6 ms·

I see a lot of comments criticizing your path and progress. Making remarks like "why didn't you stay at Google". I applaud your decision, effort, and persevera

I see a lot of comments criticizing your path and progress. Making remarks like "why didn't you stay at Google". I applaud your decision, effort, and perseverance. I admire your risk taking and having skin in the game. Trying to make it out on your own. People forget the journey is not just about the money. It's about learning, growing and bringing your ideas to life. Being an artist, and expressing yourself through products. Keep on going my friend. There's no doubt you'll get there.

mtlynch 7y ago
Thanks for reading and the kind words! I think you and I see it similarly that there's satisfaction in growing and learning even if the money part hasn't fallen into place.
qmmmur 7y ago
I don't think I've cringed more than 'expressing yourself through products'.
- spiffytech 7y ago
  The arts and crafts world is full of people expressing themselves through products. Independent software doesn't have to be different.
  - qmmmur 7y ago
    The arts is full of people expressing themselves for pay below the poverty line, often not expected or wanted as remuneration for their expression. Treating business as expression and calling it the same thing as actual art is quite oblivious to the reality.
    - jshevek 7y ago
      Both kinds of activities, the one that you characterize and the one that the parent comment characterizes, occur in the art world.
    - rickitan 7y ago
      I made the original comment, and I think we see the world in a different way. This is how I see it: Creating a business is a creative act. It involves logic and rationality as much as intuition and imagination. I do think it's an expression of yourself, you're packing all you've learned into something that you think will be valuable to other people. Your personality is reflected in your product, so is your voice. Ultimately it's up to the creator to treat their business however they seem best. If you want to be all about profits, good for you. If you want to explore ideas, try things and enjoy the creative process while slowly building revenue, also good.
      - catblast 7y ago
        > It involves logic and rationality as much as intuition and imagination. Yes, because this applies to virtually every human endeavor (even though I find tech types have a tendency to discount the former in areas outside their expertise). The thesis of this old post is the counterpoint: https://idlewords.com/2005/04/dabblers_and_blowhards.htm https://idlewords.com/2005/04/dabblers_and_blowhards.htm
    - wooolfgang 7y ago
      Take a look at Jonathan Blow's products. You can see art and software coexisting.
- jshevek 7y ago
  "I don't think I've cringed more than 'expressing yourself through products" Can you rephrase this criticism in a way that meaningfully contributes to the discussion? All I see is your personal judgementalism directed at someone's phrasing.
- gred 7y ago
  You haven't seen the Scott's Tots episode of The Office, have you? Seriously though, I didn't have that reaction. We each bring our own individual expression to everything we do, that's not sad or cringey at all. The author is looking for a way to use his unique gifts in a way that is satisfying and valuable. The problem he solves and the way he solves it will be unique to him. Or in other words, "expressing himself through his products."
- jitschlit 7y ago
  That says a lot about you, but is, in itself, not a very useful contribution to the discussion.
cambalache 7y ago
Nice words, similar words were said to me. Now I am broke and semi-unemployable. So onlookers beware.
- roytang 7y ago
  May I ask why you find yourself semi-unemployable? I'm in kind of a similar position as the OP in that I have a significant nest egg so that even if I spend a few years derping around and failing at a bunch of things, I figure that I just need to stop before that nest egg gets anywhere near dangerously low and go back to looking for freelance or consulting work, even at lower rates, should that become necessary to survive. I'm asking about your situation in case there are other pitfalls I need to be wary of.
  - cambalache 7y ago
    I am right now an illegal alien in a country (not the US). My home country monthly wage is 5 dollars or so, so returning is not an option unless I can get a remote job.
    - anchpop 7y ago
      Without knowing your situation, if you're a good developer it may be possible to get an H1B visa which would allow you to work as a software developer in the US.
      - cambalache 7y ago
        I love to program but I am a career switcher. All my professional experience is in logistics, I have a B.S but not in CS, also I am 41. By all means if you have any tip to get a H1B (I have heard is crazy competitive) let me know.
        sixtypoundhound 7y ago
        Why not Upwork? Or investing some time in studying up on digital marketing and building your own products? It isn't easy but you should be able to clobber $5/hour. Two questions which my customers have never asked me: - What school did you go to? - What country do you live in / are a citizen of...

