I've been an engineer for decades rising to Principal at a company recognisable to most people here, and I've done early stage startup hands-on CTO roles. Durin

I've been an engineer for decades rising to Principal at a company recognisable to most people here, and I've done early stage startup hands-on CTO roles. During Covid I ended up as an SDM at a FAANG and found that so soul-destroying I ended up moving into a TPM role in a very, very technical team that despite in a huge org, works like an early-stage startup. It's not cutting code every day, but I muck about on my own tools and have clearance from legal to do some very specific non-competing side projects. My goal in the next year is to go back to SWE but as an entrepreneur - as an indie of some form. I have a niche in mind that might pay the bills. You're right about the industry being broken, senior managers infantilising and patronising teams, and the constant arguing about bullshit with people who just want to be right all the time, even when they're clearly wrong. Asymmetrical value is where it is at. Keep going with that angle, hustle, get out, and don't worry about scaling: lifestyle businesses are the new unicorns.