Does this sound far fetched?

fnln510 · Post by **fnln510** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:10 am

Like a lot of other folks, I entered the IT rat race in the early 90's,went to th USin the mid 90's and then got a series of good breaks where I worked on the hottest technologies for some of the most reputed companies( big 4 , fortune 50 etc).

I R2i d in may this year. After return, I joined an IT MNC and have been working in middle management position for them. The problem is that Im reaching a point in my life where I'm no longer able or willing to play the politics and dirty games needed to just survive and get ahead in the corporate world. It also frustrating that i have not found anyone in my company that has the quality of experience I have.

Anyway I've started to think about starting something on my own. This is probably a common situation that many people find themselves in at my age. Howeve the twist is that the business ideas that I am most attracted to have nothing to do with IT. Most people are surprised to hear that I want to do something outside of my "core competence" of IT. I don't know whether working all these years and the recent negatve experiences have tainted my view of IT or I simply was never meant to be in this profession.

I have great credentials in IT, a bright future if I decide to play the corporate game, yet I don't mind throwing it all away to do something different! Is this crazy or what?

Aa_Ab_Laut_Chale · Post by **Aa_Ab_Laut_Chale** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:19 pm

No, its not crazy at all. You get one life, live upto your fullest potential. Go for it.

All the best!

XOXO · Post by **XOXO** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:24 pm

No...I am doing it, you can do it too.

returning_indian · Post by **returning_indian** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:36 pm

Yes going from pure IT to export/import with no experience is little crazy and does sound like mid life crisis. It does not mean you cannot do it. Nothing is impossible. It just means that you better be careful before taking it up.

Froogle · Post by **Froogle** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 8:41 pm

You did it in mid 90s and now again you have crave for it. May be in 90s you did it for money now you have to think of "purpose" is it only for fun? What risk involved? May be you do better and have fun. How do you find out ? By diving into it... Go For It.

oasis138 · Post by **oasis138** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:04 pm

fnln510;336649Like a lot of other folks, I entered the IT rat race in the early 90's,went to th USin the mid 90's and then got a series of good breaks where I worked on the hottest technologies for some of the most reputed companies( big 4 , fortune 50 etc).

I R2i d in may this year. After return, I joined an IT MNC and have been working in middle management position for them. The problem is that Im reaching a point in my life where I'm no longer able or willing to play the politics and dirty games needed to just survive and get ahead in the corporate world. It also frustrating that i have not found anyone in my company that has the quality of experience I have.

Anyway I've started to think about starting something on my own. This is probably a common situation that many people find themselves in at my age. Howeve the twist is that the business ideas that I am most attracted to have nothing to do with IT. Most people are surprised to hear that I want to do something outside of my "core competence" of IT. I don't know whether working all these years and the recent negatve experiences have tainted my view of IT or I simply was never meant to be in this profession.

I have great credentials in IT, a bright future if I decide to play the corporate game, yet I don't mind throwing it all away to do something different! Is this crazy or what?

What are your incentives in life going fwd? Are you looking to make money? Or is it running your own business - which could imply making more money. Be honest and practical and youll figure out what you want.

sipit · Post by **sipit** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 10:19 pm

I would be careful to put my money in an enterprise that's unfamiliar to me. i.e. A known devil is better than the unknown angel - so to speak. I'm sure you might have vetted all possibilities in IT - but if you take a hard look perhaps you might find something in IT that might interest you, and you are still in a familiar territory. Good luck tho!

gautham · Post by **gautham** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:03 pm

@fnln510
nothing wrong in that. in fact i am in the same boat. (started working in 1999 though).
I see the following challenges.
1. you need to find something that you enjoy doing.
2. you should have some knowledge of the business you will be into.
3. getting good labor is difficult.
4. you know that there will not be regular cash flow like the current salaried job. this itself is a major physiological barrier.
all the best

fnln510 · Post by **fnln510** » Tue Oct 05, 2010 11:56 pm

oasis138;336869What are your incentives in life going fwd? Are you looking to make money? Or is it running your own business - which could imply making more money. Be honest and practical and youll figure out what you want.

Certainly, money is essential. But it is more than just that. A few years ago, I tried my hand at a small internet business which required a lot of effort to start up and ultimately fizzled out. I made just 3-4K$ off of it so it was nothing compared to what I was making through my job at the time. But for some reason I got more satisfaction from the few thousands I made by myself than the significantly higher amount I was making through my job.

Another thing that has been bugging me lately is the matter of legacy (and I don't mean a bank balance and two homes) which is all I think I would have if I proceed down my current path in IT (ok..maybe three homes :) ). But somehow, I don't consider that as legacy. Legacy is something that people(outside of your immediate family) will remember you for even after you pass away or can no longer be active in society. Somehow, I don't think I have a shot at doing that if I retire as some VP in some obscure IT company somewhere :)

Sure a lot of people claim that after they run the rat race they will do some form of social work but who knows what I will be capable of doing when I'm 60...same applies for starting a business. I mean, half the people my age at work have diabetes, or hypertension or some other type of stress related disorders.

Lastly, I feel like when you are on your own there would be a sense of control over one's destiny which I don't feel I have in the corporate world.

Maybe this is all my imagination and maybe I'm going through a mid-life crisis :) who knows.

Thanks for the responses. The encouragement is appreciated and words of caution are well taken...will certainly do my homework and make sure I have all my ducks in a row before I take the plunge.

ahirman · Post by **ahirman** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:50 am

The only thing I would say is dont chart a new course because you are frustrated with the current one, but jump in if thats what you really want to do. And its easy to figure out. Just for a moment imagine that you are very happy in your current job. Would you still like to do it. If not then dont go for it.

All this legacy, frustration and other things that you talked about are temporary feelings. They will change with time in terms of intensity, go away altogether or will be replaced by something else. Dont chase something which is driven by your desire to either achieve or overcome them. Instead ask yourself what is it that you want to accomplish really after doing it all. Is it happiness, more satisfaction, more money and material comforts...what are you really missing that you want to achieve. Do you believe that they are important enough to
take substantial risk.

Let the objectives guide you not your frustration or insecurity.