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I'm young and at a pivotal point in my life, where I need to decide whether to remain in my well-paying job in software engineering or pursue my dream of becomi

I'm young and at a pivotal point in my life, where I need to decide whether to remain in my well-paying job in software engineering or pursue my dream of becoming an entrepreneur. This article has deeply inspired me, hitting at just the right moment to encourage me to aim higher and take the leap.

dv35z 2y ago
Two things to check out: (1) find out the best university in your area, and see if they have a business incubator. Check out their events page - there's usually something interesting happening in the next couple of weeks - go to it with an open mind! Creators, investors, students, entrepreneurs all in one spot. Meet the organizer, and find out what kind of workshops would be valuable, and consider running one! They will help promote you! Usually, they'll have a busy group chat (WhatsApp) - get in there and see what services people need / offer... (2) Find out if there is a community maker-space in your area, and take a tour. You'll meet some of the most creative, entrepreneurial people there, and you'll see up-close, what's possible with product prototyping these days - 3D printed ceramics, robotics, CNC wood carving bots, metal carving, etc - and computer/code labs! I ran a "Get your product on Shopify" workshop in a maker-space. It was tons of fun and high value - got people booted up with a custom domain name, photo of their product online, Buy it Now button, make a business card with a QR code. For software experts this kind of thing is easy (a couple of hours etc), but for most people - it can feel like an extremely complicated mission (managing DNS records, or adjusting a theme's CSS - super tricky!). Not that you need to go be a Shopify installer! But the point is that you can help turn someones dream into reality, and its satisfying for all involved. Best of luck in the next chapter of your journey!
- BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
  Thank you, I found this advice very helpful!
underdeserver 2y ago
Be an entrepreneur. If it's not for you, you'll know within a few years.
- nine_k 2y ago
  BTW not a terrible advice. Unless you go broke and burnt out, it might be a good way to get hired to much higher and more interesting and impactful positions.
  - BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
    That's exactly how I think about this endeavor. If I fail, I can always get back to being a contractor. I think that with each failed attempt, my value as a software engineer or a manager will only increase.
shafyy 2y ago
Don't go all in. Try starting your business on the side and see how it goes for a while.
- BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
  From reading stories of other entrepreneurs, I feel that the most balanced way to go is to validate the idea (obtain at least one paid customer, etc.) before leaving the job. Thanks for your reply!
  - shafyy 2y ago
    You're welcome. I've started a couple of companies. The first time I went all in and I was lucky that it worked out. The second time, I went all in again but it didn't work out. The third time I started on the side and had one paying customer, quit my day job but it was still too early. So my recommendation for my future self is: Only start switching over once you can pay your bills with your startup. This does not mean that you need to have the same high salary as before. Ideally, you can also start reducing your day job partially. Anyways, the situation is different for everybody, but this is just my learning for myself.
saagarjha 2y ago
Note that Paul Graham has a vested interest in you doing that and he writes with that in mind.
- BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
  I also thought about this :D
com2kid 2y ago
Work at a job that contributes highly to a retirement fund (401k o If in the USA) and after you have maxed our your retirement savings for at least 5, if not 10 years, then go ahead and do something else. If I had waited 3 more years before I tried to go the startup route I'd have another 200-300k in the bank right now and I would have the financial independence to do whatever I want for however long I want right now. Compound growth is amazing, take advantage of it while you are as young as possible.
deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
mattlondon 2y ago
Don't do it. Wait until you have enough money to comfortably retire and paid off the mortgage etc, then do it.
- nine_k 2y ago
  By that time, the interest and the energy may have gone. (If not, by all means pursue your passion after you have comfortably retired. I, for instance, assume that I will never have a chance to comfortably retire.)
- BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
  I think that being in my 20s, I still have a chance to try entrepreneurship and get back to playing safe in my 30s (in the case of failure)
sph 2y ago
Here's advice from someone older, at probably the same pivotal point in life: only listen to those that say yes, go for it, those that have done. Then form your opinion, which you will do anyway. Being contrarian, negative, saying it's impossible, telling you to stay in your lane is the default for most people, especially on the internet, especially if they feel smarter than average, as you might find on a forum such as this. My thesis: all negative advice has negative value and can be discarded with extreme prejudice. There is no exception to this rule. Listen to those that have done, those you feel have something to teach, and put your personal spin to their advice when incorporating it in your own growth. Good luck!
- BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
  Thank you! I absolutely agree with your words
matthewfelgate 2y ago
What are you thinking of building?
anon291 2y ago
There is no pressure. There is no advantage to being an entrepreneur while young versus being older and more established. Contrary to the stories portrayed on here with young college drop outs raising valuations of billions, the more typical path and historically the one with a much greater chance of success is a middle aged engineer founding a company in a niche he knows about. I too felt like you at a young age and am glad I stuck with the career. It let me do all the life things (get married, have kids, etc) in a stable environment. Now as I age, I also have (or rather, soon will have) the finances to freely choose to pursue something more independent. It all depends on why you want entrepreneurship. I think if you just want to have money, then this it's a foolhardy path. But if you are excited by the idea of making something new, then there's really no rush. Just wait until the right time comes along, build up skills along the way, and bank your salary

