DEV Community

Cover image for Quit my job—now a Product Maker full-time!

Quit my job—now a Product Maker full-time!

Ilona Codes on December 19, 2019

A while ago, I realized that working as a Software Engineer on the product that doesn’t belong to me, unfortunately, doesn’t drive and motivate me ...
Collapse
 
moopet profile image
Ben Sinclair

Last months every day I was coming to work, I asked myself

I've been asking myself the same thing for years.

Collapse
 
devrambeno profile image
devrambeno

Same

Collapse
 
ilonacodes profile image
Ilona Codes

So you need to change something! Try to find and understand what excites you the most, and then think and plan how you can make it a full-time thing 😉

Collapse
 
moopet profile image
Ben Sinclair

That's not as simple as it sounds when you have bills to pay!

Thread Thread
 
ilonacodes profile image
Ilona Codes

I know. It's a good idea to save some money and eventually when you have six months of runaway, and then start your journey.

Thread Thread
 
moopet profile image
Ben Sinclair

That's also not easy, I spend more than I earn just treading water.

Collapse
 
dividedbynil profile image
Kane Ong • Edited

I took the leap a few years ago, here is what I found:

  1. Having a negative revenue startup is more terrifying than a boring full-time job.
  2. When you are desperate to monetize your product, it will not be the "perfect" product anymore.
  3. Reaching a self-sustainable stage is more important than finding investors.

The points above do not apply if:

  1. You have a wealthy family.
  2. Your startup has backed by reputable investors.
  3. Your product has sustainable revenue already.

All the best.

Collapse
 
jsardev profile image
Jakub Sarnowski

Totally agree! I found the same conclusions after my startup leap.

Collapse
 
nickyoung profile image
Nick Young

Congrats on having the bravery to take the leap! I just recently left an agency that I was working for to start up my own agency for a lot of the same reasons. Thank you for sharing it's nice to know there are others out there in the same boat.

I wish you all the best with your new adventure and hope it goes beyond what you dream!

Collapse
 
ilonacodes profile image
Ilona Codes

Thanks a lot for your kind words! I wish you good luck and success as well in your upcoming journey! 🎉

Collapse
 
karan_shah89 profile image
Karan Shah

I hope your product achieves great heights! All the best

Collapse
 
ilonacodes profile image
Ilona Codes

Thank you very much! 🙏

Collapse
 
realtoughcandy profile image
RealToughCandy.io

Congrats!

Collapse
 
ilonacodes profile image
Ilona Codes

Thank you!

Collapse
 
ben profile image
Ben Halpern

Congrats!

Collapse
 
ilonacodes profile image
Ilona Codes

Thank you! 🙂

Collapse
 
andrewbrown profile image
Andrew Brown 🇨🇦

Signup for StartupSchool January 2020.
You'll be able to get lots of free Cloud Computing credits and other services.

startupschool.org/

Collapse
 
jawwad22 profile image
jawwad22

Best of Luck =)

Collapse
 
zenulabidin profile image
Ali Sherief

I was wondering why you didn't post here for so long. Glad that you're making something that you enjoy. (Yes this comment is coming 2 days later than I planned but don't mind that please.)

Collapse
 
sanidz profile image
sanidz

What formal certification did you took if any? (Product Owner)
What experience with management roles did you have?

"Ilona Codes" should now be "Ilona Makes".