You should be leaving your day job


Last Tuesdays post, “Should you be leaving your day job?”, brought a few comments from people who disagreed with me, and I think that’s great! These disagreements, especially Warren who left his day job and couldn’t be happier (way to go Warren!), point out that there is no one solution for everyone. Some people think the only way to succeed to is to remove all obstacles, even if that obstacle is a salaried day job. Others think that leaving a salaried job is insane. Neither method is right for everyone.

It seems that the assumption was that a day job has to be that of a full time salaried employee where you aren’t the owner. There is no reason that your day job can’t be that of a freelance programmer like many microISV readers. These people are supporting their microISV aspirations as an independent consultants, a role somewhat in the middle of full time employee and full time microISV.

Ultimately, the key is to make the decision that will drive you to success. Either way of thinking can be correct depending on the situation. The only bad decision is to do nothing, because you never want to be successful at nothing.

2 Responses to “You should be leaving your day job”

  1. Ben Bryant Says:

    Yeah, it is a tough call. I am lucky to have a part time contract which provides steady income. And those things about my contract work that I don’t like provide a constant inspiration to work on my own Micro ISV product line. :)

  2. Warren Says:

    I stand by my statement that quitting your day job can be a good, and sometimes required step.

    If you take on a certain sized project like I have (say 1.5 person-years or more), you CANNOT do this part-time, as this would take more than 4.5 years. By which time the software would very likely be obsolete, or your “window” in the market would have passed.

    (you could also take a partner - but partnerships of part-timers are unlikely to work)

    I was quite “fiscally conservative” since I started working (6 years previous). Not that I had the intention of starting this business, but I’ve always thought it is good to have a good deal of “rainy day” money sitting around. And it’s that money that has let me take 10 months without a salary.

    Not everone has enough savings to do what I did, but anyone reading this and doesn’t have the savings should NOT consider my savings “luck” - rather, it’s the result of a long time of going without new (TVs, gadgets, car, etc).

    And best of luck to anyone who takes the Micro-ISV plunge, whether it be full or part time…

    Warren

You should be leaving your day job


Last Tuesdays post, “Should you be leaving your day job?”, brought a few comments from people who disagreed with me, and I think that’s great! These disagreements, especially Warren who left his day job and couldn’t be happier (way to go Warren!), point out that there is no one solution for everyone. Some people think the only way to succeed to is to remove all obstacles, even if that obstacle is a salaried day job. Others think that leaving a salaried job is insane. Neither method is right for everyone.

It seems that the assumption was that a day job has to be that of a full time salaried employee where you aren’t the owner. There is no reason that your day job can’t be that of a freelance programmer like many microISV readers. These people are supporting their microISV aspirations as an independent consultants, a role somewhat in the middle of full time employee and full time microISV.

Ultimately, the key is to make the decision that will drive you to success. Either way of thinking can be correct depending on the situation. The only bad decision is to do nothing, because you never want to be successful at nothing.

2 Responses to “You should be leaving your day job”

  1. Ben Bryant Says:

    Yeah, it is a tough call. I am lucky to have a part time contract which provides steady income. And those things about my contract work that I don’t like provide a constant inspiration to work on my own Micro ISV product line. :)

  2. Warren Says:

    I stand by my statement that quitting your day job can be a good, and sometimes required step.

    If you take on a certain sized project like I have (say 1.5 person-years or more), you CANNOT do this part-time, as this would take more than 4.5 years. By which time the software would very likely be obsolete, or your “window” in the market would have passed.

    (you could also take a partner - but partnerships of part-timers are unlikely to work)

    I was quite “fiscally conservative” since I started working (6 years previous). Not that I had the intention of starting this business, but I’ve always thought it is good to have a good deal of “rainy day” money sitting around. And it’s that money that has let me take 10 months without a salary.

    Not everone has enough savings to do what I did, but anyone reading this and doesn’t have the savings should NOT consider my savings “luck” - rather, it’s the result of a long time of going without new (TVs, gadgets, car, etc).

    And best of luck to anyone who takes the Micro-ISV plunge, whether it be full or part time…

    Warren

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