I just went back to working for the man after a couple years of burning savings trying to make a bootstrapped startup work. It's not as exciting but it's such an incredible stress relief. I do work... and they pay me for it. What a concept!
Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
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Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#12I also spent a lot of my 20s coding for FAANG and while I am able to retire at 35, once I met my future wife and had kids I realized just how empty my life was with just work. There’s a lot of lies we tell ourselves to settle with a hobby or piece of work that causes us to miss out of the real riches of life.
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#13Get that bag dude.
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#14Do it. Startups aren’t doing much interesting these days, the big guys absolutely are.
What a fantastic realization. Concentrating on the fundamentals— which projects, teams, etc are most interesting.
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#15Whatever you do don't burn yourself out. Make sure you're doing what makes you happy, and not what you feel like you "have" to do for one reason or another
>>> Whatever you do don't burn yourself out.
I will +1 this point a million times. I worked on a job I hated (just because there was less work), and pushed about 6 to 8 hours everyday towards my side-project and did that for a good 15 months, only to scrap it 5 months after launching it. The side-project couldn't be monetized and I had to call it off.
In those 15 months, I almost ruined my family time, turned down a lot of vacation trips and other plans, and overworked myself. I wouldn't say it's because of my side-project but it was technically because I was pushing it along with a full-time job. Maybe you could get it to work if you're just out of college and not in any relationships, but to someone who has a family, it seemed to me that it ain't worth it.
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#16great idea. take some time and let work be your source of income and not your entire life. you won't get a do-over of your 20s. whatever you decide to pursue, inquire thoroughly about work/life balance. you can always go back to the startup grind later.
Yes, excellent point. Having built side projects and provided consulting for more than eight startups, I've grown somewhat weary of the never-ending pivots, dead ends, etc.
I haven't had a girlfriend in ages and have been living like a college student for way too long.
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#17It's worthwhile to have some degree of financial stability. It lets you weather other problems with some equanimity. Do it. You'll have time later. Fwiw though, the only times I ever considered this was when I was upset at my life at a startup. I'm now happy at another startup. So this is a little of do as I say not as I do. But there's no harm in 2 years of big tech. It might blunt your edge a bit but burnout will d…
How do you reason about the pay decrease joining a startup vs. joining a high paying small company or big company?
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#18Do it. Startups aren’t doing much interesting these days, the big guys absolutely are.
That may be a little too harsh. I will say for me that startups are not able to provide the work experiences I’m interested in due to their size
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#19I also spent a lot of my 20s coding for FAANG and while I am able to retire at 35, once I met my future wife and had kids I realized just how empty my life was with just work. There’s a lot of lies we tell ourselves to settle with a hobby or piece of work that causes us to miss out of the real riches of life.
Very insightful. Would you say it's worthwhile to not settle when it comes to work/hobby then? What would you recommend in my shoes?
Re: Ask HN: I'm considering taking a break from startups to join big tech
#20Get that bag dude.
Yeah, I never would've imagined myself thinking this way, but I think you're right.