[Axelyn]

Over the last couple of months, life has been a bit of a reset for me.
After working in a comfortable job, I finally decided to walk away and try to build something on my own. Not going to lie, the decision felt exciting and terrifying at the same time.

For context about me:

• I code in Python, Node, React, Vue, and Next
  
• I’ve been into cybersecurity as a hobby for years
  
• I always had this voice in the back of my head saying “you can build more than what you’re doing right now”
  

So I took the jump.

Right now I’m exploring ideas, sharpening my skills, and trying to figure out what kind of product or service I can launch next.
There are days where I feel unstoppable and days where it feels like I’ve made the dumbest move ever. But I’m still pushing.

My question to HF is:
Has anyone else here quit a stable job to chase their own project, business, or skill?
What pushed you to take the risk, and what did the journey look like for you?

I’d love to hear real experiences, advice, regrets, or anything you learned along the way.
Trying to collect as much perspective as possible from people who’ve already walked this path.

[Allelujah]

I’ve been thinking about making a similar jump myself, but I still don’t know what problem I actually want to solve.

For me, before leaving a stable job, it helps to have some kind of direction. Not a full business plan, just something clear enough that you’re not stepping into the dark with nothing to aim for.

A few people I work with and I have been building a resource manager for a really niche market. It’s almost done, but none of us are planning to quit our jobs yet. We all have bills and families, so leaving without something solid in place would not be the responsible move for us right now.

That is why I genuinely respect what you’re doing. If you can take that jump, you’ll probably learn and grow faster than I will. Being all in forces you to figure things out quickly, and it puts you in a position to stand out in whatever space you choose.

I really hope things work out for you. Just be prepared that it will be difficult, and a lot of people don’t succeed on their first attempt. That does not mean it isn’t worth trying. Sometimes you only find out what you’re capable of by taking the risk.

[Axelyn]

I’ve been thinking about making a similar jump myself, but I still don’t know what problem I actually want to solve.

For me, before leaving a stable job, it helps to have some kind of direction. Not a full business plan, just something clear enough that you’re not stepping into the dark with nothing to aim for.

A few people I work with and I have been building a resource manager for a really niche market. It’s almost done, but none of us are planning to quit our jobs yet. We all have bills and families, so leaving without something solid in place would not be the responsible move for us right now.

That is why I genuinely respect what you’re doing. If you can take that jump, you’ll probably learn and grow faster than I will. Being all in forces you to figure things out quickly, and it puts you in a position to stand out in whatever space you choose.

I really hope things work out for you. Just be prepared that it will be difficult, and a lot of people don’t succeed on their first attempt. That does not mean it isn’t worth trying. Sometimes you only find out what you’re capable of by taking the risk.

Thank you for the thoughtful reply. What you said about having some direction before making a jump is completely true. I did not leave with a perfect plan, but I did leave with a set of skills I trust and a few ideas that I am actively testing. That made the decision feel less like walking into a dark room and more like taking a calculated risk.
I respect the approach you and your team are taking as well. Building something on the side while keeping financial stability is a smart move, especially when you have responsibilities. Finishing a niche resource manager while working full time is impressive by itself.
I agree with you about the growth that comes from being all in. Once you remove the safety net, you are forced to think clearly and move with intention. It is tough, but it teaches you a lot very quickly.
I hope your project gains traction too. Even if you are not ready to go full time yet, having something real in progress puts you in a great position for the future. And thank you again for the encouragement. It helps a lot when you are still shaping the early stages of the journey.

[RangoWorld]

It was a stupid move from you to quit your job with no result from side hustle, let alone not having a plan at all.

Now that you have quit it. Do know that in order to succeed as self entrepreneur. You will need to put more efforts and hours than you were putting at your job.

For me. I didn't quit my job. I had option to get another job. But right now I'm working on chasing my dream goal.

The reason why I took this risk is because I'm still young and pretty down in terms of my wealth. So I have less to lose even if I fail.

In my journey what I have learned and things you should know is that;
- you will need to put more effort and time than your job.
- you have to establish a failure deadline so that you can get feedback and improve. Otherwise a year will pass and you won't even know if you have failed or not, or learned anything.
- start the heavy lifting of work in the morning. All the most extensive thinking for the work, you should do first thing in the morning after having breakfast. This is important as it sets the tone for the day since you don't have a job telling you when to work, what to work.
- remember that most of the times. Motivation comes after taking action. People mistake it otherwise and wait for motivation to come magically.

