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Need Advice: Quitting Job to Learn to Code... (and start my business)
Hey everyone.
So, I've been contemplating this for a while and really need some advice. I'll try to be brief, but I apologize if I drag this on.
I work full time at a job I hate. Although it pays pretty well... I work until 9+ PM 25% of my time (like this week). It will be like that throughout January and February, for instance. Additionally, my commute (which varies due to where I have to be) is often two hours a day.
Ultimately, all of this time kills my ability to really learn code and focus on my business. I lose out on hours AND on mental stamina. It sucks. I'm all for working hard and would easily work 10+ hours (and can stay focused fairly easily) per day on something I am passionate about (this would include coding as 1. I know it'll help me create my business and 2. I think I'll enjoy it)
Currently, I have designed a website mockup, landing page, reached out to potential customers, and now I know I need to create. I consider myself competent on both the business and design side of things. I've been making small attempts to find tech co-founder, but it's difficult with no real traction (and no friends who do any programming at all, although one who is willing to learn... but that's another story).
So, I am at a crossroads. I am incredibly dedicated when I want something. I love learning. And I really want my business to succeed, not just for my benefit even, but because I truly believe my vision can make a great impact.
At this point, it looks like it will be very difficult to find a tech co-founder. Most are already doing their own thing, working for a startup with traction, or looking to work for a startup with traction. Someone like me, understandably so, is last on the list. Even if I find someone interested, I will be a difficult judge of talent. Additionally, we will need to work well together, have visions that fall in line, and so on... the perfect match is probably impossible. Even finding a reasonable match is incredibly difficult. It could take weeks, months, over a year...
In all that time/effort spent looking for someone, I am confident I can learn to code and develop something. I don't expect to be incredibly proficient, but be able to create something useable I hope. My idea isn't rocket science here. It's taking common internet technologies and combining them together. Ultimately, it's an idea and business that hasn't really hit its stride yet. I'm betting on the fact that it will and I want to be the business that is a part of (or the reason for) that.
I just don't know what to do. Fortunately, I am living at home for now and stay put if need be. That eliminates some obvious costs. However, having an income is helpful. Additionally, I definitely don't want to "waste" time. I'm one of those people who is always moving and doing something... I account for all my time internally. I want to make sure if I do leave my job it's the right thing to do and that I don't spend months without an income and end up with nothing to show for it.
So, if you guys could give me your thoughts, suggestions, anything you want to say, I'd greatly appreciate it. I would approach advice regarding the decision itself (i.e. "Leave your job! Go for it!" or "Stay there! Don't leave!") or advice on how to approach the situation after a decision is made (i.e. "If you leave, approach learning to code by reading X, Y, Z..." or "If you stay, look for a tech co-founder by trying X, Y, Z or use your salary to outsource a minimum viable product"). Or anything else you want to say! Please!
Last thing... I just want to say this forum is awesome and I love reading through the threads and great news articles everyone posts. I'm glad I found it.
- felipepiresx 15y agoyou already know the answer. you just want us to give it to you in better sounding words. we don't have crystal balls. fact of the matter is. if you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. go for it. calculate whats the most viable way and don't wast time .
- felipepiresx 15y agoby calculate i mean money wise. financials are scary but they have to be dealt with.
- jaypreneur 15y agoHa. When I think about it... that is exactly what I want. It's just a tough decision. Even if I know I ultimately want to leave and pursue this full time, being that I've never done something like this before, it's nice to get some on it thoughts, whether reassuring or against what I'm thinking, just to help me. Ultimately, what I have to lose is just potential income. My job is one that (especially in NYC) is in demand and I have the qualifications to get another job if things went south, so I'm not really afraid of being out of a job if I needed money. To be honest, I really never want to go back to what I'm doing anyway. I don't know if anyone else feels like this at times, but every moment I slave away I think about how much I could be accomplishing if I could use my time how I wanted to use it. The job sucked before I had that nagging thought... now it becomes unbearable at times.
- nowarninglabel 15y agoSound like you are on the right track, and increasing your technical chops is definitely a good way to get to where you want to be or to at least give a better impression to potential future partners. That said, sounds like from this line: >I want to make sure if I do leave my job it's the right thing to do and that I don't spend months without an income and end up with nothing to show for it. ..that you are not ready to quit your job yet. It's a fairly high probability that this is exactly what will happen. If you aren't comfortable with that fact, then you don't have the risk tolerance necessary to go for this. At the least though, I can say that if you do go through with it, no matter the outcome, I highly doubt you will think you 'wasted your time'. If you look at the report-backs on HN of those who have failed, almost everyone has learned some skills and life lessons that made up for the experience.