The Slowlane Burnout - "I Quit the Tech Industry"

[VegasMan]

I read this article today: http://eev.ee/blog/2015/06/09/i-quit-the-tech-industry/

While reading it I had to stop myself and see if this was something I wrote. This mindset is exactly what led me down the path that introduced me to MJ's book and this forum. Hopefully, this person can discover the Fastlane as well.

I have a feeling we're going to be seeing a lot more of this from the tech industry. A person can only grind away on the same old things for so long while not reaping a benefit other than a steady paycheck.

 

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[MJ DeMarco]

Every time I read something like that a shiver of excitement quells through my body. The dawn of a new age, like a wrongly convicted prisoner being released from prison. It is an awakening into just how important FREEDOM is to happiness. Congrats the man for seeing, or I should say, feeling the light.

 

[Kingmaker]

Unfortunately, this is not a future fastlane success story. The dude quit his job "to do what he loves" and created a kickstarter(?) for his laziness https://www.patreon.com/eevee?ty=h with things like:

- I built a Pokémon reference website, and I'm working on something similar for Starbound.

He'll back back at a job soon enough.

 

[merc]

Unfortunately, this is not a future fastlane success story. The dude quit his job "to do what he loves" and created a kickstarter(?) for his laziness https://www.patreon.com/eevee?ty=h with things like:

- I built a Pokémon reference website, and I'm working on something similar for Starbound.

He'll back back at a job soon enough.

He's clearly creating SOME value if the market is giving him $400/mo ... don't be so quick to judge

 

[ilrein]

Unfortunately, this is not a future fastlane success story. The dude quit his job "to do what he loves" and created a kickstarter(?) for his laziness https://www.patreon.com/eevee?ty=h with things like:

- I built a Pokémon reference website, and I'm working on something similar for Starbound.

He'll back back at a job soon enough.

I actually think this sounds pretty ignorant.

1) You don't know what Patreon is
2) You don't care that he's successfully built apps that are live
3) You didn't read any further than that

 

[luniac]

man that article nailed the last 2 years of my life... Every single F*ckin day is the same for me... arrive at work, say hi to front desk lady, take elevator to 4th floor, use my card to magnetic keycard to swipe door open, walk to my department room, say hello to dead coworkers, sit at my desk, log into my machine, check INFINITE emails to see what the LATEST litigation support tech job came in for the MILLIONTH TIME, put on some music, Spend 8 hours in that F*ckin room while occasionally getting food or water or tea or something... Either do minimal company work to not get fired or work on my apps, do app related research, keep up with video game news, waste time(sadly i still do it sometimes unless im focused), At 1:50pm write email update if needed, Leave on time at 2pm because F*ck them im salaried i aint working for free(ha...), go home to work on apps or go play my favorite sport as my secondary professional life goal...

RINSE AND REPEAT AD NAUSEUM!

ill get fired eventually... at which point im never working in an office again... id rather do construction in 80 degree weather... physical labor does a body good...

 

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[ilrein]

@luniac

Couldn't agree more. Just gave my two weeks notice a few days ago. No more wasting my precious mind-energy on irrelevant Wordpress sites.

 

[luniac]

@luniac

Couldn't agree more. Just gave my two weeks notice a few days ago. No more wasting my precious mind-energy on irrelevant Wordpress sites.

My lifes goal is to do the same someday, no 2 weeks notice though . Just need enough to pay bills... only 1000 a month is all i need....

 

[loop101]

The "eevee" person says on their blog: "I live with my ridiculous cat, my partner, her three cats, her husband, his dog, and our boyfriend."

Apparently, I live a very boring life.

 

[Kevin Peter]

Following your footsteps soon! I always believe that when it feels like quitting, it is great as it means you're actively intensly invloved. Always felt that the same energy can be put into finding something better. No specifc reason to point out, but yeah the strong vibe exists with restlessness in the feeling being stuck.

 

[Jata]

@luniac

Couldn't agree more. Just gave my two weeks notice a few days ago. No more wasting my precious mind-energy on irrelevant Wordpress sites.

How did things turn out?

 

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[biggeemac]

man that article nailed the last 2 years of my life... Every single F*ckin day is the same for me... arrive at work, say hi to front desk lady, take elevator to 4th floor, use my card to magnetic keycard to swipe door open, walk to my department room, say hello to dead coworkers, sit at my desk, log into my machine, check INFINITE emails to see what the LATEST litigation support tech job came in for the MILLIONTH TIME, put on some music, Spend 8 hours in that F*ckin room while occasionally getting food or water or tea or something... Either do minimal company work to not get fired or work on my apps, do app related research, keep up with video game news, waste time(sadly i still do it sometimes unless im focused), At 1:50pm write email update if needed, Leave on time at 2pm because F*ck them im salaried i aint working for free(ha...), go home to work on apps or go play my favorite sport as my secondary professional life goal...

RINSE AND REPEAT AD NAUSEUM!

THIS IS ME!!! I'm working on my venture as much as I can. I am confident that soon, the fear of termination/job INSTABILITY will be a thing of the past. I will be able to rejoin society and do things I enjoy some day, but not today.

Some encouragement came last week when the county contacted us to see if our little project was complete, because they have a big need. We gave them the status.

 

[ilrein]

How did things turn out?

Still lacking the all in commitment entrepreneurship takes, so I found a recruiter/agent who got me two job offers in 2 days at 35% salary increase.

