layoff_payoff

> If this is true, then why do we find so many introverts in online forums?

I find writing is more cerebral than verbalizing. I can take an idea, interrogate it before putting it in writing - and then read, edit and re-read it before posting.

Also - have you considered the number of introverts not posting in online forums vs those who do?

$300/year to the state of Delaware works out to less than a dollar a day. The LLC is a pass-through entity (single member), so federal taxes will be handled with my personal tax filing. The lack of profits keeps my bookkeeping and taxes simple, if/when it become profitable enough that income tax categorization becomes a disadvantage, well, that will be good problem to have.

> I imagine it is a tiny fraction of the people getting laid off that go that route - imo, most are out applying for jobs.

Speaking for myself; I'm doing both. I applied for a job, and I am also working on my own company on the side. I have some run way, and could have gone all in on my company, but this is a terrible time to be seeking investment as a founder, and it probably will get worse. What I like: job stability, and having "free"[1] time to work on slow-growth projects. I fully expect things to get worse before they get better, so the route to profitability for ambitious new startups may be tricky.

1. It's amazing how much additional time you get back when you switch from a high-pressure FAANG job to something more normal

2 reasons: the first is to show myself how I'm now "serious" about this; I've always have half-assed projects I mentally considered to be hobbies, but these experiments will be different. The second reason is related - I want to have a clear separation between my personal finances and the new venture in order to track my losses.

It is aspirational, but I needed to take the step for self-accountability and self-motivation

I was laid of in November, started interviewing a week later. I got about 50% response on my applications; I bombed most of them at various stages (I should have increased prep time by another week or 2). I got an offer in early January and started last week.

My compensation dropped by 30-40%, but I figured if I'll probably spend more than 30% of the year waiting for an offer close to what had before. Considering my poor interview performance, I did not want to compete with a glut of engineers I had a hunch would be let go in the new year (which turned out correct).

I registered a Delaware LLC for $200, my current job is not as remotely challenging as my FAANG job so I have plenty of mental energy at the end of my 8-hour(!) work day, even when I go out of my way to add tasks outside of my duties. I just haven't thought up a lifestyle-business idea to run with.

I hope this comes back to bite big tech in the ass. As far as I can see, the sequence of events were:

1. Employ a large number of tech workers and upskill them with state of the art practices.

2. Throw lots of money at them, so they can build nest-eggs

3. Test their capacity for - and self-confidence in - working long hours

4. Unload them onto a hot market; unemployment is at a 50-year low

My hope is that a million lifestyle LLCs will bloom from this fertile soil. I got laid off, and registered my first LLC while interviewing. I bet I'm not the only one