Six-figures to minimum wage: a year later
With this tweet a year ago today, I left behind my 15-year, corporate Information Technology career. I also left a chunky paycheck, hence the pithy post title, but I seriously wouldn’t change a thing. This year has been one of the most enjoyable in my working life. This has been an interesting “leap of faith”. Many of you expressed support and well wishes when I finally came out of the closet and announced myself as a full-time blogger. For that kindness and the many supportive remarks over the past year, I sincerely thank you.There’s also no way I could have taken this path without Barb’s support. She helped me devise a two-year plan so I could make this attempt and she’s shouldering more of our financial burden as I find my way. When we both had steady paychecks, we split the home expenses 50-50, but it’s been more like 70-30 this past year. I’ve operated in the red each and every month, but slowly and surely the amount of red is decreasing. Since so many people have asked me privately, I should point out that I funded this attempt on my own. In essence, I “bet on myself”, by taking some funds from retirement and channeling them into my business account. If it doesn’t pan out, I have other retirement vehicles and of course, it will be back to the job pool. I’m hoping of course, that doesn’t happen.Thanks again to all of you, because without the readers and the conversation here, I wouldn’t have a personal anniversary to celebrate today. As I’ve said to a number of folks via e-mail: without the readers, my writing has no purpose; it’s just a bunch of words at that point. My sincere gratitude goes out to you all! Thanks too to James for allowing me to participate with him on a topic that we’re very passionate about.Aside from the humbling feeling knowing that I get to be a small part of so many people’s lives, I hope you can find some strength, hope and resolve to take risks in your own life. Don’t wait around and let life happen to you: go live it!
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sounds like a plan, now i just need to go find me a rich wife also!
Kevin = Big Pimpin’ ?
i think you should ask James for a pay raise.. oh wait dont do that, he’s an oil man from Texas so he might hire an illegal immigrant to work for cheap.
Can understand completely. The best of luck to you and yours.
I’m a middle aged guy in my fourth year as a freshman at UCLA, ooops, err, fourth year of a long term project jump into a new industry as well. Could not have done it without the wife and on the other side of she expects to be able to do the same. While tough, the few bright spots have kept us closer to sane. On top of that, she is looking more towards that which we’ve learned from the experience as against simply counting cost.
The importance of an pen optimistic outlook cannot be overstated.
This type of opportunity is being taken by more people and the trend might represent a return to pursuits as they were as against things as they have been within a well protected bubble.
Again, all the best.
Brian
Just wanted to congratulate you on making the leap, Kevin, and on a great first year! Well done.
And let me echo the “take a chance” sentiment; I left a cushy corporate IT job about ten years ago to follow my love of filmmaking. Now I’m a producer/director/screenwriter with a three picture deal and a thriving film company.
Take a chance, folks. If you feel the call, do it! It might work, it might not. But life is about chances. At least if you try, you won’t feel the “what could have beens” on the other end of life. And you might capture your dream, but regardless, you’ll learn a lot about yourself, and perhaps discover dreams you didn’t know you had.
Thanks, Kevin, for your hard work. Will always be one of your faithful reader. Your articles and videos are the reason why I’m writing this comment via my Samsung Q1 Ultra Premium. =D Looking forward to more of your (and James’) informative & enjoyable blogs and videos.
Good stuff Kevin.
I want to say that I appreciate your site and everything it has to offer. I usually do not find a technology blog that I like because of the writing and the fact that those blogs digress as you stay linear. Your site not only reviews products, but uses them day after day for a while; where others review it move on and never speak about them again. I find your blurbs regarding how you use your equipment helpful and allows me to get a perspective on the product to form a better more informed decision (aside from straight out jealousy and drooling) for purchasing as well as different perspectives of usability.
I remember the first time I stumbled on your site … it was when I first purchased my Samsung Q1 Celeron. I had bought a 1 GB stick of RAM to upgrade it but did not find any info on the upgrade procedure anywhere but on your site. After that, your purposeful incites regarding “Sammy” has helped me understand and become a believer in Tablet PCs.
Thank you Kevin, I salute you and wish you the best as you move forward.
Inspirational.
I truly wish you the best of lucks. :)
Kevin, you have my complete support as I hope you know. I enjoy working with you very much and know in the bottom of my heart that you will be successful in this as you have been in other things in the past. Let’s start an empire, how about it?
Thanks a lot, Kevin !
We are all childs of this spirit of new technologies era… Not always a quiet stream.
Best regards from Paris (France).
Kevin, I love what you write and it shows that you love writing it. The videos, the podcasts, it’s all first rate entertainment. (and it costs less than a Kindle). As long as you and James do what you do, you can count me among your readers/listeners/viewers. Congrats on your first of many anniversaries.