The Journey of Leaving a Secure Job and Starting a New Company

It’s a scenario that often evokes mixed feelings: leaving a well-established and seemingly secure job to venture into the unknown realm of a startup. It’s not entirely positive and not entirely negative, often trending towards a neutral stance often marked by a "meh." However, the journey involves a range of emotions, reflections, and realities.

Perceptions and Realities

Let's break it down. In the world of startups, the pitch often goes something like this:

Startup interviewing established company employee: “Hot dog! You must be awesome because you work at an awesome company. Here’s extra money extra options, extra promises, and extra attention to try to get you on board.”

Startup interviewing startup employee: “Meh, you work at a startup just like us. Here’s our standard money, standard options, and some interest to try to get you on board.” “But I worked at established company before my current job!” “But you don’t work there now. You probably lucked into that established company job couldn’t cut it and ‘flunked out’ into being at a startup. You seem sort of dumb to leave a high-paid, cushy job at an established company just to get average pay at a mediocre startup.” “But X! But Y!” “No dude.” “But what if I go work at an established company again to prove that I can and then apply to this job in a few years Will you treat me special again” “Sounds like a plan. Go do that.”

It’s a situation where a person was once playing for a prestigious team, like the New York Yankees, and then moved to play baseball in Japan. While one could still be a great player, many people will have a preconception about you based on this move.

Entrepreneurial Decisions: The Inspiration and Transition

But what is it really like to leave a secure job and start your own company? It requires a leap of faith, courage, and a clear understanding of the risks and potential rewards.

Let’s consider the case of a 30-year-old male named John Smith. John has been working at a food plant for nearly 12 years. He holds a middle-class position and is nearing the age where most people would start thinking about life transitions.

The Spark of Inspiration

One day, while overseeing operations in his department, John noticed a significant inefficiency in the software used for production. Through his research, he discovered that this software was being used in over 60 food plants across the nation. As someone who had been programming in his spare time, John saw a potential opportunity to make a difference.

Initially, John thought of this as a way to impress his superiors, possibly securing a promotion or a pay raise. However, as he became more deeply involved, he realized the true potential: the idea could revolutionize an entire industry.

From this point, John began discussing his ideas with friends and family, gradually transitioning from a hobby to a genuine business venture. He quickly came to the realization that to succeed, he would need to dedicate significant time and resources to this project. Part-time progress would not be enough, and he decided to make the bold decision to quit his secure job.

John had the foresight to build an emergency fund that would sustain him for 12 months without income. On the day of his resignation, both he and his family felt a mix of excitement and apprehension. John walked out of his building, feeling the inspiring yet daunting weight of the future ahead.

The Leap of Faith

Back home, John's initial excitement quickly gave way to the realities of running a business. The transition from a structured, predictable paycheck to the often unpredictable world of entrepreneurship was profound. John found himself working 12 hours a day, seven days a week, fueled by a desire to make his project succeed.

Five months into his self-employed journey, John made his first significant milestone: securing his first big client. Though he was now earning significantly less (initially around $20,000 per year compared to his previous $80,000 salary), John was overjoyed. He had transitioned from a life where he had no control to one where he was in charge of his destiny.

Lessons and Perspective

Leaving a secure job to start a company is a monumental decision that requires courage and preparedness. Ensure that you have the necessary resources, mindset, and resilience to weather the challenges. Be mindful of the impact on your community and stakeholders, and commit fully to your vision.

My own experiences have taught me that despite the ups and downs, every venture offers valuable lessons. They shape you, make you more well-rounded, and more wiser than ever before. Good luck and godspeed on your entrepreneurial journey.

Keywords: job vs startup, entrepreneurship, job security