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Need Advice: Quitting Job to Learn to Code... (and start my business)

1 pointsby jaypreneurover 13 years ago
Hey everyone.<p>So, I've been contemplating this for a while and really need some advice. I'll try to be brief, but I apologize if I drag this on.<p>I work full time at a job I hate. Although it pays pretty well... I work until 9+ PM 25% of my time (like this week). It will be like that throughout January and February, for instance. Additionally, my commute (which varies due to where I have to be) is often two hours a day.<p>Ultimately, all of this time kills my ability to really learn code and focus on my business. I lose out on hours AND on mental stamina. It sucks. I'm all for working hard and would easily work 10+ hours (and can stay focused fairly easily) per day on something I am passionate about (this would include coding as 1. I know it'll help me create my business and 2. I think I'll enjoy it)<p>Currently, I have designed a website mockup, landing page, reached out to potential customers, and now I know I need to create. I consider myself competent on both the business and design side of things. I've been making small attempts to find tech co-founder, but it's difficult with no real traction (and no friends who do any programming at all, although one who is willing to learn... but that's another story).<p>So, I am at a crossroads. I am incredibly dedicated when I want something. I love learning. And I really want my business to succeed, not just for my benefit even, but because I truly believe my vision can make a great impact.<p>At this point, it looks like it will be very difficult to find a tech co-founder. Most are already doing their own thing, working for a startup with traction, or looking to work for a startup with traction. Someone like me, understandably so, is last on the list. Even if I find someone interested, I will be a difficult judge of talent. Additionally, we will need to work well together, have visions that fall in line, and so on... the perfect match is probably impossible. Even finding a reasonable match is incredibly difficult. It could take weeks, months, over a year...<p>In all that time/effort spent looking for someone, I am confident I can learn to code and develop something. I don't expect to be incredibly proficient, but be able to create something useable I hope. My idea isn't rocket science here. It's taking common internet technologies and combining them together. Ultimately, it's an idea and business that hasn't really hit its stride yet. I'm betting on the fact that it will and I want to be the business that is a part of (or the reason for) that.<p>I just don't know what to do. Fortunately, I am living at home for now and stay put if need be. That eliminates some obvious costs. However, having an income is helpful. Additionally, I definitely don't want to "waste" time. I'm one of those people who is always moving and doing something... I account for all my time internally. I want to make sure if I do leave my job it's the right thing to do and that I don't spend months without an income and end up with nothing to show for it.<p>So, if you guys could give me your thoughts, suggestions, anything you want to say, I'd greatly appreciate it. I would approach advice regarding the decision itself (i.e. "Leave your job! Go for it!" or "Stay there! Don't leave!") or advice on how to approach the situation after a decision is made (i.e. "If you leave, approach learning to code by reading X, Y, Z..." or "If you stay, look for a tech co-founder by trying X, Y, Z or use your salary to outsource a minimum viable product"). Or anything else you want to say! Please!<p>Last thing... I just want to say this forum is awesome and I love reading through the threads and great news articles everyone posts. I'm glad I found it.

4 comments

nowarninglabelover 13 years ago
Sound like you are on the right track, and increasing your technical chops is definitely a good way to get to where you want to be or to at least give a better impression to potential future partners.<p>That said, sounds like from this line:<p>&#62;I want to make sure if I do leave my job it's the right thing to do and that I don't spend months without an income and end up with nothing to show for it.<p>..that you are not ready to quit your job yet. It's a fairly high probability that this is exactly what will happen. If you aren't comfortable with that fact, then you don't have the risk tolerance necessary to go for this. At the least though, I can say that if you do go through with it, no matter the outcome, I highly doubt you will think you 'wasted your time'. If you look at the report-backs on HN of those who have failed, almost everyone has learned some skills and life lessons that made up for the experience.
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fate_carverover 13 years ago
jaypreneur,<p>1) I wish you the best of luck. 2) As Buffett said, "Invest in what you know." 3) Hire the best you can afford to help you with the tech issues.<p>Regarding 3: You go and learn all you can, write some code, etc. The more you learn the more you will realize you are in over your head (I hope you learn that). Besides the security issues you have never heard of, or the scaling issues, or the caching issues, you are not a Developer!<p>To paraphrase Buffett, "Stick with what you know." If you have a good, marketable, revenue-generating idea then you are doing well. You can generate good ideas, that is great! Show your idea/attempt/mockup to potential tech co-founders. If the basics are sound any reasonable techie will see ways to improve it for you and take the bite.<p>I am sure that you did not mean to insult all of the techies out here by saying you can learn to code in a year a two, but there is much more to our craft than banging keys or struggling with memory leaks...we have experience that you will never have if you part-time half-ass it. Either become a "coder" full-time, or find someone that has. I am known to be a hard ass, so please forgive me, but you don't have to code the solution/vision yourself...in fact, please don't. Reading your post I see a lot of 'impossible' statements. jay, if you want your idea to move forward with realistic performance, hire someone. If you don't have the money, search for the money, if you can't do that, search for the talent. If you believe in your idea and can convince a techie to believe in your idea, well, your search is over. I am sure you have heard this before but "Ideas are a dime a dozen." It is true, even with mockups, but if you need a tech co-founder, I think you came to the right place.<p>Read 1) 2) 3) again.<p>FateCarver
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pnathanover 13 years ago
- How many months of savings do you have?<p>- How much selling do you have to do to break even?<p>- How long do you have until you get that much selling?<p>That gives you the numbers.<p>Coding is not as easy as some make it sound (nor as hard as other make it sound). If you get the functionality working to a degree where customers are paying for it and sticking around, you probably can find a techie to revamp it.<p>Personally, I am sufficiently risk averse that for most products I've thought of, I'd have to see cash incoming before I quit my job.
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felipepiresxover 13 years ago
you already know the answer. you just want us to give it to you in better sounding words.<p>we don't have crystal balls. fact of the matter is. if you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. go for it. calculate whats the most viable way and don't wast time .
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