Hi all, nice to meet you!
I’m Martin, 36, and currently paving my way toward something that actually resembles freedom.
It took me way too long to realize how much bullshit had been programmed into me — by parents, school, girlfriends, friends, universities, employers, and even the country I grew up in. I believed in the idea of a “successful career” until I hit my F*ck-This-Moment and understood: a “career” will never yield freedom in any form.
I’m actually a physicist, but I walked away from academia after canceling a PhD program I had been offered (two years in) because I realized that the system isn’t designed to build knowledge honestly or productively. After that, I worked for a few years as a development engineer in both a large industrial company and a small audio systems firm.
I noticed a range of chronic problems in those companies and actually tried to fix them - even when it wasn’t my responsibility - just so the team or company could be productive again. But nothing changed. Even after they understood why bad quality was happening all the time, they didn’t really want to do anything about it. So I quit and jumped into freelancing cold.
Just two clients in two years, but that was enough. I earned more than I ever did in any job. More importantly, I experienced what it feels like to own my time. Early on, I got ripped off by a coaching agency, and since I couldn’t find any real mentors, I turned to books - and stopped talking about freedom or “how the system works” with anyone except two people (both business owners - no surprise).
That’s also when I found and read the Fastlane books: Millionaire Fastlane , Unscripted , and The Great Rat Race Escape .
They confirmed much of what I had already been thinking and feeling - but clearer and more structured.
These are books and ideas most people don’t want to hear about, because the truth inside threatens the lies they cling to.
I wanted to build a real business, but Germany makes that nearly impossible. You can’t start lean, you can’t stay legal without expensive help, and you give up ownership to a system that taxes and punishes you for trying. Freelancing there feels like running a business with one foot in jail. The taxes are insane, and compliance is a full-time job. Tax advisors don’t advise - they invoice. They’re legally protected, practically own a part of your business, and still leave you begging them to do their job right. It’s a bad joke - but it’s real.
I did my homework on starting a company in Germany - and confirmed it’s expensive, bureaucratic, riddled with rules, taxes, and hidden costs. All responsibility and no authority - basically a working definition of slavery. Even the tax advisors benefit from tax laws written in their own favor, yet they take zero accountability. You pay them and still have to beg them for answers.
So I refused to play that rigged game. If the rules force you to lose, you find better rules. If Germany doesn’t want me to be self-employed, I’ll go somewhere else. There aren’t that many options in Europe, but I found one: Cyprus.
Here, I can afford a tax advisor, run my own company, and work within a system that rewards rather than penalizes business owners. There’s a relatively simple setup that allows for tax-free dividends for several years if you migrate and found a company.
Shortly before the move, my girlfriend got pregnant, unplanned. But I was determined anyway so we left Germany with our then 3-month-old baby girl and now live by the sea in the sun (something I always dreamed of), in a simple villa where one room is my office.
What I’m doing now
--------------------
This year I founded my Cyprus-based software company, focused on custom software, numerical optimization, and technical consulting for industrial and research clients.
Right now, I’m continuing freelance work to recover from hospital bills — my girlfriend got very sick just before we had proper health insurance. I deliberately set the company up with flexibility in mind: so I can build prototypes, run workshops, and develop product ideas later.
The long-term goal: create scalable IP, own it, license it, and help others solve hard technical problems. No investors, I’m bootstrapping it.
What’s next
------------
I’m currently wrapping up a large freelance engagement — a technical project in algorithmic optimization for industrial lithography. I’ll then shift my focus toward positioning my company, refining strategy, and possibly exploring defense tech. I’m considering connecting with larger players who handle EU-funded projects and who need precise, high-performance solutions for specific subsystems.
Always open to connecting with others who build, solve complex problems, or think about business like engineers.
I’m still figuring out the right direction – happy to exchange ideas or just hear how others are doing it.
I’m Martin, 36, and currently paving my way toward something that actually resembles freedom.
It took me way too long to realize how much bullshit had been programmed into me — by parents, school, girlfriends, friends, universities, employers, and even the country I grew up in. I believed in the idea of a “successful career” until I hit my F*ck-This-Moment and understood: a “career” will never yield freedom in any form.
I’m actually a physicist, but I walked away from academia after canceling a PhD program I had been offered (two years in) because I realized that the system isn’t designed to build knowledge honestly or productively. After that, I worked for a few years as a development engineer in both a large industrial company and a small audio systems firm.
I noticed a range of chronic problems in those companies and actually tried to fix them - even when it wasn’t my responsibility - just so the team or company could be productive again. But nothing changed. Even after they understood why bad quality was happening all the time, they didn’t really want to do anything about it. So I quit and jumped into freelancing cold.
Just two clients in two years, but that was enough. I earned more than I ever did in any job. More importantly, I experienced what it feels like to own my time. Early on, I got ripped off by a coaching agency, and since I couldn’t find any real mentors, I turned to books - and stopped talking about freedom or “how the system works” with anyone except two people (both business owners - no surprise).
That’s also when I found and read the Fastlane books: Millionaire Fastlane , Unscripted , and The Great Rat Race Escape .
They confirmed much of what I had already been thinking and feeling - but clearer and more structured.
These are books and ideas most people don’t want to hear about, because the truth inside threatens the lies they cling to.
I wanted to build a real business, but Germany makes that nearly impossible. You can’t start lean, you can’t stay legal without expensive help, and you give up ownership to a system that taxes and punishes you for trying. Freelancing there feels like running a business with one foot in jail. The taxes are insane, and compliance is a full-time job. Tax advisors don’t advise - they invoice. They’re legally protected, practically own a part of your business, and still leave you begging them to do their job right. It’s a bad joke - but it’s real.
I did my homework on starting a company in Germany - and confirmed it’s expensive, bureaucratic, riddled with rules, taxes, and hidden costs. All responsibility and no authority - basically a working definition of slavery. Even the tax advisors benefit from tax laws written in their own favor, yet they take zero accountability. You pay them and still have to beg them for answers.
So I refused to play that rigged game. If the rules force you to lose, you find better rules. If Germany doesn’t want me to be self-employed, I’ll go somewhere else. There aren’t that many options in Europe, but I found one: Cyprus.
Here, I can afford a tax advisor, run my own company, and work within a system that rewards rather than penalizes business owners. There’s a relatively simple setup that allows for tax-free dividends for several years if you migrate and found a company.
Shortly before the move, my girlfriend got pregnant, unplanned. But I was determined anyway so we left Germany with our then 3-month-old baby girl and now live by the sea in the sun (something I always dreamed of), in a simple villa where one room is my office.
What I’m doing now
--------------------
This year I founded my Cyprus-based software company, focused on custom software, numerical optimization, and technical consulting for industrial and research clients.
Right now, I’m continuing freelance work to recover from hospital bills — my girlfriend got very sick just before we had proper health insurance. I deliberately set the company up with flexibility in mind: so I can build prototypes, run workshops, and develop product ideas later.
The long-term goal: create scalable IP, own it, license it, and help others solve hard technical problems. No investors, I’m bootstrapping it.
What’s next
------------
I’m currently wrapping up a large freelance engagement — a technical project in algorithmic optimization for industrial lithography. I’ll then shift my focus toward positioning my company, refining strategy, and possibly exploring defense tech. I’m considering connecting with larger players who handle EU-funded projects and who need precise, high-performance solutions for specific subsystems.
Always open to connecting with others who build, solve complex problems, or think about business like engineers.
I’m still figuring out the right direction – happy to exchange ideas or just hear how others are doing it.
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