> Return to my old job
but
> My role felt fuzzy, leadership was inconsistent
Most likely it is a system problem. Because I bet you surpsised nobody in this thread :)
Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
11–20 of 20 posts
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Out of curiosity, what would a rent-a-CTO even do for 10 hours a week?
I think it's going to be mainly startups who have say 2 coders and need a part time CTO build out the team a bit, process etc. Like hiring an architect part time to help build your house vs. full time because you build 1000 appartments a year.
Is this a comment need? I've plenty of experience with early stage startups, but they either already have a CTO, have a motivated senior engineer, or somewhere in the middle. My experience is that it's rare they can even identify what they need and why.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#13hi there, congrats on quitting after such a long time. I have also recently quit my job at big tech after 13 years to build something of my own. Happy to share my learnings. please feel free to reach out, email in my profile.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#14When you mentioned you’ve “recovered from burnout a bit,” do any of the options you listed actually feel exciting to you?
Assuming going back to your old job or job hunting isn’t your top pick, do things like a longer sabbatical or a total career shift spark any motivation?
Since you’ve got enough runway, I’d wait until something genuinely excites you before making a move.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#15I cannot advise but just wanted to say you’re a hero, congratulations for quitting. I am in a similar financial situation and age ($6M liquid, $60k spend, 38, not single), and have been in burnout for a while and haven’t found the courage to quit yet. Similar burnout reasons as yours: nothing is horrible about the work but I feel deeply inadequate, I feel in my 20s I was a high performer with incredible mastery of my…
6M at 60k spend means you have won the game a few times over. Go live your life and stop living in fear. You won’t get another one.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think it's going to be mainly startups who have say 2 coders and need a part time CTO build out the team a bit, process etc. Like hiring an architect part time to help build your house vs. full time because you build 1000 appartments a year.
Is this a comment need? I've plenty of experience with early stage startups, but they either already have a CTO, have a motivated senior engineer, or somewhere in the middle. My experience is that it's rare they can even identify what they need and why.
I think the need is rare to be fair. Good call.
The guy whose job it is to collate all jobs like this only posts 20 a week (some recurring) over all disciplines not just engineering.
There may be creatable demand. "Hire me for $200/h 10h a week and I'll make your current 5 people 50% more productive, yod have to pay them 20% more but you are still up 2.5 devs for the price of 1" could be a good consultancy sell. How you would do that is do normal (small-shop) CTO things. Make them more productive by the right focuses and processes not just more caffeine and late nights.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#17Earlier quoted context omitted.
Is this a comment need? I've plenty of experience with early stage startups, but they either already have a CTO, have a motivated senior engineer, or somewhere in the middle. My experience is that it's rare they can even identify what they need and why.
I think the need is rare to be fair. Good call. The guy whose job it is to collate all jobs like this only posts 20 a week (some recurring) over all disciplines not just engineering. There may be creatable demand. "Hire me for $200/h 10h a week and I'll make your current 5 people 50% more productive, yod have to pay them 20% more but you are still up 2.5 devs for the price of 1" could be a good consultancy sell. How…
That's a big call! I don't know if I'd be brave enough to promise making devs 50% more productive. Definitely a good consultancy sell but I wonder about what the delivery would actually be.
I have a pet theory that the standard practices in software development actually reduce productivity, at least in the short term. From my experience, the sure fire way to get teams to be more productive is to first hire great people, then to empower them and make sure their morale is high.
Not sure how I could do that on a consultant basis. I can imagine how I'd bring tighter project management in, and make sure people are doing what they're best at. But actual long lasting productivity of a team I don't really directly manage?
Someone who can do that is a wizard.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#18First things first: one full year of therapy. Then, reassess and make your decision.
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#19Have you thought about investing in businesses as an angel investor?
Re: Ask HN: Took a break after burnout – what now?
#20I cannot advise but just wanted to say you’re a hero, congratulations for quitting. I am in a similar financial situation and age ($6M liquid, $60k spend, 38, not single), and have been in burnout for a while and haven’t found the courage to quit yet. Similar burnout reasons as yours: nothing is horrible about the work but I feel deeply inadequate, I feel in my 20s I was a high performer with incredible mastery of my…
Maybe, you should invest in tech startups as an angel investor?