For years I held to that mentality of "drop out of school, and do big things." I dropped out after 1st year of CompSci to to work at a telecom startup back in 2006. I was eventually fired and floundered for a few years. I'm in a good place now, clients paying me real money while I work from home in my underwear :). Life's good, and getting so much better by the day.
But I was very, very lucky.
In Jamaica, you can't point to potential employer to a GitHub profile. They want to see your degree. And you don't have luxury of folding your arms and saying, "Well, I wouldn't want to work for a company like that anyway." The rent needs to be paid.
If I could go back 5 years, I'd finish school, and start a business while in school, keeping it as a side project while I worked for a few years, got real-world experience and saved some money. I'd be much better off now.
There is no shame in having a backup plan. There is no shame in choosing the 'easier' way. And don't bother with those wonderful fantasies of "burning your ships." 'Tis a fool's errand, for the simple reason that in the Real World, Shit Happens™
For years I held to that mentality of "drop out of school, and do big things." I dropped out after 1st year of CompSci to to work at a telecom startup back in 2006. I was eventually fired and floundered for a few years. I'm in a good place now, clients paying me real money while I work from home in my underwear :). Life's good, and getting so much better by the day.
But I was very, very lucky.
In Jamaica, you can't point to potential employer to a GitHub profile. They want to see your degree. And you don't have luxury of folding your arms and saying, "Well, I wouldn't want to work for a company like that anyway." The rent needs to be paid.
If I could go back 5 years, I'd finish school, and start a business while in school, keeping it as a side project while I worked for a few years, got real-world experience and saved some money. I'd be much better off now.
There is no shame in having a backup plan. There is no shame in choosing the 'easier' way. And don't bother with those wonderful fantasies of "burning your ships." 'Tis a fool's errand, for the simple reason that in the Real World, Shit Happens™
Dan is doing it right.