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Lost Computer Science Student

Bryceem

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Jan 15, 2018
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Hello everyone,

I'm a 20 year old, second year Computer Science student that came across MJ's books not too long ago. I have recently read TMF but have yet to read Unscripted . I have lurked around the forum for quite some time now, observing threads and posts just to have a feel for what others are working on.

Throughout this past month I have been very down and unmotivated because I feel as if i'm not taking enough action and I am watching my life slip away and am tired of watching people do what I want to do, which is support themselves without a conventional job.

I feel as if my family and the people that I am around have somewhat of a slowlane mindset. Get an internship, get a job, save your money, travel when you're old. I had an internship this past summer that paid a decent amount and I was living comfortably. But, I don't want to become comfortable with that lifestyle. I am earning decent grades and have the support of my parents while I attend school. I would like to finish school and get my degree, so dropping out isn't an option.

I have a few app ideas that I have yet to put into action, partially because I feel like every online market is over saturated (maybe I am not looking/trying hard enough) and I cannot seem to find a niche. I want to put value into peoples lives regardless of what I am earning in the beginning of my journey, just knowing I did something to help someone else is genuinely my biggest concern.

Long story short, I am lost deciding between the choice of living "safely" with what I currently have, and taking risks to build something that will support me enough to live freely the rest of my life. I know it is possible to do both but I feel as if I need to mentally commit to one lifestyle for the future.

When people ask what do I want to do with my Computer Science degree I respond with the answer "own my own business". The person asking the question normally scoffs and says "why not work for one of the big tech companies". The answer is simple. I want to work for myself.

Thank you all for reading, I hope you have a great day/night and continue taking action!
 
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ricktx

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Jun 27, 2013
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I was a lost computer science student in 1983 while learning Fortran, Pascal, and C on a IBM PC/XT in the lab. I have seen everything from the beginning of the PC revolution to today. What you are experiencing is normal for a 20 year old.

I have run my own consulting business (9 years) and worked in the financial industry for 20 something plus years. One thing I can tell you is this will see you through everything
>> I want to put value into peoples lives regardless of what I am earning in the beginning of my journey
That is EXACTLY the right way to look at things.

One piece of advise is all I have to offer. Get some experience in the business you want to "work for yourself" in. Allow someone else's mistakes show you the path. Once you know everything they know and the mistakes to avoid. GO FOR IT!
 

Bryceem

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Jan 15, 2018
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United States
I was a lost computer science student in 1983 while learning Fortran, Pascal, and C on a IBM PC/XT in the lab. I have seen everything from the beginning of the PC revolution to today. What you are experiencing is normal for a 20 year old.

I have run my own consulting business (9 years) and worked in the financial industry for 20 something plus years. One thing I can tell you is this will see you through everything
>> I want to put value into peoples lives regardless of what I am earning in the beginning of my journey
That is EXACTLY the right way to look at things.

One piece of advise is all I have to offer. Get some experience in the business you want to "work for yourself" in. Allow someone else's mistakes show you the path. Once you know everything they know and the mistakes to avoid. GO FOR IT!
Thank you! I will probably make a progression thread after I finish my finals for this semester !
 

akTwelve

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Jan 2, 2017
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I graduated CS in 2010 and worked for Microsoft for 6 years. I learned a TON by being surrounded by really talented developers. I would advise you not to skip that. It really helps to get an emergency fund set up and pay off student loans. I think if I had tried to go it alone right after graduating I would have made some very dumb mistakes chasing money and not ended up working on what I really enjoy. I'll be completely honest, I'm still driving the slow lane, but I've learned so much in it that I will make a much smarter fast laner when I make the lane change.
 
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Seth G.

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Hello everyone,

I'm a 20 year old, second year Computer Science student that came across MJ's books not too long ago. I have recently read TMF but have yet to read Unscripted . I have lurked around the forum for quite some time now, observing threads and posts just to have a feel for what others are working on.

Throughout this past month I have been very down and unmotivated because I feel as if i'm not taking enough action and I am watching my life slip away and am tired of watching people do what I want to do, which is support themselves without a conventional job.

I feel as if my family and the people that I am around have somewhat of a slowlane mindset. Get an internship, get a job, save your money, travel when you're old. I had an internship this past summer that paid a decent amount and I was living comfortably. But, I don't want to become comfortable with that lifestyle. I am earning decent grades and have the support of my parents while I attend school. I would like to finish school and get my degree, so dropping out isn't an option.

I have a few app ideas that I have yet to put into action, partially because I feel like every online market is over saturated (maybe I am not looking/trying hard enough) and I cannot seem to find a niche. I want to put value into peoples lives regardless of what I am earning in the beginning of my journey, just knowing I did something to help someone else is genuinely my biggest concern.

Long story short, I am lost deciding between the choice of living "safely" with what I currently have, and taking risks to build something that will support me enough to live freely the rest of my life. I know it is possible to do both but I feel as if I need to mentally commit to one lifestyle for the future.

When people ask what do I want to do with my Computer Science degree I respond with the answer "own my own business". The person asking the question normally scoffs and says "why not work for one of the big tech companies". The answer is simple. I want to work for myself.

Thank you all for reading, I hope you have a great day/night and continue taking action!

Have your cake and eat it too!
I also did CS.

It was an awesome career choice because you can make 6-figures right out of the gate and develop your coding chops in a way school never comes close to.

I'm leaving my company here in a couple months for a year minimum of biz pursuit (assuming no sales... Won't happen) and that's possible because the good salary gave me plenty to aggressively save for the opportunity and to payoff debt.

I thought about dropping out several times for business stuff but chose to finish for familial reasons. I don't regret the degree nor the cool jobs I had after.

That being said, I've got friends who dropped out and started successfully or on their way to that.

Really, it's more about what's between your ears and in your chest (head and heart) that makes the difference.

There's nothing 'wrong' with starting now. Or a couple of years after college. You can see what others did (Gates/Zukerberg dropped out. Musk/Thiel did not).

So trust your gut and just work your a$$ off in either direction or both. There's no silver bullet and no 'right' way exactly. Just right processes
 

MJ DeMarco

I followed the science; all I found was money.
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Long story short, I am lost deciding between the choice of living "safely" with what I currently have, and taking risks to build something that will support me enough to live freely the rest of my life. I know it is possible to do both but I feel as if I need to mentally commit to one lifestyle for the future.

You do, but you don't need to sell everything and live under a bridge.

You can hold a good job and still pursue Fastlane goals.

But yes, "comfort" is the biggest enemy to growth for those who get stuck with all the trappings of moderate Slowlane success ... the new car, the nice condo, etc.

With a CS degree, you should have no problem holding a great job all while side-hustling something with big upside.

Welcome to the forum.

PS: Read Unscripted , the value skew/attributes chapters shows you how to better isolate opportunities where none seem to exist.
 

458

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Are you willing to make $10,000 a year for the next 5 years? If the answer is no, get a job and be an employee.

This shit isn't what you think it is, this forum isn't what you think it is. None of the shit on here matters, all you have is your balls and determination out there in the wild. Unless you need this shit as much as air itself, find a job and excel within that.
 
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lowtek

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Welcome to the forum!

Are you willing to make $10,000 a year for the next 5 years? If the answer is no, get a job and be an employee.

This sh*t isn't what you think it is, this forum isn't what you think it is. None of the sh*t on here matters, all you have is your balls and determination out there in the wild. Unless you need this sh*t as much as air itself, find a job and excel within that.

Can confirm... the struggle is real.
 

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