Now I got a sick job (flex hours, beerkeg in kitchen). But im already getting bored and planning the next chapter. Currently exploring jobs which offer 100% remote. Im feeling an ever growing urge to eurotrip or hiatus in Thailand. Im planning to achieve this within 6 months or so.

From there, id like to revisit entrepreneurship and consider my options once I have fully location independent income (although its still slowdown). I consider working for tech companies as a developer as a form of paid education. Im planning to leave school for the real world soon, but class is $FUN.

 

[Crissco]

man that article nailed the last 2 years of my life... Every single F*ckin day is the same for me... arrive at work, say hi to front desk lady, take elevator to 4th floor, use my card to magnetic keycard to swipe door open, walk to my department room, say hello to dead coworkers, sit at my desk, log into my machine, check INFINITE emails to see what the LATEST litigation support tech job came in for the MILLIONTH TIME, put on some music, Spend 8 hours in that F*ckin room while occasionally getting food or water or tea or something... Either do minimal company work to not get fired or work on my apps, do app related research, keep up with video game news, waste time(sadly i still do it sometimes unless im focused), At 1:50pm write email update if needed, Leave on time at 2pm because F*ck them im salaried i aint working for free(ha...), go home to work on apps or go play my favorite sport as my secondary professional life goal...

RINSE AND REPEAT AD NAUSEUM!

ill get fired eventually... at which point im never working in an office again... id rather do construction in 80 degree weather... physical labor does a body good...

Don't ever say that again 😀 Did it for a while, I come from a construction family, tough work man and I "bodybuild" as well. 100% rather be working as a web developer. Anything I think of I can create. To me its a "dream come true" situation. Each their own though.

 

[luniac]

Don't ever say that again 😀 Did it for a while, I come from a construction family, tough work man and I "bodybuild" as well. 100% rather be working as a web developer. Anything I think of I can create. To me its a "dream come true" situation. Each their own though.

I've done off the books construction for some time and after hauling garbage bags for 8 hours i had more energy than after sitting for 8 hours in the office.
You might change your mind when your physical health takes a nosedive, and the 300 pound coworker to your left can't help you with any advise.
Half the department I work in regularly calls out due to health issues and almost nobody is in shape. I think im the only guy with visible abs in the whole building most times lol

I see you said "Anything I think of I can create.", well that aint gonna happen if you're employed and busy creating what someone else tells you to.

Why can't you learn web development on your own after work if that's what you're interested in?

 

[Crissco]

I am a web developer, full time, I own the business. Also I have a neck/rhomboid injury from doing a muscle up as well as tricep nerve damage and tendentious in my left shoulder.

Why do people assume instead of just ask. SMH

 

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[luniac]

I am a web developer, full time, I own the business. Also I have a neck/rhomboid injury from doing a muscle up as well as tricep nerve damage and tendentious in my left shoulder.

Why do people assume instead of just ask. SMH

Regarding your business -> sweet bro that's awesome, much respect.
regarding injuries -> your own damn fault!

 

[Crissco]

Regarding your business -> sweet bro that's awesome, much respect. ---Thanks brotha
regarding injuries -> your own damn fault! - To a "degree" - My father wanted me to show someone how to do it, wasn't thinking just went in cold, so if he wouldn't of said that I would more then likely not have this nagging injury for the past 6 months, but I can play the blame game all i want, 100% my fault I haven't been to the doctor yet.

Where in bk are you? Family grew up in East New York and Canarsie

 

[luniac]

Regarding your business -> sweet bro that's awesome, much respect. ---Thanks brotha
regarding injuries -> your own damn fault! - To a "degree" - My father wanted me to show someone how to do it, wasn't thinking just went in cold, so if he wouldn't of said that I would more then likely not have this nagging injury for the past 6 months, but I can play the blame game all i want, 100% my fault I haven't been to the doctor yet.

Where in bk are you? Family grew up in East New York and Canarsie

Living in the hipstery bedstuy area.....
half hour from coney island handball courts lol

 

[Crissco]

Lol nice I know where you are

 

[Alxander]

I'm in quite a similar situation "...and I can get into solving them for a while, but I don’t care about them. Because they aren’t my problems; they were just dumped in my lap, along with a canvas sack with a dollar sign on it. "

First I did full-time college, right now I work 4 days a work and go to college 1 time per week.
I chose to work because I actually work on things that are being used in real-life instead of thrown in the trash can.

Now I also acquire a lot of practical experience, even though it's more fitted for their company. Don't really know if it would be easy to go to another company.

Right now I'm making little web-app projects on the side. But it's hard to look at a screen 24/7 with doing stuff home and working also.
I love technology but at the same time I love being outside and moving. Those 2 things go hard together...

 

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[luniac]

I'm in quite a similar situation "...and I can get into solving them for a while, but I don’t care about them. Because they aren’t my problems; they were just dumped in my lap, along with a canvas sack with a dollar sign on it. "

First I did full-time college, right now I work 4 days a work and go to college 1 time per week.
I chose to work because I actually work on things that are being used in real-life instead of thrown in the trash can.

Now I also acquire a lot of practical experience, even though it's more fitted for their company. Don't really know if it would be easy to go to another company.

Right now I'm making little web-app projects on the side. But it's hard to look at a screen 24/7 with doing stuff home and working also.
I love technology but at the same time I love being outside and moving. Those 2 things go hard together...

That's where the sacrifice comes in, the serious choices regarding your life. I love being outside and moving too, playing sports is my favorite thing. However i sacrificed it all and more to maximize my time behind a monitor working on my apps.

It hurts, but i see no other way. U gotta do what u gotta do man.