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I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

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Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#321

Post by cher »

justinmares wrote: post #235
thaumaturgy wrote: post #59

So, here's my story; I tell it occasionally when stories like yours come up. I had no college experience, but did manage to jump right in to a good I.T. job while I was still in high school, and from there into an even better I.T. job in another state where I made more money than I knew what to do with. (I've never been good with money, and didn't understand what "savings" meant.) I worked there until suddenly one da…

"People that never take a risk rarely end up in great places in life." True - though as a condition of this truth, there are many risk-takers who end up in far worse states than if they had played it safe. If careers follow a somewhat normal distribution, for every massive startup success there are an equal number of failures for whom the risk didn't pay off. I agree with edw519 - get a safe job for a while, at least…

Just wanted to point out that assuming careers and business success follows into a normal distribution is probably a poor assumption. Given the tremendous successes and wealth some people have created for themselves, the average working person is essentially just a few steps above zero. I know a few millionaires, but I don't know anyone who is personally in debt millions of dollars (although I'm sure they exist) with no hope/skills/connection to make money again, as they obviously had something going on to get in that position in the first place. There is a quote by Donald Trump, something about how during one of his darker moments in his business life, he walked by a homeless guy on the street, and thought "that guy is worth a billion dollars more than I am". Obviously that is true on paper, but the homeless guy also did not have the resources to get their in the first place, much less make it back and become successful.

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#322

Post by mannicken »

MortenK wrote: post #319

I just read one of your replies to edw519's post, but I think you deleted it. I can't find it anymore at least. In any case, it stated you were not at all interested in programming. I think you answered your own problem with that post. I have seen your DeviantArt portfolio. You have real talent. It seems to me that drawing is your real passion. So go for that! If you have the opportunity to go to college and study ar…

Yeah, perhaps the cause of my depression might be being pushed into programming from a very young age. Just like people in ballet/gymnastics, I was kind of expected to write C++ code when I was 11 even though I rarely enjoyed coding/solving algorithms.

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#323

Post by rayhano »

But it isn't over yet. ALL start-ups are MEANT to fail. What makes them work is you (and your support network: friends, family) powering through the depression and MASSIVE lows to showcase your potential in the form of a product that people love and use.

I'm probably one month behind you; the quitting job to start a new venture is straining my marriage, totally playing havoc with my confidence, affecting the relationship with my friends, siblings, parents.

BUT, I keep in mind what life working for others was like. It was safe, it paid the bills, maintained the home, BUT it gave me little sense of self-worth, no ability to realise my dreams and left me feeling like all I would ever be is a dreamer.

If you are looking for some support in getting through this and creating something you are proud of, drop me an email: rayhan@rafiqomar.com

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#324

Post by richlist »

Having gone through financial trouble after quitting a job to do a start-up incl. living with parents etc. here's my advice:

1. You can have two paths in life as it currently stands; one doing C++ and one not doing C++.

The C++ route will probably pay well but won't make you happy, but the right kind of job doing C++ might be something you can bear. Also become more social and better at it; Michael Feather's book is your friend, start to hang out on stackoverflow etc. Perhaps go and work in one of the cooler places to work like media etc. so the feel of the place makes you feel differently. iPhone development?

The not doing C++ route, without any kind of education diplomas in this current financial climate will probably not pay well. If you're not someone who feels they need a lot of money then you're likely to be happier, but have fewer choices.

2. If you chose the latter of those then sorry to say this but like a lot of people under the age of say 60 you probably need some set your expectations lower (I'm 36 and have done and I'm happier). As it currently stands I'd say earning enough for a house, a cheap Japanese car and 1-2 holidays a year is reasonable. Mansions, Ferrari's and supermodels are not.

3. Now go and do research on jobs that you think would keep your interest on a day to day basis potentially for the rest of your working life. Those people who change careers later in life fall into two camps; lucky genius b!stards, and those who earn less than people who are 15-20 years their junior. You probably wouldn't be one of the lucky genius b!stards, so put some real effort into it; go onto forums etc. and ask people about how their jobs are etc.

