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Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

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Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#31

Post by euccastro »

huherto wrote: post #29
euccastro wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can afford to sustain my current frugal lifestyle past the timeframe I set in the original post. I'm selling part of the shares I own in my ex employer (I was an early employee back in the time. I left when they released the game, then came back a couple years later as a contractor). I do have time pressure, for different reasons. I'm 32 and while I can see myself doing some less life draining types of startups at…

Good luck! Where are you located?

Galicia, northwest of Spain.

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#33

Post by euccastro »

lucaf wrote: post #26

Kudos and good luck to you! I have one piece of advice for you. Make sure that some of your early failures include other people. Many issues that bring down startups at their core are about people, not technology.

Wise point. I've been in a startup before [PS: As early employee; I can see how things can get even more emotional with founders], and I have seen and participated in spectacular clashes. I have also observed first hand, in not for profit projects, how important is to have the right chemistry in a team.

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#34

Post by euccastro »

edw519 wrote: post #22

Find a customer who needs something. Do it for them. This will accomplish 3 things: 1. They will finance your endeavors. 2. You will automatically be working on something needed in the marketplace. 3. You will be focusing on what's needed like a laserbeam. DO NOT TAKE THIS ADVICE LIGHTLY! It's what my first mentor told me. I didn't follow this advice. Boy, am I sorry. It is spot on. I wasted years whistling my own tu…

Thanks for the advice.

If you mean doing contract/consulting work, I'm not interesting in that at this point. As for close interaction with customers, I can't agree more. I learned that lesson the hard way as an user interface programmer for a persistent online game. We got most of our feedback on the game forums, and game players are very opinionated customers. It was so much better to talk directly to them rather than being mediated by game designers. And definitely better than implementing in a vacuum only to find out later that what you did is not what they wanted.

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#35

Post by euccastro »

staunch wrote: post #12

When I've spent time just learning I've always made it a point to consciously learn at least one new thing everyday. Maybe that rule would help you. Good luck..err..you said criticism not moral support..uh...then...you suck.

Thanks. I hope to learn more than way more than one new thing every day.

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#36

Post by euccastro »

mynameishere wrote: post #15

I honestly can't imagine quitting a job without an idea of what product I was building. Watch out for this warning sign: A thought enters your head, "Hey, I'll build an online app that let's people organize their data !!!" That'll sell like madhouse.

I have a couple ideas, and plenty to do until I really want more.

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#37

Post by euccastro »

rchambers wrote: post #13

Good luck! If you have the luxury of not having to work, great otherwise you might want to add consulting in there in order to gain some real world experience while plugging those holes on your resume. If you can't find consulting work then transition some of that "brainstorming for project" into volunteer or internship work in a larger shop to gain experience. My philosophy is to use other company's time and money t…

I do have the luxury of not having to earn an income for some time. I have as much experience in working for a company as I want to have at this point. What I want right now is focus, and that I can't borrow. After a couple months, I'll probably want a cofounder and advice from others who have been there.

I do have a couple ideas but they are too implementation heavy, and I don't want to commit for so long before having tried lighter alternatives first.

Finally, I really feel I have some homework to do before I ask anyone for their money and attention.

Thanks for the comments and the encouragement!

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#38

Post by webwright »

euccastro wrote: post #24
jpmann wrote: post #9

Sounds like an excellent justification for flaky procrastination. You can follow this plan and hope the things you learn on the way can be applied to your startup. Or you can take your best idea, work hard to build it and learn as you go.

Good point. The things I want to learn are fundamental enough that they'll apply to any programming task. I have tried learning as I go, and I agree it's best for most skills, but I've found there are learning tasks that demand more dedication. Then again, this may just be my procrastinating self at work. :)

I agree-- blow off the education part of this. Learn by doing (and taking 20 minute every day to read the very best blogs).

Screw fundamentals (sounds like you already have a decent base, anyway) -- just build something that someone wants to use/buy (preferably find a co-founder who you can brainstorm ideas with-- find a co-founder when you already have an idea is sometimes more challenging).

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#39

Post by euccastro »

zeke wrote: post #19

I would delay quitting. You should be able to gain skills in four hours per day programming outside of work. Back when I would quit jobs to take care of stuff, I would have two productive weeks, but this would dwindle to days of reading after that. Only do it if you have enough of a goal and drive, or if this can force you into programming.

The trick is I'm setting my path up so it's motivating in itself. I'm doing what I most want to do. I like learning, I like programming, and I like making useful stuff. I can afford doing just that for a couple years, and even if nothing much comes out of it, it will have been worth it.

You have a point, though, and I'll watch out for motivation lows. Thanks for the heads up.

Re: Just sent my resignation letter and this is my plan.

#40

Post by euccastro »

webwright wrote: post #38
euccastro wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point. The things I want to learn are fundamental enough that they'll apply to any programming task. I have tried learning as I go, and I agree it's best for most skills, but I've found there are learning tasks that demand more dedication. Then again, this may just be my procrastinating self at work. :)

I agree-- blow off the education part of this. Learn by doing (and taking 20 minute every day to read the very best blogs). Screw fundamentals (sounds like you already have a decent base, anyway) -- just build something that someone wants to use/buy (preferably find a co-founder who you can brainstorm ideas with-- find a co-founder when you already have an idea is sometimes more challenging).

As for fundamentals, this is a better account of what I mean:

But if you're like me, you're not looking for one more trick, rather you're looking for a way of synthesizing what you already know, and building a rich framework onto which you can add new learning over a career.

(From Norvig's review of SICP at Amazon.)

This is not an objection to your advice. I will consider doing what you guys say.

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