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Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

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Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#41

Post by astine »

jbarham wrote: post #36
jakevoytko wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking at it from another angle, the laid-off employee loses nothing - they simply stop receiving. However, the owners are on the hook if the company goes belly-up The entrepreneurial system is organized so that the risk takers are the money makers when a company succeeds. It doesn't really make sense any other way - why else would someone start a business that might fail and cost a fortune?

A lot of those laid-off people who "simply stop receiving" their paychecks are losing their houses. And the whole point of incorporation is that if the company goes bust, the owners are not personally liable. The risk-reward incentives for being an employee vs. employer are not quite so simple as you make out.

A lot of those people who are losing their houses are losing them because they treated money they had not yet earned as an asset. Unless your employment contract says you have tenure, you should act as if it does.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#42

Post by simon_ »

byoung2 wrote: post #34
FreeRadical wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But this guy wasn't continually busy, he was finishing at 4pm everyday.

I work 7am-4pm (which means 5am-6pm if you count commute time), and though there is plenty of time to work on my own projects in the evenings, I find myself mentally drained most days, so what takes me an hour to do at work takes 2 or 3 at home in the evening. Weekends are more productive.

Then the commute is almost as big a problem as the job itself. If you moved close to your job, you'd save 4hrs/day to work on whatever you wanted.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#44

Post by pvdm »

steveklabnik wrote: post #37
quan wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I recently quit my high-paying job, in fact, today is my last day, and "randomly walk around" is exactly what I'm going to do. For most of my 27 years, I've been trying to do the "wise" thing by getting good grades, graduating from a good college, working at a good job, finishing my master, etc. For once, I want to be foolish. My number 1 reason for quitting is I want to get off the addiction of the constant paycheck…

> My number 1 reason for quitting is I want to get off the addiction of the constant paychecks. This is interesting... it reminds me of what I tell people when they ask if I'm going to finish college. I can count the classes I'm missing on one hand, so I often get asked when I'm going back, and they're shocked when I say I'm not. Basically, at this point, a degree will only stop me from getting boring, corporate jobs…

The brickwalls you have to break through while doing a startup is much harder than the mental discipline needed to finish your degree.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#45

Post by JoeAltmaier »

potatolicious wrote: post #10
shykes wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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…

Sounds like rationalizing your addiction. Sometimes the fly will only die if hit with a sledgehammer.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#46

Post by JoeAltmaier »

I've quit six figure jobs repeatedly. When the startup gets bought and you find yourself working for the man, again, and your team is resigned to their fate and the work is rote and going the wrong way, its easy.

When the company has a good idea and the team is working hard, but you can see the Founder is NEVER going to take anybody's money and there is too much IP to finish in any reasonable amount of time, its much harder. But done that too.

And I often had not the slightest idea what to do next. But something comes up - each time its easier, you know more people.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#47

Post by pvdm »

TomOfTTB wrote: post #2

I 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…

A job in a swiss patent office is hard to come by.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#48

Post by plinkplonk »

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #46

I've quit six figure jobs repeatedly. When the startup gets bought and you find yourself working for the man, again, and your team is resigned to their fate and the work is rote and going the wrong way, its easy. When the company has a good idea and the team is working hard, but you can see the Founder is NEVER going to take anybody's money and there is too much IP to finish in any reasonable amount of time, its much…

"I've quit six figure jobs repeatedly."

So have I. My last job at MegaCorp paid 6 figures in US dollars in Bangalore. That is a lot of money hereabouts and I did confess it did give me a pang to give it up - All I had to do to earn it was put on a corporate face and attend meetings all day.

" But something comes up "

yes it does. Hacking Robotics/Computer Vision Code. Couldn't be happier.

But I think a key factor is whether you have a wife/kids to support. Many talented folks continued at MegaCorp for the steady salary checques. I respect that decision.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#49

Post by pvdm »

jakevoytko wrote: post #27
asmithmd1 wrote: post #23

"A job is low risk. ... risk is shouldered by the owners of the company, and that’s why they stand to gain (or lose) a lot more." Not true, as an employee you bear all the risk of being laid-off if the company does not do well; but do not benefit from the upside.

Looking at it from another angle, the laid-off employee loses nothing - they simply stop receiving. However, the owners are on the hook if the company goes belly-up The entrepreneurial system is organized so that the risk takers are the money makers when a company succeeds. It doesn't really make sense any other way - why else would someone start a business that might fail and cost a fortune?

In a public traded company, the owners are the stock holders. Some of the people running the company hired by the shareholders are paid well and do not suffer any consequences if they do a poor job. This is how big corporations work.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#50

Post by byoung2 »

simon_ wrote: post #42
byoung2 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I work 7am-4pm (which means 5am-6pm if you count commute time), and though there is plenty of time to work on my own projects in the evenings, I find myself mentally drained most days, so what takes me an hour to do at work takes 2 or 3 at home in the evening. Weekends are more productive.

Then the commute is almost as big a problem as the job itself. If you moved close to your job, you'd save 4hrs/day to work on whatever you wanted.

If you moved close to your job

At 30 miles away, I'm about as close as I can afford...I live in Los Angeles, the 2nd most expensive city in the US. Unfortunately, it also has the worst traffic in the US, and a complete lack of public transportation. It can take an hour to drive 10 miles sometimes. That 30 mile commute at 7am takes around 45+ minutes, and at 4pm, 1.5+ hours.

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