mtlynch 7y ago

Thanks for reading and the kind words! I think you and I see it similarly that there's satisfaction in growing and learning even if the money part hasn't fallen into place.

qmmmur 7y ago

I don't think I've cringed more than 'expressing yourself through products'.

spiffytech 7y ago
The arts and crafts world is full of people expressing themselves through products. Independent software doesn't have to be different.
- qmmmur 7y ago
  The arts is full of people expressing themselves for pay below the poverty line, often not expected or wanted as remuneration for their expression. Treating business as expression and calling it the same thing as actual art is quite oblivious to the reality.
  - jshevek 7y ago
    Both kinds of activities, the one that you characterize and the one that the parent comment characterizes, occur in the art world.
  - rickitan 7y ago
    I made the original comment, and I think we see the world in a different way. This is how I see it: Creating a business is a creative act. It involves logic and rationality as much as intuition and imagination. I do think it's an expression of yourself, you're packing all you've learned into something that you think will be valuable to other people. Your personality is reflected in your product, so is your voice. Ultimately it's up to the creator to treat their business however they seem best. If you want to be all about profits, good for you. If you want to explore ideas, try things and enjoy the creative process while slowly building revenue, also good.
    - catblast 7y ago
      > It involves logic and rationality as much as intuition and imagination. Yes, because this applies to virtually every human endeavor (even though I find tech types have a tendency to discount the former in areas outside their expertise). The thesis of this old post is the counterpoint: https://idlewords.com/2005/04/dabblers_and_blowhards.htm https://idlewords.com/2005/04/dabblers_and_blowhards.htm
  - wooolfgang 7y ago
    Take a look at Jonathan Blow's products. You can see art and software coexisting.
jshevek 7y ago
"I don't think I've cringed more than 'expressing yourself through products" Can you rephrase this criticism in a way that meaningfully contributes to the discussion? All I see is your personal judgementalism directed at someone's phrasing.
gred 7y ago
You haven't seen the Scott's Tots episode of The Office, have you? Seriously though, I didn't have that reaction. We each bring our own individual expression to everything we do, that's not sad or cringey at all. The author is looking for a way to use his unique gifts in a way that is satisfying and valuable. The problem he solves and the way he solves it will be unique to him. Or in other words, "expressing himself through his products."
jitschlit 7y ago
That says a lot about you, but is, in itself, not a very useful contribution to the discussion.

cambalache 7y ago

Nice words, similar words were said to me. Now I am broke and semi-unemployable. So onlookers beware.

roytang 7y ago
May I ask why you find yourself semi-unemployable? I'm in kind of a similar position as the OP in that I have a significant nest egg so that even if I spend a few years derping around and failing at a bunch of things, I figure that I just need to stop before that nest egg gets anywhere near dangerously low and go back to looking for freelance or consulting work, even at lower rates, should that become necessary to survive. I'm asking about your situation in case there are other pitfalls I need to be wary of.
- cambalache 7y ago
  I am right now an illegal alien in a country (not the US). My home country monthly wage is 5 dollars or so, so returning is not an option unless I can get a remote job.
  - anchpop 7y ago
    Without knowing your situation, if you're a good developer it may be possible to get an H1B visa which would allow you to work as a software developer in the US.
    - cambalache 7y ago
      I love to program but I am a career switcher. All my professional experience is in logistics, I have a B.S but not in CS, also I am 41. By all means if you have any tip to get a H1B (I have heard is crazy competitive) let me know.
      - sixtypoundhound 7y ago
        Why not Upwork? Or investing some time in studying up on digital marketing and building your own products? It isn't easy but you should be able to clobber $5/hour. Two questions which my customers have never asked me: - What school did you go to? - What country do you live in / are a citizen of...