My FTE is here! ...Do I take the money and run?

[robodale]

I wondered if this day would come, some event that signals "F__K THIS!".

I'm a full-time software developer for a local software company. Great people and environment, but I've done the Mon-Fri scripted life for too many years. A recent company restructuring as left me with two options:

(Option 1) I've been offered a two month severance at my current salary. I've got reserves from my little side hustles and savings to keep me going after that for a while, plus my wife works full time. Of course, she's not too keen on my leaving a job with no sound footing. I'd rather not dip into savings if I can help it.

(Option 2) I keep working full time, roll with the punches into the new department, and continue slowly building my "side hustles" out.

One of my side projects/hustles is a niche website I started from scratch, and have continually created content for over the last few years. It gets over 600k unique visitors per year. I've surveyed who the users are and what they are interested in. As a result, I have a partially written ebook they are asking for, an 8000+ user email list of voluntary signups from the site (wanting the ebook). I've just got Adsense on the site now, and get about $500-1000 USD/month in revenue. Expenses are essentially nothing. I've realized I can make ALOT more with product suggestions on Amazon and ditch Adsense. The site is a domain authority, and I can usually get 1st page Google ranking very easily if I want to create more content articles.

I'd like to think that 2 months of solid work on the site could get me to a place where I don't need that full-time job. I could finish that ebook the people want, skew value at every point along the way, and deliver whatever those site visitors want.

I'd like to get your opinions. On one side, the "security" of the full-time gig pays the bills. On the other side, that niche site has potential...and the traffic especially begins to pickup as it skyrockets during the spring and summer.

Do I cut the cord completely with the full-time software dev job, take the 2-month salary and grind during those 8-9 weeks to make something of the niche site as the wave of traffic approaches?

 

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[JoelM]

I wondered if this day would come, some event that signals "F__K THIS!".

I'm a full-time software developer for a local software company. Great people and environment, but I've done the Mon-Fri scripted life for too many years. A recent company restructuring as left me with two options:

(Option 1) I've been offered a two month severance at my current salary. I've got reserves from my little side hustles and savings to keep me going after that for a while, plus my wife works full time. Of course, she's not too keen on my leaving a job with no sound footing. I'd rather not dip into savings if I can help it.

(Option 2) I keep working full time, roll with the punches into the new department, and continue slowly building my "side hustles" out.

One of my side projects/hustles is a niche website I started from scratch, and have continually created content for over the last few years. It gets over 600k unique visitors per year. I've surveyed who the users are and what they are interested in. As a result, I have a partially written ebook they are asking for, an 8000+ user email list of voluntary signups from the site (wanting the ebook). I've just got Adsense on the site now, and get about $500-1000 USD/month in revenue. Expenses are essentially nothing. I've realized I can make ALOT more with product suggestions on Amazon and ditch Adsense. The site is a domain authority, and I can usually get 1st page Google ranking very easily if I want to create more content articles.

I'd like to think that 2 months of solid work on the site could get me to a place where I don't need that full-time job. I could finish that ebook the people want, skew value at every point along the way, and deliver whatever those site visitors want.

I'd like to get your opinions. On one side, the "security" of the full-time gig pays the bills. On the other side, that niche site has potential...and the traffic especially begins to pickup as it skyrockets during the spring and summer.

Do I cut the cord completely with the full-time software dev job, take the 2-month salary and grind during those 8-9 weeks to make something of the niche site as the wave of traffic approaches?

It sounds like your wife hasn't bought it yet. I'm in a similar situation and I have worked something out with my wife. We have a timeline and goal to meet before taking that step.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Just a note here...

GOLD! - Sorry, But the Forum Can't Make Your Life Decisions For You!!

With that said:

A) Welcome to the forum!

And

B) You know what I'd do in your situation, but that's just me!

and

C) The wifey needs to get on board!

 

[csalvato]

Do you have kids?

 

[ButGregSaid]

I wondered if this day would come, some event that signals "F__K THIS!".

I'm a full-time software developer for a local software company. Great people and environment, but I've done the Mon-Fri scripted life for too many years. A recent company restructuring as left me with two options:

(Option 1) I've been offered a two month severance at my current salary. I've got reserves from my little side hustles and savings to keep me going after that for a while, plus my wife works full time. Of course, she's not too keen on my leaving a job with no sound footing. I'd rather not dip into savings if I can help it.

(Option 2) I keep working full time, roll with the punches into the new department, and continue slowly building my "side hustles" out.

One of my side projects/hustles is a niche website I started from scratch, and have continually created content for over the last few years. It gets over 600k unique visitors per year. I've surveyed who the users are and what they are interested in. As a result, I have a partially written ebook they are asking for, an 8000+ user email list of voluntary signups from the site (wanting the ebook). I've just got Adsense on the site now, and get about $500-1000 USD/month in revenue. Expenses are essentially nothing. I've realized I can make ALOT more with product suggestions on Amazon and ditch Adsense. The site is a domain authority, and I can usually get 1st page Google ranking very easily if I want to create more content articles.

