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

Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 320 posts

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#71

Post by mikkelenzo »

I took 3 months off after shutting down my startup back in 2019 without knowing what was next. Went travelling, spent some time in London reading books and chilling out and enjoyed sitting at coffee shops at 8am watching other people go to work.

If you can afford it and have some confidence that you can easily get a job afterwards, I'd highly recommend it.

For me, it really helped not at all thinking about what was next until 2.5 months in. If you start interviewing already after a few weeks you don't get proper headspace to really relax and get out of the work mindset.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#72

Post by beardyw »

selestify wrote: post #36
MichaelBurge wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Money isn't the same thing as a plan. If anything, it's the exact opposite: You have the freedom to do many things, so there's more uncertainty than someone with less money.

Also, only 10 years of salary means you'll eventually have to start working again... so no plan means that you don't know what you'll do after 10 years

If the money is sensibly invested an adjustment in lifestyle might allow you to live on it a considerable time, or even indefinitely.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#73

Post by zikduruqe »

moeadham wrote: post #5

I did this in 2010 and I now run a profitable software company with 45 employees. Do it. There is literally no downside. If things don’t work out, you can just go back to the company you left. They will take you back!

> There is literally no downside.

Lack of medical benefits for a disabled family member. Lack of house. Lack of food. Lack of electricity.

Nope, can't see any downside.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#75

Post by an9n »

A while back I quit with nothing to go to due to promises not being kept. Wonderfully liberating and empowering, and I found a new job within weeks. Strangely I've found it much harder finding a job while I'm in work... Got some ideas about drone routing if anyone's interested in working on something (current company aren't bothered!).

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#76

Post by bellyfullofbac »

I took an extended leave from my work to travel. I did wonder what I was doing going to places and basically looking around/being a tourist, but at the end of it I came with the realization that I was capable of tackling any problem that came at me (not that I encountered any huge problems during the trip, although of course I was nervous of what I might face before I went), so that's encouraged me to go freelance, and I've handed in my notice recently.

The final boost was talking to someone who said I should recognize my own strengths, like having the bravery to leave home at a young age to go to college. I told her "I didn't feel very brave, I had my parents to fall back to in case things went wrong.", and I realized, if the freelancing idea didn't work out straight away I currently also have enough saved to fall back to.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#77

Post by nishparadox »

Few years back I was a co-founder and director of tech and research. We were not doing well. I was personally struggling financially not just at startup level but also at my person/family level. For 8 months nobody (co-founders) took any salaries. Because of personal financial struggles, I was drowning in a mild debt (asking money from friends) to even sustain everyday life. After a year, due to some internal politics (which I absolutely hate on any organization and given my more "nice guy" personality, I couldn't bare), I decided to quit. I quit without any second thoughts. I remember giving resignation without anyone anticipating it. I didn't have any plans. After quitting, I asked for some compensations which lasted me for only 2 months. It was hard for me and my family (you know how Asian parents are). Out of nowhere, I decided to pursue grad school. So started GRE+TOEFL. Gave it. That was 2 years back. I am still in "going to grad school" phase for my Master's. Let's see how it goes in next 2 months.

However, out of nowhere during the end of 2019 I was approached by a startup here which works in Document AI space. I am the only senior. I am juggling through research + engineering ML. But in some ways, I didn't anticipate that I would be enjoying so much here. But still, imposter syndrome hits hard often.

If I hadn't quit my initial startup plan, I don't know what might have happened to my research and career. I might have been more miserable.

:) ---

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#78

Post by halkony »

I quit my job as an actuary 2 months ago, and I'm only 3 years out of college. I did work setting up Python backends for annuity inventories. I felt underapplied. Quitting was a good decision for me.

Another post mentions the common expectation that, without a job, you would "suffocate" (though it's far from that). I like that idea.

My worldview is pretty similar. To me, money is just a way of organizing value. So if I'm a valuable person, why worry about money?

I'm very relaxed and better attuned to the humdrum of the world.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#79

Post by rootsudo »

cko wrote: post #31

I did this, with a passive income cushion from some investments. I live very simply. I found travel pretty boring after a few weeks. I found whatever I was doing outside of work (YouTube and mindless browsing) filled up all my free time after I quit. I started learning web development but haven't had any ideas that stuck. I mean I had a lot of ideas before quitting but perhaps lack of motivation or discipline killed…

I've blocked Youtube, it's a bit easy via a HOSTS rule, or firewall level (littlesnitch on OSX is great) or such. The HOSTS rule is probably too much but the later isn't.

ublock also can remove comments, the front page of youtube, etc.

I don't block youtube now, but I don't have "mindless" browsing, it's like the front page of google.com. I search for exactly what I want, and no ads.

Re: Ask HN: Those who quit their jobs without anything planned. How did it go?

#80

Post by Normal_gaussian »

A few years ago my project pipeline was going to pure maintenance and upper management was obviously 6mo+ away from knowing what they wanted in the next decent sized project. So I talked to my manager (CTO) about going down to a 4 day week (pro-rata) to do more in my own time. The CEO gets wind, comes in and is really agressive and dismissive of what I'm suggesting. This behaviour (ceo/cto dynamic) was pretty much the bane of my employment there so I wrote up and handed in my resignation.

I had more money than id ever had before and no commitments beyond rent and my gf. There were a bunch of things I wanted to do, so I did them. Lots of small things like seeing family (spread all across tye country, most of whom I hadn't seen as an adult/since parents divorce), side projects, and exploring nearby cities.

I started freelancing part-time after 6 months (bored mainly) and six months after that joined a great company (that I had freelanced for).

Honestly, I keep my finances and lifestyle in a place such that I can quit when I want, as a result I'm happier and can choose work I want when I am prioritising money.

I'm fully remote now and with covid "in decline" have been able to spend high quality time with family and friends whilst working. Remote work is the best work, no work is better. However it is certainly the money that makes it low stress.

Post reply on HN