Comment by code_devil | Hacker News Reader

Comment by code_devil | Hacker News Reader

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I left the same company after 5+ years ( 6 years ago ) with a few goals -

1. Spend time with family ( parents )

2. Work on a side project

3. Travel

4. New language ( Spanish )

5. Learn something new ( tech and non tech )

I am very happy with 1,3,4,5. ( ongoing )

Regarding 2, I worked on making a no code platform for Voice apps and had a working demo/app but the market was just not ready and it still is not … Next I tried making some simple web apps - but no success financially. I keep on experimenting with technology so I still love my current state of affairs.

My personal learnings/experience (also from YC Startup School online ) is that you need to have some form of demand/audience before building the product for the consumer space. My friends in the Enterprise space seem to have much better luck.

PS: The fruit company is pretty strict about moon lighting (speaking from experience of a very good friend ) so just be careful about that aspect if they find that out while you are employed. I left in positive terms, in-fact a week back my boss mentioned to let them know when I am done with everything and would like to be back.

Thank you for sharing your story! Have a couple of questions, if you don’t mind sharing a bit more: 1. How are you supporting yourself financially? Are you consulting or living off you savings? 2. Based on your friend’s story, do you have any tips on what not to do when trying to moonlight?

1. I am primarily living off my savings. However, I haven’t had to sell any investments for expenses during this period and they have likely grown ( as per Mint.com ) I don’t actively track my investments ( I have vested stock from the fruit company + use robo investing ) so I am mentally free to enjoy other things without worrying about market volatility … I think my average monthly expense ranges from $1500 - $2500 depending on the country. A lot cheaper than a Bay Area down payment + plus so much time to do anything. Also unmarried and no kids.

2. My friend ( at Fruit Inc ) was working with a undergrad friend from the East coast on a side project. The other friend posted a Craigslist ad needing help on the project and mentioned my friends credentials on the posting. Somehow a recruiter found out about it and so my friends VP called him … that he can’t do so and so, and that the fruit company owes everything and he needs to turn it all to them, and he can be terminated etc. And even after termination they will come after him. Long story short, he stopped working on the project and he was NOT terminated but he did eventually leave to a different company. (For context: the project my friend was moonlighting on was not some cutting edge secret or some hard problem )

Bottom line: If no one knows about your project you are fine. And if you decide to leave the company and work on your idea … might make sense to ensure that the start date of the code etc looks a little after your resignation.

Happy to answer if you have any other questions

Thank you for such a detailed response - really appreciate it!

regarding (2) did this happen recently? or years ago? I've heard the culture or policy around this has "changed" but that could all be BS.

If you remember Flipboard, Evan Doll was in the iOS team and also taught the CS183 at Stanford. As per his LinkedIn as soon as he left, the same month he cofounded Flipboard although the app was released 1 year later.

I have a few coworkers from my team that cofounded companies and they too have 1-2 month gap after they quit and they all got funding :)

It was around 2011.

I don’t think the policy changed as per se. It’s just they found proof of him trying to hire a part time help.

I had a co-worker around 2013 ish who just wanted to blog and put personal projects code to GitHub. It was not recommended and needed VP permission … basically a hassle.

i wonder how this stuff is dealt with during hiring conversations like when you have a project already …. or how acquihires happen

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