Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#1

Post by veyron » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:22 PM UTC

So I had this idea, and I want to bring this idea to reality. In this process, I realized I would need to devote a chunk of time to this end, and as such I quit my job in finance [which paid a pretty penny].

So here I am now, at home. Day 1. And for some reason I feel paralyzed by the lack of a clear pathway [finance makes sense, startups for some reason does not].

I feel like I have everything I need to proceed, but I guess I'm not used to not having a roadmap. To those who have quit their jobs, how did you make the mental transition to a 'startup' mentality?

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#2

Post by gspyrou » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:25 PM UTC

Check Peldi's talk from Business of Software 2010 http://blogs.balsamiq.com/peldi/2011/03/13/bos2010/ tl;dr Stop worrying , start developing.

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#3

Post by MatthewPhillips » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:29 PM UTC

You might have jumped the gun a little bit. But what's done is done so now you have to put your head down and barrel through it. I would take gspyrou's advice, just get to work.

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#4

Post by veyron » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:34 PM UTC

MatthewPhillips wrote: post #3

You might have jumped the gun a little bit. But what's done is done so now you have to put your head down and barrel through it. I would take gspyrou's advice, just get to work.

For posterity's sake, when would have been the right time to leave? Keep in mind that the nature of my previous work is such that I did not have spare time on nights/weekends to continue working -- hence I just cut the umbilical cord :)

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#5

Post by Muchi » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:44 PM UTC

You could always try creating a high-level roadmap for yourself. However, unlike your previous jobs, this roadmap would be more of a guideline than a detailed point-to-point execution plan.

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#6

Post by mindcrime » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:45 PM UTC

And for some reason I feel paralyzed by the lack of a clear pathway [finance makes sense, startups for some reason does not].

I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but... buy and read Steve Blank's The Four Steps to the Epiphany. That's step one. Step two is "do what Steve says." Seriously, he lays out a very detailed methodology for going from "an idea" to "a validated and profitable market for your product." Note that he's only addressing the customer / market side though... You'll have to figure out how to get the product built. If you're a coder yourself, you can play both Customer Development and Product Development (that's what I'm doing, for example), or if you're not a coder (or just need more help) you have to start looking at how to acquire help with the coding side.

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#7

Post by Gobitron » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:47 PM UTC

You should read Vinicius Vacanti's blog, "How To Make It As a First Time Entrepreneur" (http://viniciusvacanti.com/). He quit a prestigious finance job to do his own thing, and it took him a while to figure his way around. I recommend reading his whole story from the beginning, I think it will inspire you.

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#8

Post by veyron » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:47 PM UTC

mindcrime wrote: post #6

And for some reason I feel paralyzed by the lack of a clear pathway [finance makes sense, startups for some reason does not]. I feel like I'm starting to sound like a broken record here, but... buy and read Steve Blank's The Four Steps to the Epiphany . That's step one. Step two is "do what Steve says." Seriously, he lays out a very detailed methodology for going from "an idea" to "a validated and profitable market f…

I presume this is the book: http://www.amazon.com/Four-Steps-Epiphany-Steven-Blank/dp/09...

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#9

Post by Gorm-Casper » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:47 PM UTC

I sort of did the same thing and occasionally get the same feeling.

I committed to lifting weights 3 times a week though (in the morning), as a way to keep myself going as it makes me get out of the door and I come home refreshed, ready to get to work.

Other than that, eat healthy, get proper sleep, and meet people!

Works for me :)

Re: Ask HN: I quit my job .. now what?

#10

Post by gharbad » Fri, Apr 08, 2011, 1:49 PM UTC

If you feel you need to have a roadmap to proceed, then you already know the first thing you need to do.