14 Comments
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Keyul Patel's avatar

I am not alone then. I am going through same situation. Yesterday posted article reflecting the same idea so I can take control of myself specially peace in mind! Thanks for sharing!

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Amanda Curtis's avatar

Definitely not alone! I’ve been trying to figure out how to do this with my qa skills and knowledge as well. Never want to have all my eggs in one basket again.

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Keyul Patel's avatar

You're on right path. All the best!

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Amanda Curtis's avatar

You too!

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Jenny Ouyang's avatar

Thank you for writing this article, David!

“I want to build a business that excites me and makes work feel meaningful.”

- this is exactly how I am feeling now after starting my writing online!

One thing I wanted to add is that in pursuing personal endeavors, my kids can watch me going through all the tough and joyful moments, and they know that life is not restrained with limited resources. They can make a difference whenever and however they want.

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David Weiss's avatar

I never thought about that, but I like it. I have two kids myself. And I hope I’m showing them that anything’s possible with hard work.

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Rasmus Edwards's avatar

Hey David!

This is a very relatable read.

As a software engineer myself I’ve been dealing with the same feelings as you, and my solution is also to try to create meaning for myself.

I’m cheering you on, keep building!

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David Weiss's avatar

Great to hear. Happy to chat anytime.

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Gilad Naor's avatar

This is a very inspiring journey David! As someone who is on a similar trajectory, it is really helpful to see these posts.

I have been personally struggling with the craving for control. I spent two weeks in a Vipassana retreat, which talks (huh!) a lot about craving and aversion. I think that there is a lot of value in pursuing your own path beyond just the sense of control. As you said, it’s all about alignment with values and strengths. It’s about having the Impact that is right for you.

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David Weiss's avatar

Exactly. Having impact and being in control doesn’t always happen in one place. You might have to experiment and find out.

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Fabio Hiroki's avatar

Great article! I completely resonate with two key points:

First, the tension between collaboration and autonomy. In corporate settings, we gain strength through teamwork, but lose the freedom to fully chart our own course. Starting something of your own means reclaiming that control.

Second, stepping out on your own means direct exposure and higher personal risk. But that vulnerability is precisely what makes the journey rewarding - it pushes us to grow, learn, and find deeper professional fulfillment.

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David Weiss's avatar

Absolutely. You get to call the shots. And that gives you the freedom to follow your passions.

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Verónica Olmos's avatar

Wow this is very inspiring, thank you for sharing!

I guess I feel a bit similar right now. I haven't started yet, but I would like to offer coaching and consulting services to other tech leaders in the future (although I haven't figured out the details yet).

In my case, I'm also definitely not looking to get rich from this. I'm looking to have more flexibility and be more connected with my values. Like you mentioned, sometimes in the day-to-day of a 9 to 5 job that's not entirely possible because of budget limitations, moving priorities... And while I generally find that ok, I'm feeling like I need a way to reconnect with what I care about the most.

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Kacper Wojaczek's avatar

This resonates with me a lot, I feel like we have a lot of common goals!

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