I did the scariest thing I can imagine: I resigned • Hacker News Board

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

#31

Post by guiomie » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:16 PM UTC

"To be successful I have to get out of my comfort zone." ...

This is my current mentality (I fear being in my confort zone), glad you share it... Anyone has an opinion on this type of behavior? Is this a good or bad habit on the long term?

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

#32

Post by raverbashing » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:23 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #14

The good news: If you think you've done the right thing, then you have. Congratulations! The other news: - Your runway is probably 50% of what you think it is. - Your task is probably 200% of what you think it is. - It will take 200% of what you expect to get your first customer. - Your wife will get scared before you do. - Some customers will take forever to pay. - You'll probably have to backtrack on your design /…

Been there, done that, and this list is pretty accurate. YMMV however.

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

#33

Post by micheljansen » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:30 PM UTC

Good luck, fellow Tweaker and Dutch person :)

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

#34

Post by city41 » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:37 PM UTC

I've been attracted to companies that appear to have a "hacker culture" too. It seems I always end up at companies that used to have a hacker culture. Companies grow, responsibilities and clients get bigger, more checks and balances start emerging and that hacker mentality is usually the first casualty.

I'm curious how much of a hacker culture is still left at places like github, Fog Creek, etc.

I'm starting to think the most surefire way to submerge yourself in a hacker culture is to join or start a startup.

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

#35

Post by edwinnathaniel » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:37 PM UTC

I often read or heard things like: "I want to work for Company X because they're so cool!" because a few written articles about the office settings and the "culture".

For some, that may work, for others, be careful of what you wish for. This is not a warning to stay away from such companies but when the companies are dominated by young energetic single employees and you're a father of 1 year old child (and maybe another one coming), there lies a cultural barrier between you and the rest of the company (unless you're going there as a Dev Manager).

As people get older, they no longer too crazy about the tech side as they used to be so sometimes conversation becomes dull for both side.

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

#36

Post by andrewljohnson » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:45 PM UTC

untog wrote: post #20

edw519 wrote: post #14

The good news: If you think you've done the right thing, then you have. Congratulations! The other news: - Your runway is probably 50% of what you think it is. - Your task is probably 200% of what you think it is. - It will take 200% of what you expect to get your first customer. - Your wife will get scared before you do. - Some customers will take forever to pay. - You'll probably have to backtrack on your design /…

I was with you until: In a year, you won't be who you are now. Unless you mean "you will be the wrecked shell of the person you once were", I don't think that making a startup actually changes who you are. We glamorize it, but a lot of people set up their own business every day and don't change a bit.

A start-up changes a person in the same way a war does - trauma, triumph, battle, and blood. If you aren't changed after you start up, it probably wasn't your first time.

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

#37

Post by ideamonk » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:45 PM UTC

Good luck! Doing contract work as a web/app developer brings in good money (depending on what your expenses are), and also leaves free time (depending on what you charge hourly).

I'm trying the same since July. One of the important lessons I learnt on the way - be super-serious about organising your time. July & half of August flew away in a jiffy as I was trying to do/learn too many (mostly new) things at the same time. I'm trying to form habits around the way I spend time, not letting new ideas distract me on a daily basis.

You've been working in a jungle of roles for 8 years, bet that bit wont be hard. Good luck again :)

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

#38

Post by dan1234 » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:46 PM UTC

Site's down atm but here's the Google Cache http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache%3Ahttp%...

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

#39

Post by xxiao » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:48 PM UTC

hmm I resigned one month ago but what's the point to write a blog about that?

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

#40

Post by sigkill » Mon, Sep 03, 2012, 8:55 PM UTC

edw519 wrote: post #14

The good news: If you think you've done the right thing, then you have. Congratulations! The other news: - Your runway is probably 50% of what you think it is. - Your task is probably 200% of what you think it is. - It will take 200% of what you expect to get your first customer. - Your wife will get scared before you do. - Some customers will take forever to pay. - You'll probably have to backtrack on your design /…

You've summarized my entire past year in these nifty points my friend... and I'm not even in the computers/IT industry (and I'm not married). But seriously, I only wish someone had told this before. I'd have tried to be better prepared for it (and I also know that you're never 'better prepared' ever).