I'd like to think that 2 months of solid work on the site could get me to a place where I don't need that full-time job. I could finish that ebook the people want, skew value at every point along the way, and deliver whatever those site visitors want.

I'd like to get your opinions. On one side, the "security" of the full-time gig pays the bills. On the other side, that niche site has potential...and the traffic especially begins to pickup as it skyrockets during the spring and summer.

Do I cut the cord completely with the full-time software dev job, take the 2-month salary and grind during those 8-9 weeks to make something of the niche site as the wave of traffic approaches?

I feel like this is one of those posts where you know the answer but you're looking for validation. No one can recommend that you quit your job. Only you can weigh those variables carefully and decide. You must ultimately be the person you blame for all of your actions.

You also happen to be on a forum filled with entrepreneurs, just sayin'.

 

[RaffUnscripted]

I wondered if this day would come, some event that signals "F__K THIS!".

I'm a full-time software developer for a local software company. Great people and environment, but I've done the Mon-Fri scripted life for too many years. A recent company restructuring as left me with two options:

(Option 1) I've been offered a two month severance at my current salary. I've got reserves from my little side hustles and savings to keep me going after that for a while, plus my wife works full time. Of course, she's not too keen on my leaving a job with no sound footing. I'd rather not dip into savings if I can help it.

(Option 2) I keep working full time, roll with the punches into the new department, and continue slowly building my "side hustles" out.

One of my side projects/hustles is a niche website I started from scratch, and have continually created content for over the last few years. It gets over 600k unique visitors per year. I've surveyed who the users are and what they are interested in. As a result, I have a partially written ebook they are asking for, an 8000+ user email list of voluntary signups from the site (wanting the ebook). I've just got Adsense on the site now, and get about $500-1000 USD/month in revenue. Expenses are essentially nothing. I've realized I can make ALOT more with product suggestions on Amazon and ditch Adsense. The site is a domain authority, and I can usually get 1st page Google ranking very easily if I want to create more content articles.

I'd like to think that 2 months of solid work on the site could get me to a place where I don't need that full-time job. I could finish that ebook the people want, skew value at every point along the way, and deliver whatever those site visitors want.

I'd like to get your opinions. On one side, the "security" of the full-time gig pays the bills. On the other side, that niche site has potential...and the traffic especially begins to pickup as it skyrockets during the spring and summer.

Do I cut the cord completely with the full-time software dev job, take the 2-month salary and grind during those 8-9 weeks to make something of the niche site as the wave of traffic approaches?

Negotiate for more severance or take the new position and create an exit strategy. Their agenda doesn't need to be yours.

 

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[KeepGoin]

that site sounds like a potential goldmine

 

[robodale]

Just a note here...
GOLD! - Sorry, But the Forum Can't Make Your Life Decisions For You!!
With that said:
A) Welcome to the forum!
And
B) You know what I'd do in your situation, but that's just me!
and
C) The wifey needs to get on board!

Egads! I cringe when reading other's posts here that could have been answered instead by just reading the GOLD/Notable posts. ...and then I go and do the same myself! Anyway, thanks to you all who responded.

My wife and I talked and she's on board-ish. She agreed that if viability of the company itself is in question, hitting the eject button now with a 2-month cushion to land on my feet is better than being walked out in 6 months with nothing but a boot to the rear if things go down the toilet fast. There's software jobs-a-plenty, so no worries about finding something else. Today I'm probing for any indication things are actually worse than they seem at the day-job. If it's bad...I'm out! If things are stable...I can clench my cheeks and hang on in the near term.

 

[robodale]

Do you have kids?

Nope, no kids @csalvato. Just my wife, me, and a whole lotta free time in the early mornings, evening, and weekends.

 

[samuraijack]

grind during those 8-9 weeks to make something of the niche site as the wave of traffic approaches?

Can you do this while keeping the job?

 

[Jonathan1]

If I were in your situation, I would do everything possible to stop trading time for a salary. So cutting back expenses, building the side hustle etc. Then leave asap since free time is where one is most likely to build wealth and you have something with potential going already.

 

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[IGP]

As a past programmer, I would do it in a heart beat.

You are basically getting paid for two months to work on your side gig. I doubt very seriously that in 2 months, you are going to replace your full time job with an adsense site or an ebook, but that's not really the point.

Assuming you're programming in a language that is not outdated, you could easily find another job if you needed to, correct?

So, why not take a shot? Where else are you ever going to get 60 days of pay to work on your side hustle?

Best case your site takes off. Worst case if you have to get another job, you could.