dv35z 2y ago

Two things to check out: (1) find out the best university in your area, and see if they have a business incubator. Check out their events page - there's usually something interesting happening in the next couple of weeks - go to it with an open mind! Creators, investors, students, entrepreneurs all in one spot. Meet the organizer, and find out what kind of workshops would be valuable, and consider running one! They will help promote you! Usually, they'll have a busy group chat (WhatsApp) - get in there and see what services people need / offer... (2) Find out if there is a community maker-space in your area, and take a tour. You'll meet some of the most creative, entrepreneurial people there, and you'll see up-close, what's possible with product prototyping these days - 3D printed ceramics, robotics, CNC wood carving bots, metal carving, etc - and computer/code labs! I ran a "Get your product on Shopify" workshop in a maker-space. It was tons of fun and high value - got people booted up with a custom domain name, photo of their product online, Buy it Now button, make a business card with a QR code. For software experts this kind of thing is easy (a couple of hours etc), but for most people - it can feel like an extremely complicated mission (managing DNS records, or adjusting a theme's CSS - super tricky!). Not that you need to go be a Shopify installer! But the point is that you can help turn someones dream into reality, and its satisfying for all involved. Best of luck in the next chapter of your journey!

BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
Thank you, I found this advice very helpful!

underdeserver 2y ago

Be an entrepreneur. If it's not for you, you'll know within a few years.

nine_k 2y ago
BTW not a terrible advice. Unless you go broke and burnt out, it might be a good way to get hired to much higher and more interesting and impactful positions.
- BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
  That's exactly how I think about this endeavor. If I fail, I can always get back to being a contractor. I think that with each failed attempt, my value as a software engineer or a manager will only increase.

shafyy 2y ago

Don't go all in. Try starting your business on the side and see how it goes for a while.

BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
From reading stories of other entrepreneurs, I feel that the most balanced way to go is to validate the idea (obtain at least one paid customer, etc.) before leaving the job. Thanks for your reply!
- shafyy 2y ago
  You're welcome. I've started a couple of companies. The first time I went all in and I was lucky that it worked out. The second time, I went all in again but it didn't work out. The third time I started on the side and had one paying customer, quit my day job but it was still too early. So my recommendation for my future self is: Only start switching over once you can pay your bills with your startup. This does not mean that you need to have the same high salary as before. Ideally, you can also start reducing your day job partially. Anyways, the situation is different for everybody, but this is just my learning for myself.

saagarjha 2y ago

Note that Paul Graham has a vested interest in you doing that and he writes with that in mind.

BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
I also thought about this :D

com2kid 2y ago

Work at a job that contributes highly to a retirement fund (401k o If in the USA) and after you have maxed our your retirement savings for at least 5, if not 10 years, then go ahead and do something else. If I had waited 3 more years before I tried to go the startup route I'd have another 200-300k in the bank right now and I would have the financial independence to do whatever I want for however long I want right now. Compound growth is amazing, take advantage of it while you are as young as possible.

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

mattlondon 2y ago

Don't do it. Wait until you have enough money to comfortably retire and paid off the mortgage etc, then do it.

nine_k 2y ago
By that time, the interest and the energy may have gone. (If not, by all means pursue your passion after you have comfortably retired. I, for instance, assume that I will never have a chance to comfortably retire.)
BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
I think that being in my 20s, I still have a chance to try entrepreneurship and get back to playing safe in my 30s (in the case of failure)

sph 2y ago

Here's advice from someone older, at probably the same pivotal point in life: only listen to those that say yes, go for it, those that have done. Then form your opinion, which you will do anyway. Being contrarian, negative, saying it's impossible, telling you to stay in your lane is the default for most people, especially on the internet, especially if they feel smarter than average, as you might find on a forum such as this. My thesis: all negative advice has negative value and can be discarded with extreme prejudice. There is no exception to this rule. Listen to those that have done, those you feel have something to teach, and put your personal spin to their advice when incorporating it in your own growth. Good luck!

BohdanPetryshyn 2y ago
Thank you! I absolutely agree with your words

matthewfelgate 2y ago

What are you thinking of building?

anon291 2y ago

There is no pressure. There is no advantage to being an entrepreneur while young versus being older and more established. Contrary to the stories portrayed on here with young college drop outs raising valuations of billions, the more typical path and historically the one with a much greater chance of success is a middle aged engineer founding a company in a niche he knows about. I too felt like you at a young age and am glad I stuck with the career. It let me do all the life things (get married, have kids, etc) in a stable environment. Now as I age, I also have (or rather, soon will have) the finances to freely choose to pursue something more independent. It all depends on why you want entrepreneurship. I think if you just want to have money, then this it's a foolhardy path. But if you are excited by the idea of making something new, then there's really no rush. Just wait until the right time comes along, build up skills along the way, and bank your salary