I wish you all the best in your journey and hope that you succeed. 🙏

[Axelyn]

It was a stupid move from you to quit your job with no result from side hustle, let alone not having a plan at all.

Now that you have quit it. Do know that in order to succeed as self entrepreneur. You will need to put more efforts and hours than you were putting at your job.

For me. I didn't quit my job. I had option to get another job. But right now I'm working on chasing my dream goal.

The reason why I took this risk is because I'm still young and pretty down in terms of my wealth. So I have less to lose even if I fail.

In my journey what I have learned and things you should know is that;
- you will need to put more effort and time than your job.
- you have to establish a failure deadline so that you can get feedback and improve. Otherwise a year will pass and you won't even know if you have failed or not, or learned anything.
- start the heavy lifting of work in the morning. All the most extensive thinking for the work, you should do first thing in the morning after having breakfast. This is important as it sets the tone for the day since you don't have a job telling you when to work, what to work.
- remember that most of the times. Motivation comes after taking action. People mistake it otherwise and wait for motivation to come magically.

I wish you all the best in your journey and hope that you succeed. 🙏

Thanks for the honest take, RangoWorld . I actually appreciate the bluntness because you are speaking from a place of experience, not theory. Quitting without results or a clear structure was a risky move and I can already see why most people avoid doing it that way. I jumped based on belief and frustration, not planning, and the reality check hit fast.
What you said about effort is already proving true. When you step out on your own, the work does not get easier. It becomes heavier because everything depends on you. There is no schedule, no external pressure and no one to tell you that you are falling behind. I have been learning that discipline is not optional anymore, it is survival.
Your advice about setting a failure deadline stood out to me. It is something I never thought about before, but it makes sense. Without milestones or checkpoints, you can lose months thinking you are working hard while not actually improving. I am already working on creating clearer timelines so I can measure my progress honestly.
I also respect the way you are handling your own journey. Balancing responsibilities while building something of your own shows maturity and strategy. You took a calculated risk instead of a blind one, and that is a smarter foundation in the long run. It is helpful for me to see that perspective because it reminds me that not every risk has to be a leap into a void.
Thank you for sharing what you learned and for the good wishes. I genuinely appreciate the time you took to break it down. Wherever your dream goal leads, I hope you hit it with the consistency you are already showing.

[Aeowulf]

I quit my 6 figure office job to jump in to real estate. So far, its been worth it. HUGE risk, but I now control my time and my destiny.

Good luck!

[diablospartan]

Well dont want to discourage you and i congratulate you for your courage as some people spend a life without making a risk

But when you do this move you need to do some calculations ,do you have some money put aside in case things not work

Its like playing stocks etc .You dont bet all your money without making some research ,checking the economy events that influence that stock etc

[RangoWorld]

I quit my 6 figure office job to jump in to real estate. So far, its been worth it. HUGE risk, but I now control my time and my destiny.

Good luck!

Good to know it turned out well for you thus far.

[Axelyn]

I quit my 6 figure office job to jump in to real estate. So far, its been worth it. HUGE risk, but I now control my time and my destiny.

Good luck!

That’s a serious jump to make, especially leaving a six-figure role. Respect for actually following through instead of just talking about it. Real estate looks simple from the outside but I know it’s a grind behind the scenes, so the fact that it’s working for you says a lot.

The thing that stuck with me from your post is the part about controlling your time. That’s exactly the part I’m chasing right now. Hearing from someone who already made that transition gives me a bit more confidence that the early chaos is just part of the process.

Appreciate you sharing your experience, and I hope things keep moving in the right direction for you.

---

Well dont want to discourage you and i congratulate you for your courage as some people spend a life without making a risk

But when you do this move you need to do some calculations ,do you have some money put aside in case things not work

Its like playing stocks etc .You dont bet all your money without making some research ,checking the economy events that influence that stock etc

Thanks for the straight talk. I agree with the way you look at it. Taking risks is fine, but taking risks blindly is where people burn their lives up. I didn’t step into this with zero preparation, but I definitely understand now why people say you should have some structure before making a leap like this.

I did put money aside and I’m treating this like an investment window rather than a “hope it works out” moment. The comparison to stocks is actually pretty accurate. You don’t just throw everything on one play without understanding what you’re getting into.

Your post is a good reminder to stay disciplined instead of letting the excitement carry everything. Appreciate you dropping your perspective.