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Ask HN: Considering quitting my day job to work on my startups

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Re: Ask HN: Considering quitting my day job to work on my startups

#31

Post by podman »

edge17 wrote: post #29

A good friend of mine told me that, the minute I start affecting my personal brand and reputation negatively at a job, I need to start thinking about what to do next. The worst thing is to leave on a low note than a high note. If you think leaving the job is inevitable, then you should start preparing for that - i.e. work hard, because the last memories in their minds will be the ones that stick the most. I've been t…

How much is decent health insurance these days for someone young, in good shape, and with no existing conditions?

Re: Ask HN: Considering quitting my day job to work on my startups

#32

Post by edge17 »

podman wrote: post #31
edge17 wrote: post #29

A good friend of mine told me that, the minute I start affecting my personal brand and reputation negatively at a job, I need to start thinking about what to do next. The worst thing is to leave on a low note than a high note. If you think leaving the job is inevitable, then you should start preparing for that - i.e. work hard, because the last memories in their minds will be the ones that stick the most. I've been t…

How much is decent health insurance these days for someone young, in good shape, and with no existing conditions?

I pay $105 in California from Anthem Blue Cross with a $3500 deductible. After the deductible, everything's covered... basically, i do my best to stay healthy, but worst comes to worst, $3500 will be the least of my worries.

Re: Ask HN: Considering quitting my day job to work on my startups

#33

Post by arn »

podman wrote: post #27
arn wrote: post #25

Here's my advice regarding sorting out #1 vs #2. The question in my mind is how much each factor is. When I quit my day job, the social pressures/burning bridges aspect of it was a part of my reluctance. But, of course, more financial instability was another. In the end, I asked myself "if I could snap my fingers, and tomorrow be out of my day job, without having to go through the social awkwardness of quitting, etc.…

This is really good advice. I'm worried about not only what my coworkers and bosses will think and what that will do to our friendship, but also what my parents will think. If those weren't an issues I'm pretty sure I would quit without hesitation. The money is an issue, but ultimately I'm confident I'd be able to find a job if it were clear neither of my start ups were going to work out.

well, the next question question is will you regret not doing this in 10 year's time? I know it's a cliche to say you only live once, but you really need to think about it in those terms. I didn't want to look back and regret not taking the opportunity. Is this is just-now opportunity? Will this opportunity be there down the line?

I had similar concerns about family and co-workers. In the end, everyone at work was very nice about it and my family was surprisingly supportive.

Re: Ask HN: Considering quitting my day job to work on my startups

#34

Post by JimboOmega »

I was going to give some other advice, but, given that you have a year of runway, AND partners, AND revenue... what are you waiting for? Seriously? Do you have children and/or others who really depend on your income?

My other thoughts:

It strikes me as odd that there are two threads on this theme at once...

I'd recommend going part time (if you really don't want to quit), as another poster did, if they'll let you (my company did). My company also seemed to be in the same position as yours at #2, but when I left, it seemed pretty amiable - and when I came back a year later, they had no room for me.

It's quite possible that the hiring department is incompetent. Anyway, that is not your concern. Especially if you're not productive there; taking their money for nothing isn't that big of a favor to them.

Re: Ask HN: Considering quitting my day job to work on my startups

#35

Post by may »

rmk wrote: post #7
may wrote: post #5

As soon as I saw the word "startups" -- plural -- I thought "he's doomed". However, while the popular wisdom is to focus soley on one thing, one startup, I often find that leads to imbalance. Perhaps having two ventures is a good thing. What I'm doing right now is a 5-6 hours/day job for the bills and working on my projects the rest of the day. Balances out pretty well -- I get physically tired from work and get some…

Good suggestion. Perhaps you need to hang around to help the new programmer for a couple of months to ensure a smooth handover?

Exactly. That part was implied, I just forgot to say it. ;)
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