Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
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Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
1–10 of 106 posts
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#2I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated to.
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#3I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated t…
> That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated to.
Sometimes the scarce resource is not money, but free time and mental availability. "Randomly walking around" could increase his chances of bumping into a hidden opportunity. I say go for it.
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#4I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated t…
"... I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. ..."
Then you don't know Xavier. I do ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/4588097990/in/set-7215... He's not your conventional hacker by any sense of the word. If you're in the US and interested in Ruby and DB's maybe you can check out his DBIYF tour ~ http://www.dbisyourfriend.com/
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#5Two years of saved living expenses is great, but at a six figure salary, you can easily double that in 6 months. It seems a little foolish to back away so early.
Though I'm sure the short-term result of quitting must be wonderful. I especially liked the anecdote about staying up weeknights to watch B-grade sci-fi.
Best of luck!
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#6Xavier looks like Carrot Top
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#7I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated t…
To each his own. "stupid" seems like too harsh of a criticism. People have different value systems.
I think it's not so good that you think so linearly. I'd argue that one's entire life is a lot of "randomly walking around trying to figure out what you want to do".
Also, you are dangerously placing undue importance on obtaining some "idea" to pursue to justify quitting. Most ideas don't work out without substantial pivoting, which basically moots your supposed advantage. I'd also argue that "I want to do something other than work here" is a justifiable enough idea.
Lastly, sometimes you gotta put the cart before the horse.
/ end idiomatic spree!
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#8I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated t…
> That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated to. Sometimes the scarce resource is not money, but free time and mental availability. "Randomly walking around" could increase his chances of bumping into a hidden opportunity. I say go for it.
Exactly. I suspect you can't find a dream sitting at a desk.
I have plenty of savings, and plenty of earning potential - if I really get stuck (I don't believe likely) I can always pick up another job. Money is a means, not an end.
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#9Two years of saved living expenses is great, but at a six figure salary, you can easily double that in 6 months. It seems a little foolish to back away so early. Though I'm sure the short-term result of quitting must be wonderful. I especially liked the anecdote about staying up weeknights to watch B-grade sci-fi. Best of luck!
Sure I could double it ... but why? 2 years is far in excess of my planning capability. The effective difference between 2 and 4 for me is basically zero.
(Also! Not having a job doesn't mean I don't have income. I'm still aiming for 50K in the next financial year, even if I fail I'll still meet living expenses comfortably I reckon)
Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job
#10I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated t…
> That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated to. Sometimes the scarce resource is not money, but free time and mental availability. "Randomly walking around" could increase his chances of bumping into a hidden opportunity. I say go for it.
Seems like a sledgehammer + fly situation. If your job is taking too much out of your spare time and creativity, perhaps the solution is to work less (or work on something less draining), as opposed to calling it quits altogether.
I've never seen entrepreneurship as a means to escape a tedious, loathsome working life - it is a means to achieve my dreams, not a refuge from boredom. IMHO if you're striking out on your own solely because you hated your job, perhaps you worked for the wrong people, and your problem isn't with employment in general, but with your employer.
I dislike the author's tone on a few points:
> "A job is working on someone else’s dream."
Bull. I'm working on my dream right now (one of many, but I digress). It's high-impact, and can't be done on my own (even with funding) by sheer virtue of inertia and existing infrastructure. We fought for the idea, proved its worth, and now we get to work on something game-changing, making all the important calls along the way. It's freedom, working with smart people, on your dream, with deep pockets, and the support of an army of equally talented people.
> "A job is selling your time."
Since when? There are lots of jobs, particularly on this side of the country (um, the west) where your performance is judged by your work and not the time on the clock (if you're even clocked!). I have no "competing motivations" - perhaps an artifact of, oh, working on things I actually desire to complete.
I applaud the author for doing things his way - but I wish he didn't have to resort to denigrating the concept of employment to justify his own lifestyle.