Why I Quit A Six Figure Job • Hacker News Board

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#101

Post by Psyonic » Wed, Jun 23, 2010, 4:41 AM UTC

xaviershay wrote: post #93

Psyonic wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Perhaps... but while the safety net can grant you freedom, it also takes away the need to succeed.

I'm feeling this a bit, so I'm keeping an extra eye on things to try and ensure I don't become complacent.

Cool. I hope I didn't come across as being overly negative. I actually think what you're doing is awesome! I was just pointing out that a job isn't the only "trap" you can fall into. I know someone who acquired a million dollars in his mid-20's, but I can't say he's really living his dreams because of it. I don't think you'll have too much of a problem, looking at your track record, but it does appear you have to be careful to ensure that "I can do whatever I want" doesn't turn in to "I don't do much of anything."

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#102

Post by stcredzero » Wed, Jun 23, 2010, 4:55 AM UTC

cstross wrote: post #16

TomOfTTB wrote: post #2

I don't know. This seems stupid to me. I'm all for chasing your dream when you have an actual dream to chase. But to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. That way you have more resources to devote to the idea that you're actually dedicated t…

to quit a good job that pays well just to randomly walk around and try to figure out what you want to do doesn't seem wise to me. It seems much wiser to wait till you have an idea that you want to pursue and then quit. If you follow that course, you'll never quit. Because nothing stops you figuring out what you really want to do with your life like being continually busy, chasing someone else's dream. Time flies when…

If you follow that course, you'll never quit. Because nothing stops you figuring out what you really want to do with your life like being continually busy, chasing someone else's dream.

Time flies when you're busy.

I have to concur with that. My latest project ending early is probably the best thing that ever happened. I have quite a bit saved up as "runway" but now the clock is ticking. Before, the best time to start was always "later."

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#103

Post by xaviershay » Wed, Jun 23, 2010, 6:57 AM UTC

mkramlich wrote: post #98

mrtron wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't touch at least half of your savings for a zillion reasons. Good luck on road ahead. This article will be nice to review in the months ahead. I wrote myself a similar note when I made the leap.

xaviershay: I agree with mrtron in that it would be nice to see a follow-up post from you in a year or two to tell everybody what you've done, learned, how it worked out. would be educational for everybody.

Totally, it's on the cards

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#104

Post by steveh72 » Wed, Jun 23, 2010, 9:22 AM UTC

It's worth pointing out he's probably talking about Australian dollars. Not that it makes a difference to his message.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#105

Post by ahoyhere » Wed, Jun 23, 2010, 12:04 PM UTC

steveklabnik wrote: post #40

ahoyhere wrote: post #29

Why are people so concerned with this guy's personal choices to spend time flaming them or lauding them? He's not telling anyone else to do it.

He did specifically say that he wanted to hear what people think, though.

Yes, but people respond from the stance of "HE TOLD ME TO DO IT SO YAY!" or "HE TOLD ME TO DO IT SO HE'S A STUPID ASSHOLE, JEEZ."

Even if you wanted to give your opinion when somebody asks for it, there's no need for that level of emotion -- unless you take it as either encouragement or an affront to your choices, and therefore, you yourself.

Re: Why I Quit A Six Figure Job

#106

Post by nostrademons » Thu, Jun 24, 2010, 4:35 AM UTC

cookiecaper wrote: post #11

potatolicious wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like a sledgehammer + fly situation. If your job is taking too much out of your spare time and creativity, perhaps the solution is to work less (or work on something less draining), as opposed to calling it quits altogether. I've never seen entrepreneurship as a means to escape a tedious, loathsome working life - it is a means to achieve my dreams, not a refuge from boredom. IMHO if you're striking out on your…

>"Since when? There are lots of jobs, particularly on this side of the country (um, the west) where your performance is judged by your work and not the time on the clock (if you're even clocked!)." I've found that most places expect at least an eight-hour day out of you, whether you're formally "clocked" or not. I think often that a salaried position is seen as an opportunity for exploitation by bosses. My last job w…

I came in at 1:00 PM today, and then left to go see a movie (ending my workday) at 5:00. Of course, yesterday I came in at noon, worked until 11:30 PM, then worked some more at home until 4:00 AM.

I don't understand the people who let their bosses push them around and then complain about how much employment sucks. Anymore, at least - at my first job, I thought that way, and it was miserable. Then I left to found a startup, and then rejoined the working world after it failed.

The best thing the startup did was give me perspective. I realized that if I took a job and hated it, I could just do whatever I needed to do to make myself not hate it. And if my boss had a problem with that, the very worst thing he could do is fire me. Which would put me back in exactly the same position I was in before I took the job, except I'd be somewhat richer, more experienced, and would have accomplished more.

There's no such thing as "permanent" in this economy. I don't really understand this either/or dichotomy, where you're either a salaried employee or an entrepreneur. Most really good hackers I know have done both. Take the best opportunity open to you, regardless of whether it's your own company or someone else's.