I will quit my programmer job in 26 days.
The first thing I want to say is that it was not an easy decision for me. I thought about it for a long time and I have just finally come up with the clear one. I don’t want to waste my time surrounded by the people who don’t inspire me, writing programs 95% of which is going to be thrown away. Now it’s obvious: how can you do what you don’t like for such a long time? What is the reason you did it?
The answer is the fear of failure. When you aren’t self-confident enough, your own way, your own beliefs and thoughts can be easily affected by many different external factors like your friends’ opinion, your environment, your “this is how my parents taught me” and so on. Someone great said: the easiest way to get money is to find a job. But when you are on this way you skip another super-huge bunch of opportunities which are floating around you. I’ve started to spot them.
Again, when you lack self-confidence, your mood can be easily spoiled by your friend who says that you will never be able to achieve what you want. But when you have enough self-confidence you’ll say “sit down and shut up”. You will not care about his or her opinion, because you have your own light within.
It seems that and I want to believe that I have obtained such kind of a light within. Thanks to Paulo Coelho. I think that I feel something similar to what the shepherd in “The Alchemist” has felt. I talked to many friends of mine about this decision. Just a few of them support me while the majority says it’s risky and undue decision. There is some truth in their words but I think it’s worth trying.
I understand that the current situation is not the maximum of my abilities, skills and wishes. I can and will achieve more. I am not just talking about money here. I mean more “weight”, more experience, more self-confidence, more self-development, more interesting people, more new places, higher events per day rate, more fun.
What am I feeling now? I am feeling very well and excited. I am feeling that despite of the any consequences of this decision I will remember it for a very long time. I feel a spirit of adventure.
I have enough money to live for about 6-8 months. I also have an American visa and I have never been there, so I will visit US this autumn. The main destination is San Francisco because of it startup’s spirit. Anyway if I will run out of money I can freelance.
Hopefully I am not alone doing that stuff. A close friend of mine is leaving his job because of the same reasons too. It’s amazing to feel that someone shares your ideas in such a similar manner and it won’t be a single journey.
I know, this story sounds crazy, but if not now then when? Each passed year makes me older and more mature. So, wish me a good luck. I think it should be something in a life to tell children about.
I will keep you up to date.
photocredit – Atomdocs