Do I quit my job to travel/work on side hustles for 6 months?
I’ve been at this startup for 3 years and have been feeling burnt out recently and need a break. Don’t want to work the 9-5 anymore, want a fire under my butt to build something so i can escape these time chains. Writing this post pretty sleepily, but worries here are: - will I be able to find a role in 6-12 months after? - I’m thinking of applying to MBA school (ideally Stanford GSB) and worried that taking this break will be looked down upon - I could also potentially ask to work part-time or take a leave but it seems unlikely Anyone have thoughts on their experience quitting? I’m still early in my career, 25 F, 135k comp #startup #quitting
lol bad idea. Grow up.
I had a quarter life crisis too, I’ve since travelled the world, had great long term relationships abroad, launched high revenue earning businesses, and had been able to get more SWE work whenever I wanted or needed that. most things I was afraid of had no consequences, for example: - business mishap messed up my credit. I’m 4 years into that and I’ve lived in mansions and rented luxury apartments the entire time. I thought I would have to rent in the ghetto if I had blemishes on my credit. No partners have asked or cared - which is something I imagined would occur when I was obsessing with maximizing credit scores in perpetuity. got good terms on a car loan. - employment gaps didn’t matter. they teach you to be afraid of that. its really easy to explain or fill in. references can be anyone and your own company can exist and pay you and even report payroll the existence of which shows up on background checks. but in many cases its more beneficial to just say you have 3-4 years of experience again so it really doesn’t matter. - I flirted with getting an MBA and it could be in the cards in the future. But its not necessary for running your own business or making money. Its not necessary for the network. Find a cofounder with those credentials. Opportunity cost has always been too great for me. All that being said, live a little, or a lot! in my eyes, employment obsessed penny stacking FIRE people are living pathetic lives. I respect people who are making an objective decision about it, I dont respect the ones who dont know and arent living There will be software to build in 6-12 months. There is no generic advice that works for this path. You might run out of money. I did. I made more. Generic advice gets generic results.
Appreciate the thoughts! Curious how your mental health was throughout? I feel pretty strong about mine as long as I stick to a good routine but I did work on a startup fresh out of college (+ during covid) and it was an unhealthy lifestyle which is why I got a job. The job stable-ed me out but feels like I’ve sedated the want to be truly financially free earlier on so feeling restless to make a change because with a 135-150k base comp expected in next 2 years - this isn’t going to be path for it unless I start a business. So thoughts now are: - switch jobs to something more interesting and work on side hustles - take that 6-? month break to recharge and go full time on learning new skills and getting traction on ideas (then get a job after bc likely want some more diverse experience before applying to business school) Agreed the business school route isn’t necessary either- kinda just seems fun and want some of that fake endowment but also to elevate network for potential co-founders Would love to hear any you-specific advice
You are not yet ready to quit if you are asking these questions on blind
It’s a decision I’m going to think about for the next month and create a game plan for so wanted to get some fresh perspectives for how to think through it! My circle only consists of 1-2 close people whose taken a similar path
I understand that. But, for such decisions, there is no right person to give a validation. Only you can decide. Don’t even share it with anyone else unless you have a spouse.
Pretend your 80. Reflect on the choices/experiences you made/had or didn’t. Then pick whichever you would regret less.
Like this, thanks! When I think about it this far out — this decision feels a little negligible since I can always adapt the road if it doesn’t feel right