4 ms·

Ask HN: I'm bored, want exposure to new things but I don't want a job

11 points by coralreef 12y ago

I consider myself an entrepreneur, I taught myself programming over the last 2.5 years. I have some iOS apps which make me enough money to survive but have enough money banked to survive otherwise. I feel I don't have good or new ideas anymore. I think its because I work alone in isolation. I feel like good ideas comes from life experiences and exposure. I think I need to experience new and different problems in my life. I'm still looking for something I can really build a startup out of. I don't think I would last at a job though. I don't have a CS degree so its unlikely I can get an engineering position. I could probably land something in marketing/support/whatever. This may mean I get less time to program and thus improve less at programming. I feel like ditching a job after 4 months would be a bad thing to do. But, maybe I'd end up enjoying the job. So yeah, anyone ever been in the same boat or have ideas on what I should do? TDLR: I need more problems in my life.

jnorthrop 12y ago
Do some short term contract work.
- coralreef 12y ago
  Thanks, but I feel like that wouldn't really expose me to new problems or experiences. I don't really need the money.
rgovind 12y ago
Where are you based? If you know how to build webservices, I can share a few of my ideas. I am more interested in seeing them come to life rather than be able to make money from them. I am in SF bay area. Mail me. Email in profile.
- coralreef 12y ago
  Thanks, however your email isn't actually in your bio :O
doubt_me 12y ago
move out of the US and make apps for a different market challenge yourself
geoffdigital 12y ago
Have fun making money sharing a mobile app called Paid2Save. Check it out. Google Play: https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save.android https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save... iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 You will need an access code: 72088 I have heard reports that some people with large networks are making $10,000 their first month.
geoffdigital 12y ago
Have fun making money sharing a mobile app called Paid2Save. What's Paid2Save? It's an app designed for people to save money at local, national, and online stores. Check it out. Google Play: https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save.android https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save... iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 You will need an access code: 72088 I have heard reports back that some people with huge networks are making $10,000 their first month. Worth a shot?
alain94040 12y ago
Offer to code MVPs for a bunch of people. Spend two weeks on each. Do your best. After 2 months, you will have been exposed to plenty of ideas. Worst case, you'll have a great portfolio to show and will have learned a bunch of different technical approaches. Best case, you'll fall in love with one project and will have solved your boredom.
JacobAldridge 12y ago
Take a leaf from our own Jacquesm and consider a Journeyman experience: http://jacquesmattheij.com/will-work-for-food-and-lodging http://jacquesmattheij.com/will-work-for-food-and-lodging Here's one of Jacques's follow-up articles - explore his site for more http://jacquesmattheij.com/journeyman-project-trip-1-united-kingdom http://jacquesmattheij.com/journeyman-project-trip-1-united-...
staunch 12y ago
You probably just need to improve your ability to see problems. This question itself is an instance of a problem that might represent a good opportunity. You're not the first person to have trouble finding motivation once they feel comfortable financially. Maybe there's some kind of product or service you can create to help with this situation. You know the target demographic has money to spend.
MalcolmDiggs 12y ago
What do you actually care about? Consumer apps aren't the only game in town; it sounds like you have an opportunity to make a real impact on whatever it is that's important to you.
hashtag 12y ago
Down to have a chat if you're interested
lacker 12y ago
It sounds like you haven't tried to get an engineering job, you just assume you can't. Right now is probably one of the best times to get into software engineering since the demand is so high. I suggest applying to a bunch of interesting-looking jobs. The worst that can happen is that they say no.
percept 12y ago
Have you considered a part-time job? Maybe something low-level that puts you out there among the people, but not with so many hours or so much responsibility that it becomes a grind? Starbucks, Home Depot, tradesman's helper? Two potential issues I could envision with this: 1) getting someone to hire you in the first place, and 2) feeling like it takes a job away from someone who needs it more. (In which case volunteering might be a better option: help the sick or elderly, the local food bank, puppies and kitties, etc.)
edoceo 12y ago
Could I interest you in taking some short "gigs" at various startup businesses? Little problems in varied spaces. I think a lot of us suffer from the lack of variety. DO others think about taking some quick gigs at other places some times?
tiboll 12y ago
I totally recognize myself in what you are saying. I'm waiting to finish my current project (I do freelance contracting) to be able to get back on my own projects and focus on something... but I have the same lake of good ideas lately, or at least I don't really believe in my ideas anymore. You should consider working on really early stage projects, building MVPs, maybe for equities rather than money.
floridazje 12y ago
Where are you located? I have an MVP that I would love to get some help on.

