4 ms·

I was in the same situation, but even better. I was making $350,000/yr, promoted to software architect of a 100 person team, was working on interesting problems

I was in the same situation, but even better. I was making $350,000/yr, promoted to software architect of a 100 person team, was working on interesting problems, was well liked by everyone in the office, had lots of good friends at work, and only needed to work a few hours a day, was able to decide what projects I wanted to work on.... it was a dream. I quit to join a startup. Huge mistake. I quit the startup to take time off, its been 2 months. Now I am spending my time exercising, doing yoga, studying things I want to study and hanging out at cafes and travelling. But I was happier in the job. I don't have a solution, sorry. My best guess is understanding the hedonic treadmill, focusing on appreciating what you have and meditation (the mind illuminated is a good book). But hey thats just a guess. Maybe there is no solution, maybe evolution fucked us.

cornflower 4y ago
Do you mind sharing why joining startup was a mistake? I am in the similar position at the big company, and have been contemplating a similar change
- jakobov 4y ago
  Sure. 1) the pay was $100k, much less than i was previously making. Made me change my spending habits and reduced my quality of life 2) the office was depressing and dark 3) the ability to socialize at my office was greatly diminished due to a small team. I'm on the same wavelength as 10% of ppl so if there are only 20ppl at a company its slim pickings especially since most people are working from home. 4) I stopped believing in the product pretty quickly after joining as I learned more about it and the competitive landscape. Belief in the product was the only thing keeping me there and once that was dead i had no reason to stay 5) the CEO turned out to be an idiot and i did not want to put my future in his hands. If you can work at a FAANG-like company it's a REALLY good deal. A startup can't offer the same perks, security, work-life-balance and freedom that FAANG can. My new thinking is that if you are unhappy working on something, switching to something else that is similar is only a temporary fix. Maybe switching to really different career that helps other people will provide a long term solution, but i doubt it. Most likely the issue is your attitude, perspective and personality. What are you really craving? What emotional state are you craving that you are not getting? Excitement, Love, Fame, Appreciation? Dig in and think if you really will be able to get that state sustainably at a different place. You want changes in order to change your emotional state but what you really need to do is learn how to control your emotional state. That is what you should be working on. But maybe don't listen to me, I have not figured it out yet, I am still not happy :)
  - cornflower 4y ago
    Thank you for your reply! Can relate to the questions you are asking yourself. Hope you figure it out :)
    - jakobov 4y ago
      Thanks buddy. Hope you figure it out as well. Feel free to reach out if you figure something out @zoharjakobovski on twitter

cornflower 4y ago

Do you mind sharing why joining startup was a mistake? I am in the similar position at the big company, and have been contemplating a similar change

jakobov 4y ago
Sure. 1) the pay was $100k, much less than i was previously making. Made me change my spending habits and reduced my quality of life 2) the office was depressing and dark 3) the ability to socialize at my office was greatly diminished due to a small team. I'm on the same wavelength as 10% of ppl so if there are only 20ppl at a company its slim pickings especially since most people are working from home. 4) I stopped believing in the product pretty quickly after joining as I learned more about it and the competitive landscape. Belief in the product was the only thing keeping me there and once that was dead i had no reason to stay 5) the CEO turned out to be an idiot and i did not want to put my future in his hands. If you can work at a FAANG-like company it's a REALLY good deal. A startup can't offer the same perks, security, work-life-balance and freedom that FAANG can. My new thinking is that if you are unhappy working on something, switching to something else that is similar is only a temporary fix. Maybe switching to really different career that helps other people will provide a long term solution, but i doubt it. Most likely the issue is your attitude, perspective and personality. What are you really craving? What emotional state are you craving that you are not getting? Excitement, Love, Fame, Appreciation? Dig in and think if you really will be able to get that state sustainably at a different place. You want changes in order to change your emotional state but what you really need to do is learn how to control your emotional state. That is what you should be working on. But maybe don't listen to me, I have not figured it out yet, I am still not happy :)
- cornflower 4y ago
  Thank you for your reply! Can relate to the questions you are asking yourself. Hope you figure it out :)
  - jakobov 4y ago
    Thanks buddy. Hope you figure it out as well. Feel free to reach out if you figure something out @zoharjakobovski on twitter