4. I'm guessing you're from the US, so your education opportunities are somewhat limited by a lack of funds? If so, go abroad. There are plenty of good universities from around the world that will give you pretty much all of the education you would get in the states (some better, some worse) at far lower cost. Google is your friend.

Although what you're experiencing now is very distressing, it actually won't last forever, and at 20 you're far from being unemployable. When you're in your 40's and you do this its a different world for sure, so better to take the risk now, reboot and set yourself on the right path for the rest of your life.

So you could possibly do another crappy job for 6 months, save as much as you can and then go to university in a foreign country, and then graduate in whatever field you want and get a job in 3-4 years when there's no recession.

OR

You could look for the more bearable of the crappy C++ roles and go with those knowing that what this buys you is time to replan, refocus, recover, have fun again, not feel responsible, and know that its not forever because you're putting things in motion to be a better candidate for the next better role.

PS. Start working out too; preferably weights.

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#325

Post by toblender »

Why tiptoe through life only to arrive at death?

I was in the same position as you a few months ago, working like a slave at a startup.

You made the right choice, in quitting. Clearly you were unhappy with what you were doing.

Stay positive.

Find a mentor, read books like "War of Art" or "One minute millionaire".

Be thankful for what you do have. Your health, make sure to workout and maintain it, sleep at a regular schedule. I struggle with this as well, but if you aren't healthy you will be depressed and it will show in your work and prospective in life.

Pick up a skill, and get really dam good at it. If you are good at something you will get paid for it eventually.

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#326

Post by kls »

teja1990 wrote: post #99
thaumaturgy wrote: post #59

So, here's my story; I tell it occasionally when stories like yours come up. I had no college experience, but did manage to jump right in to a good I.T. job while I was still in high school, and from there into an even better I.T. job in another state where I made more money than I knew what to do with. (I've never been good with money, and didn't understand what "savings" meant.) I worked there until suddenly one da…

This is what HN is really about, helping a fellow hacker .I'm sure that this advice can be lifechanging not just for him but for many more .

You are absolutely right, almost all of the tech communities are, pardon the expression, but a technical dick waving contest. What makes HN totally different and the reason I gave up hope on the rest of them is the positive vibe among it's members. You see it almost instantly when a new member comes on and thinks it is just another tech forum. Not in a rude way but in a way that brings about a profound realization in those new members, some stick others don't and that is what makes HN great.

As for the author, he should take comfort in the fact that he has experienced something that 99% of people never will, he has insight that is very valuable, it sucks while you are going through it but it will help form a better you, guaranteed. Failure builds character, that is one of life's few constants. He seems to be hung up on the fact that he has no formal training and is young, but neither of those are a serious disadvantage in this field.

If it where me personally I would be using the opportunity wisely, there is no better time in life to rebuild it the way you want it to be, than right after you have burnt you old life to the ground. I wish my family would have been more entrepreneurial oriented. I was never given the wisdom that the best path to Independence is to create your own future and that there is no better time to do that than when you are at home with you parents and do not have a life to maintain. Wisdom in his current situation could lead to a profound change in his life. There is not better time for opportunity than in his current situation.

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#327

Post by skcin7 »

I didn't quit my full time job but I got fired and ironically (although it still sucks to be fired) I am happy that they let me go because now I can work full time on my independent projects. I am poor at the moment as well and live with my parents, although I have a feeling that some of my projects are going to work out and when that happens, I will be much happier to work for myself rather than at another company.

If you really REALLY are unhappy with your decision to quit your job, then why don't you just find another full time job? Sure, it wont be the same as the one you quit... it will have pros and cons for sure. You could even possibly try to go back to your old job and see what they say. Couldn't hurt to ask if you left them on good terms.

Re: I quit my job last March and it was a bad idea.

#328

Post by teyc »

It is entirely normal to feel the way you do at the moment. Chalk it up to learning.

Try to remember what didn't happen to you:

1. You didn't join the army and your leg got blown off.

2. You didn't work in an asbestos factory and now you are worried about getting cancer.

3. You didn't get thrown in jail and have a criminal record for life.

You quit your job, and the other plans didn't come off. That is it. The damage is monetary and can be fixed with money.

Wear your mistakes as a badge of honour, because it is what informs you of who you are.

Sit down, clear your head and a plan will come together.

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