think you would be today if you had decided to stay in that job?

Probably not in this motorized wheel chair...

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#16

Post by projectramo »

A risky, non-9-to-5 job can be just as meaningless as a safe 9-5 job.

The hours and safety of the job are not what give the job meaning; it is you that gives it meaning.

I have worked for large firms and startups (none of them, by the way, were 9-5) and always felt it was a great job to have at the time. There was no "escape" though since the work was remarkably similar. The startups still paid.

To put it another way, I think you're looking at the wrong feature set to make this prediction.

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#19

Post by coldtea »

whorleater wrote: post #9
thisisit wrote: post #7

The whole safe but meaningless job is just romanticization. The same job can be meaningful if you are working on a good project. It can also be unsafe if the workplace is toxic. It is about finding what you really want in life. Sometimes safe but boring is good enough. But sometimes working on a dream project might feel like a chore because of the circumstances and people.

I love this response so much because it encapsulates a SO style response of "why are you soon X, you should do Y instead". The person asked about how to escape from a job he perceived as meaningless and safe, not a job everyone perceived as meaningless and safe.

Well, many times those SO style responses are fine.

"Guys, how much gasoline should I pour to put out a fire?"

"Why are you pouring gasoline on the fire? Use a fire extinguisher or water if it's not an electrical fire!"

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#20

Post by everdev »

I was laid off in 2008 during the recession.

I always wanted to start a business but preferred the safety of a salaried position. When that was taken away and no one was hiring I had no choice.

I bought a laptop on my way home and started calling my professional network. Within a day I had signed my first web design client.

5 years later I sold the company.

Both starting and selling my web agency were incredibly rewarding for my professional growth.

Post reply on HN