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Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by codegeek on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:09AM (#18902995)
I bought a side project from someone else that was doing 2K per month at the time and 4 years later, I have turned it into a 10+ person company (yes bootstrapped so slow but controlled growth and I own 100% of the company). So pretty happy about it. It cost me 60K upfront though which I had saved by working a miserable Wall St. Tech. Job.

I just couldn't figure out how to get out of that routine. I had tons of ideas but could never work on any of them. So I decided to take someone else's validated idea and grow it further. The point was to get STARTED somewhere. Force yourself into it. I forced myself into it by buying that side project and then quitting my job 4 months later. My income went down but couldn't be happier.

EDIT: So a few of you asking how I found the project. It was flippa. Yes, I know it is needle in a haystack. That is where I guess the luck factor comes in. I was just browsing that day and came across that project for sale. It looked perfect for me and I talked to my wife and put a bid. Leap of faith really. I never met the seller but he was an excellent marketer. THe software was crap but he had already built a very small paying audience which I knew could do a lot more.

If anyone is interested, I wrote a blog post on how to buy an online business. Linked on profile.

Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by jamisteven on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:30AM (#18903159)
Literally in the same position (miserable WS tech gig). How'd you get the grit to make the jump?
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by codegeek on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:58AM (#18903408)
there is no one way really. I just had enough of it and was lucky to have some money and timing on that flippa project. But I don't consider it just luck. I think of it as me being proactive because I have been browsing flippa type sites for years. So the key is: do something. anything. Even if small. But do it towards your goal.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by HeyLaughingBoy on Monday January 14, 2019 @01:04PM (#18904889)
I've found this is a/the key to being successful in anything. Just keep working at it even if you're only making small steps forward. Each step gets you closer to the goal and also puts you in a better position to take advantage of opportunities when they show up.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by sjg007 on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:42AM (#18903272)
These miserable WS tech gigs pay well right?
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by jamisteven on Monday January 14, 2019 @10:12AM (#18903505)
Yea, the reason most of us stay put for a bit :-/ Typically tech jobs at big IB's and hedge funds pay more than your FB's and Google's of the world, and with way more time off per year.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by hello_moto on Tuesday January 15, 2019 @01:18AM (#18909162)
Mind if I ask you what kind of work that you guys do?

Hardcore Math modelling implemented in C++ or something?

Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by tehlike on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:39AM (#18903243)
How did youfind whay project to buy? Are you active on the project, or going more passively?
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by codegeek on Monday January 14, 2019 @10:06AM (#18903469)
very active. I am not a flipper type of guy. I want to create a real bootstrapped company with hopefully multiple products in the future. This was just the start. I am all in.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by tehlike on Monday January 14, 2019 @03:58PM (#18906404)
What is the product about? People are very secretive about explaining their niche, so i understand if you dont want to share.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by codegeek on Monday January 14, 2019 @04:54PM (#18906895)
I don't mind. It is an ed-tech product. Happy to explain more over email. Just don't like to self promote on HN :)
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by lionpixel on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:32AM (#18903174)
Can I ask on which platform you bought the project? Would like to do something similar.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by codegeek on Monday January 14, 2019 @10:03AM (#18903441)
flippa.
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by mrfusion on Monday January 14, 2019 @10:06AM (#18903468)
Last time I looked it seemed almost impossible to find SAAS businesses on those platforms. I’d love to do exactly what you did!
Re:Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job? by sigi45 on Monday January 14, 2019 @09:27AM (#18903136)
Wow nice. The first time i heard someone doing what you did.

How did you find that project?