I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#1

Post by wasigh » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 6:54 PM UTC

I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned
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Re: I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#2

Post by spicyj » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 7:15 PM UTC

> Instead of grieving about the fact that I won’t be able to work at one of these companies, I decided to try and build my own.

If you want to do your own thing that's great, but if you really want to work at one of those companies, let them tell you whether you're good enough -- there's no reason to make the decision for them.

Re: I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#3

Post by primigenus » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 7:19 PM UTC

spicyj wrote: post #2

> Instead of grieving about the fact that I won’t be able to work at one of these companies, I decided to try and build my own. If you want to do your own thing that's great, but if you really want to work at one of those companies, let them tell you whether you're good enough -- there's no reason to make the decision for them.

Except that he said that he can't relocate. So that would be like rubbing salt in the wound, and kind of a waste of time for Valve/Mojang/Fog Creek/etc.

Maybe he should try 37signals or some other company that meets the criteria without requiring relocation.

Re: I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#4

Post by vignesh_vs_in » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 7:20 PM UTC

It will be a exciting and scary day when you are free to do anything.

I will be at his position soon, although i started sharpening my skills a year back and trying out some part-time freelancing right now. I am actually thrilled that i will be able decide what to do 24/7.

For me freedom is the ability to win/fail, without the need to explain anybody once u do so.

All i can say is best of luck and keep us updated on your journey.

Re: I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#5

Post by anovikov » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 7:22 PM UTC

I know it feels scary, i resigned from a management position in a company i spent my entire career to that date (had some side projects, sometimes successful, but that job was still making most of my living). That was in 2007. Despite being emotional, it proved to be very easy to reinvent myself, and while it never became a real startup, i am much more happy now than then. So good luck, it never harms to change things and it's much easier than it looks.

Maybe, this fact is what makes founding startups, and (as a smaller form of the same), freelancing more profitable than jobs: most people think it is much harder/scarier than it really is, so supply/demand shifts. Everyone wants a job, and there are only so many jobs around, so you have to compete in price. Fewer people want to freelance, and everyone wants to get a specific job done without long term commitments, so it's much easier to breathe in freelance field. When you create startup i.e. innovate, you are in the blue water.

Re: I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#6

Post by alpb » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 7:25 PM UTC

Whoops it seems like site is down just at the time it is #1 on HN.

Re: I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned

#7

Post by consultutah » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 7:26 PM UTC

Congratulations and good luck - now get off HN and get to work! ;-)

The biggest difference between doers and dreamers is simply that: The doers do and the dreamers dream. You've taken a bigger step than 99% of people are willing to take for themselves, so you are already in the doer group. Just keep it up and you'll be successful.