Is it the right time for me to quit my FANG job?

2 points by alirsgp 4 years ago | 7 comments

I have about 1.5 years experience at my FANG job. I developed a side business/app in college and maintained it while working, and it's currently bringing in just enough money for me to break even on life expenses (rent, car payment, food, etc.)

Meaning if I left I wouldn't see my savings decline unless something drastically changed with my business (it's been consistent for several months now).

Also have ~100K saved up that I don't think I'll need to burn. Early 20s.

How should I assess this?

samstave 4 years ago |

Stay. Buy some land. Get enough to cover property taxes for N years... (remember, there is no such thing as 'owning' land while property tax can still be used to steal it back from you)

Build something sustainable on that land, in an area you wish to be - and have your forever home built out by the time youre ~30...

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Alternate, I worked with a guy who would work for 6 months as a contractor, then travel for 12 months. he had a niche skill though... so he was always able to comback to hardware engineering in spaces where few resources were available...

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Alternate: make a very nice travel bus and spend your 20s like we all would: travelling and exploring - get the fuck out of the cubicle.

cameron_b 4 years ago |

Measure the upside

Apart from the financials which you addressed, does deeper experience in the hustle open up opportunities for better lateral career moves should the hustle plateau or bust?

Measure the risk

Are you able to assess a runway for the hustle? Assuming that digging in would involve some non-time investment that would potentially eat into your savings, can you realistically compartmentalize "could vs should"?

Early 20s offers a lot of time to recover from any serious mis-step and you have a lot of opportunity in front of you.

Measure the counter-argument:

If you don't do it: -What are you leaving on the table? -Will you be okay with a FANG role, or would you miss the opportunity to learn firsthand? -Will you be able to learn more with someone else footing the bill?

PaulHoule 4 years ago |

What are your motivations for leaving and plans for what you will do with the time you free up? Is your goal to go "all in" on your business or find another job?

alirsgp 4 years ago | |

Yes going all in on my business. I think I can grow it a few orders of magnitude. I didn't want to jump before it was covering most of my expenses, so now I'm reassessing.

injb 4 years ago | | |

If you can grow it using the time you're currently spending on your day job, then yes, do it! Is there some reason that you're hesitating?

rogerkirkness 4 years ago |

If you value freedom more than what your savings J curve looks like in your late 20s, and you have more than two years of expenses in the bank, yes.

readonthegoapp 4 years ago |

I'd argue you need to add a bunch more details for anyone to contribute

Unless they point you to something else to read or watch