I used to work in big tech making 6 figures in my early twenties, quit my job to try to create a startup, failed, and now have a lifestyle similar to the dude from the Big Lebowski. AMA.

r/

Hi there! I’m a coder, and after college I got a job paying me 200k/yr. After getting laid off, I got another really good tech job paying me 6 figures. I knew I always wanted to try and make my own company, so close to a year ago I quit that job to go all in on creating a startup company. This ended up being a massive mistake lol. These days when I’m not applying to jobs I’m probably driving around with broken AC because I can’t afford to get it fixed it lmao. AMA

Comments

  1. nonumber0 Avatar

    What kind of startup did you try to make?

  2. VacheMax Avatar

    Do you regret trying? Are you at all considering a different career path? How long has it been since it all went wrong?

  3. PreparationHot980 Avatar

    I just transitioned into this lifestyle a few days ago myself. Do you play video games?

  4. orbital Avatar

    What caused your own company to fail? If given the opportunity to try again what would you have done differently? The same?

  5. GEF110F14F15 Avatar

    Do you roll on shabbos?

  6. waypeter Avatar

    What’s your equivalent to bowling?

  7. Forsaken_Put_6864 Avatar

    What type of jobs are you interested in now?

  8. joeybabymwa Avatar

    Love how this dude just checked out of actually answering any questions

  9. shaftpolls Avatar

    Why haven’t you succeeded in finding a new job?

  10. Tripledelete Avatar

    I know a few people like you tbh.

    What would you do differently? What do you think went wrong with your start up and could you have succeeded under different circumstances

  11. Gravel_Driver Avatar

    Have you acquired CCR tapes?

  12. Hour_Recording_3373 Avatar

    Why do you think the company failed? And what would you recommend to someone trying a startup as well?

  13. Marcona Avatar

    lol OP hit the jackpot and ripped the ticket up essentially. U dont have to quit your job until your start up has a solid foundation.

    And now your in a market where your probably not gonna be able to land that 200k job for many many years to come.. if ever.

    Tech has always been high risk high reward. You got the reward and the risk paid off for you just to throw it all away and gamble some more.

    Good luck man

  14. bacon_in_beard Avatar

    did anyone steal your rug dude?

  15. Actual-Regular9534 Avatar

    Have you listened to BRAT by charli xcx?

  16. roots_radicals Avatar

    What was your startup?

  17. Substantial-Rest9200 Avatar

    What’s your favourite strain bruh?

  18. OneS8lf Avatar

    When you are gonna die you won’t regret what you try… you will regret what you didn’t try

  19. philmtl Avatar

    I have the golden handcuffs, was offerd the startup life many times.I stayed with big corporate life and just work and be a dad.

  20. Shmokeshbutt Avatar

    Do you own a house/condo/etc.? If it’s not fully paid, how do you deal with the mortgage payment?

  21. VertDaTurt Avatar

    On average how many White Russians do you drink a day?

    And how the F do you always have fresh ice in one of those buckets

  22. WubsGames Avatar

    Oh hey, i’m in the same boat!
    Previous experience in tech / software startups and game development, started a tech company a few years ago, it failed, now i’m freelancing software development and working a retail gig to make ends meet.

    My question: what part of software engineering where you in, and how is the job hunt going?

  23. iamblindfornow Avatar

    How stoned are you right now?

  24. Afraid-Service-8361 Avatar

    can you run your company start up by me again

    I am not into sports but I have reams of data that need to be analyzed and I have no tech skills
    as in none.can your application work w any data

  25. JulixQuid Avatar

    Do you have a rug that ties the room together too?

  26. Effective-Ear-8367 Avatar

    What company hires a new grad for $200k?

  27. Deepthunkd Avatar

    Blind tax: TC 1.4M

    What year did you quit to do the startup thing? I feel like the post covid bubble made everyone think top tier jobs grew on trees and did this kinda of crash out.

  28. BradyJ21 Avatar

    The developer abides

  29. Ok_Maximum_5205 Avatar

    Which tech companies u worked at? Where u went school? What advice to CS majors now?

  30. Ready_Ad_5882 Avatar

    Do you have a rug that ties the room together?

  31. ElCunadoRafi Avatar

    Do you have to tell people it’s just their ‘opinion’ a lot? Thanks

  32. Aerodrive160 Avatar

    All the young kids these days need to get a CS degree and they can all make apps they can sell to each other and they’ll be rich!

  33. ABadMothafuka Avatar

    Do you drink White Russians?

  34. AffectionateMetal794 Avatar

    Do you have a rug that really ties the room together?

  35. more-kindness-please Avatar

    Dad here looking for guidance for daughter who just graduated college w/ quantum computing degree and having rough go finding 1st job

  36. RobertBDwyer Avatar

    Wanna fund another startup? I can teach you to build cool shit

  37. LJizzle Avatar

    Why don’t you fix your AC yourself?

  38. twoanddone_9737 Avatar

    Why do you think six figures is a lot of money in 2025? You might as well have been an entry level plumber or electrician.

  39. Tinosdoggydaddy Avatar

    My life is like Steve Carrell in 40 year-old virgin. Before he meets the hot girl.

    A lot of karaoke in my tidy whities

  40. Thisisntreal0 Avatar

    What’s your best advice for someone starting out in tech sales?

  41. WeaknessPast2067 Avatar

    The rug really tied the room together, did it not?

  42. pdparticle Avatar

    How old are you now & have you been able to financially recover? Am 30 & in similar situation…

  43. Duckmannnnn716 Avatar

    You should be pretty well off after few years of 6 figure salary. Did it go to pay off loans/debt or was it invested in your company or just spent on hookers and booze?

  44. PacRimRod Avatar

    Why are there So Many of you in Socal??

  45. dimensionforge9856 Avatar

    Before making the leap to doing a startup, did you have any paying customers prior? And why not find a cofounder first?

    It’s interesting, because your story is pretty much exactly mine. Although a bit different in the details. I was at Amazon for 5 years, and I quit 6 months ago to build a startup with my best friend.

    It’s always hard to take that leap from corporate to betting on yourself, so kudos to you!

  46. _RedditIsLikeCrack_ Avatar

    Obviously you’re not a golfer

  47. DickabodCranium Avatar

    What makes it like the Dude? Do you live in LA? I was never sure how he maintained even his modest lifestyle with no income. I want to find a city with cost of living low enough to be the Dude.

  48. Terrible_Flight_1672 Avatar

    I will never understand people like you, why did you quit a 6 figure job in the first place? Especially if you’re earning 200k a year…. You could have literally retired early/ lived in another country and live off the interest for the rest of your life after a few years, this would have been guaranteed….

    I’m not trying to be rude but it kind of boggles my mind that people like this give up the opportunity of a lifetime that other people would never get the chance to do….

  49. Real_Kids Avatar

    Whoa, what a journey, from big tech bucks to Big Lebowski vibes! I’m digging the honesty about the startup rollercoaster, and I bet you’ve got some wild stories.

  50. Weird_Conscious Avatar

    Same story brother. Im working on a food truck and living my best life.

  51. Long-Possibility-951 Avatar

    Time for your ordination to r/Dudeism

  52. Sangisone Avatar

    What’s your rug situation like?

  53. Wallet-Inspector2 Avatar

    9/10 startups fail. You think trying once is enough?

  54. laughwithesinners Avatar

    What does your day to day look like?

  55. fresh_start0 Avatar

    What’s the highest game you rolled in bowling?