11 points by coralreef 12y ago

jnorthrop 12y ago

Do some short term contract work.

coralreef 12y ago
Thanks, but I feel like that wouldn't really expose me to new problems or experiences. I don't really need the money.

rgovind 12y ago

Where are you based? If you know how to build webservices, I can share a few of my ideas. I am more interested in seeing them come to life rather than be able to make money from them. I am in SF bay area. Mail me. Email in profile.

coralreef 12y ago
Thanks, however your email isn't actually in your bio :O

doubt_me 12y ago

move out of the US and make apps for a different market challenge yourself

geoffdigital 12y ago

Have fun making money sharing a mobile app called Paid2Save. Check it out. Google Play: https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save.android https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save... iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 You will need an access code: 72088 I have heard reports that some people with large networks are making $10,000 their first month.

geoffdigital 12y ago

Have fun making money sharing a mobile app called Paid2Save. What's Paid2Save? It's an app designed for people to save money at local, national, and online stores. Check it out. Google Play: https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save.android https://play.google.com/stores/apps/details?id=com.paid2save... iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paid2save/id818723109 You will need an access code: 72088 I have heard reports back that some people with huge networks are making $10,000 their first month. Worth a shot?

alain94040 12y ago

Offer to code MVPs for a bunch of people. Spend two weeks on each. Do your best. After 2 months, you will have been exposed to plenty of ideas. Worst case, you'll have a great portfolio to show and will have learned a bunch of different technical approaches. Best case, you'll fall in love with one project and will have solved your boredom.

JacobAldridge 12y ago

Take a leaf from our own Jacquesm and consider a Journeyman experience: http://jacquesmattheij.com/will-work-for-food-and-lodging http://jacquesmattheij.com/will-work-for-food-and-lodging Here's one of Jacques's follow-up articles - explore his site for more http://jacquesmattheij.com/journeyman-project-trip-1-united-kingdom http://jacquesmattheij.com/journeyman-project-trip-1-united-...

staunch 12y ago

You probably just need to improve your ability to see problems. This question itself is an instance of a problem that might represent a good opportunity. You're not the first person to have trouble finding motivation once they feel comfortable financially. Maybe there's some kind of product or service you can create to help with this situation. You know the target demographic has money to spend.

MalcolmDiggs 12y ago

What do you actually care about? Consumer apps aren't the only game in town; it sounds like you have an opportunity to make a real impact on whatever it is that's important to you.

hashtag 12y ago

Down to have a chat if you're interested

lacker 12y ago

It sounds like you haven't tried to get an engineering job, you just assume you can't. Right now is probably one of the best times to get into software engineering since the demand is so high. I suggest applying to a bunch of interesting-looking jobs. The worst that can happen is that they say no.

percept 12y ago

Have you considered a part-time job? Maybe something low-level that puts you out there among the people, but not with so many hours or so much responsibility that it becomes a grind? Starbucks, Home Depot, tradesman's helper? Two potential issues I could envision with this: 1) getting someone to hire you in the first place, and 2) feeling like it takes a job away from someone who needs it more. (In which case volunteering might be a better option: help the sick or elderly, the local food bank, puppies and kitties, etc.)

edoceo 12y ago

Could I interest you in taking some short "gigs" at various startup businesses? Little problems in varied spaces. I think a lot of us suffer from the lack of variety. DO others think about taking some quick gigs at other places some times?

tiboll 12y ago

I totally recognize myself in what you are saying. I'm waiting to finish my current project (I do freelance contracting) to be able to get back on my own projects and focus on something... but I have the same lake of good ideas lately, or at least I don't really believe in my ideas anymore. You should consider working on really early stage projects, building MVPs, maybe for equities rather than money.

floridazje 12y ago

Where are you located? I have an MVP that I would love to get some help on.