One thing I wanted to add - of course, I also chose to become an engineer because I love writing code and creating things! Reply to this comment with your questions and I'll do my best to answer :)

You quit because you could afford to . Not many people have that option.

Super refreshing and inspiring to see a software dev "youtuber" branching away from conventional employment that isn't *only* going full-time youtube. I wish you the best and I'm excited to see where this (you) all goes. Just a little nervous it might end up being contagious 😅.

After years of being in software, I left. Then I spent years trying to figure out what I really wanted to do, couldn't find anything that worked. So I tried to get back in, but now get rejected for job gap and not being current. Difficult to know what to invest all your time into and get a decent benefit in the end.

I quit my engineering job back in 2020 and enrolled in medical school and never looked back. Cheers!

man i am from Uruguay, im 25 right now, ive been studiying for this shit, and now i am working from a tipical millenial software job, but i never felt with less freedom than now, i work too many hours, the office work is so stressful, i hate have a boss, hate people being shitty with you just to scale in the corporation i hate this rat race shit, i see this people working since 90's on the same shit, and i realized i dont want it. my life has no meaning right now, i have to quit and monetize youtube before the burnout cames soon or later. some people with my father age will tell like "what are you crazy? leaving a work like this? you dont know nothing about life" i think they are not seeing this further, they just seeing the superficial part. i feel like another brick in the wall like pink floyd. i dont know, sorry for my english, and good luck with your stuff man, being free and work for yourself is worth more than any corporative job and their free coffee, FUCK THAT RAT RACE SHIT

Everyone quits this shitty industry. Whoever doesn't is depressed or halfway there, or just in denial of being depressed

I just finished my bootcamp, questioning life as a dev long term. Is dev work always stressful meeting deadlines, fix bugs u don't know, and a lot of thinking? I went in cuz I wanted to remote and chill and relaxing job, but the BootCamp made me think its so stressful with constantly not knowing stuff and meeting deadlines.

I’m at the top as a software engineer in my perspective and I’m thinking about what’s next. Thanks for sharing.

I love it man, I’ve been working on expanding my free applications into income generating projects and working with a close friend and designer to begin the process of living off of my own work and passions. Code will never leave my life and I will more than likely build my life around it but the freedom to adhere to your own agenda is liberating. Just subscribed and I’ll try my best to stay engaged with your videos as a fellow entrepreneur and fan. Your outlook is encouraging and optimistic in the ways I needed to hear.

First time I watch one of your videos and it made me genuinely happy to see you explaining your particular situation. It is motivating and I thank you for sharing with us! All the best, Peter! You got this!

I don't know if time spent together is a good way to measure how much you are spending with the people you love. My wife and I both work remotely, and our daughter is too young to go out on her own. We also live a single room apartment. We spend A LOT of time "together", but 90% of that time is stressful. I mean imagine your sick daughter staying home from daycare while you are working remotely on a PC right next to her, and now she's feeling better and wants to climb and jump on the desk, while your being asked your opinion in a video meeting and your mother in law is asking to come over and... well you get the point. Having focused time at work followed by focused time with your family could be more valuable than just a simple time spent together metric.

Working remote does not work well for all.

How did you become an engineer ? Do you have a degree in Software ?

I was a field service tech for Cummins Allison 852 Feehanville Drive Mount Prospect, IL 60056 they make money counting equipment (not the diesel people) but same scenario, half assed parts and to top it of they told me not to do the preventative maintenance anymore at customer sites just run the vacuum a little bit and wipe down the machines. I was like "But that is gonna make the service call numbers go up and is >theft of service< WHY ? Well they wanted to keep selling new equipment every 3 years or so see ? With At Will I was fired,SAD HUH ? Country is in TROUBLE...

My best wishes to you Peter! Excited to see your journey

Congratulations, and good luck with this adventure I look forward to see where you take this

I have left my software engineer job too.

Yeah one thing I always found a bit perplexing, is that I can work hard and possibly get a raise, but I can't work hard and get a time reduction. Like honestly I don't need more money. I need more time. So why can't I get a job that pays the same but requires less hours. Obviously this is where freelance comes in, but it just seems weird how that isn't even an option in a company setting.

Thank you @PeterElbaum for sharing your journey. So many of these ideas, especially quality time with family, have been hitting me recently, after 10 years of working as a dev. So much to digest….

Hey Peter, I found you through your popular video "REAL React Interview Questions" and I'm glad I decided to click on the SHOW MORE button to find your website cuz I had a feeling that you had some goods to share on your website. The first article I read was "What I've Learned About "Better" Developer Jobs". Your article really connected with me on an emotional level because I spent two and a half years part-time learning how to code from scratch, only to get my first web dev job where I'm barely coding because I'm working mostly on a low-code CRM software or legacy technology. And to top if off, I spend 40-50% of my time in meetings. So my skills have definitely wasted away in the past year. I also wanted to say that I've never seen a larger goldmine of resources on a single website/blog/newsletter than yours before and I have seen/subscribed to a lot of them. All the people (Ali Abdaal, Naval, Cal Newport, Shawn Wang, etc.) that you reference in your website/newsletter, especially in Pete's Picks, are people that've inspired me before and I can't imagine how much knowledge you've gained over the years from all of them. It makes me wonder if you have some Personal Knowledge Management system of your own that you use to capture and express all this knowledge. I recently discovered the Building a Second Brain system by Tiago so I'm really excited to get into this realm of Personal Knowledge Management. Anyway, I really just wanted to thank you for deciding to go on this journey of self-mastery and self-employment and sharing all the details with us in your website, newsletter, podcast, KZfaq channel (you're really going all out) as it's all deeply inspiring! I wish you all the success and I'll be following you closely!

I understand but have a second plan before quitting.. working multiple remote job helps! Also equity can be house/rental property and stock.

Since Praxent didn't call me yet, even though I was approved in their hiring process, you can hire me to help you in your new projects lol Good luck with this new life phase.

What bootcamps would you recommend to become a developer or learn code for your own company? Thanks for sharing your story

When everyone is running to the gold sell the shovels. You are a sharp guy.

Wow what a coincidence! I’m in the same path as you, same influences I have been doing software for far longer time

the most hard as a software engineer is to quit software engineer job and start a new path in other industry

I am still thinking ! Good to know someone with same mindset :)

How many of those in student loan debt are quitting their jobs then crying they can’t afford to pay the “crushing” debt?

"How I got here". Always love a heartfelt "how i transitioned to coding" story👍

I don't think FIRE makes sense. After 30s body goes downhill. It's hard to have fun as in 20s. I traveled, ride bike, tented, drunk, partied now I can't do all that. I am glad I didn't spend that time at the desk. Loved a lot of women too 😊

Would love to learn more about your portfolio of projects

unless you're trying to be very rich (>$50M), then non-public equity is a bad strategy. Its ok if you don't get equity... Your salary should capture the net present value of the future value EROI on all upside. Use the Salary to buy a basket of equity rather than be concentrated in a single upside (which you likely have no liquidity or essentially no control over the direction of the business / votes) ...

Looking forward to your progress!

I’ve always avoided Naval because his YT thumbnails looked so “cult-y” 😆 but he makes alotta sense. I’m a business major moving/learning web development. Equity has a direct correlation to net worth. It’s easy to get lost in the tech sauce

New sub right here! Keep up the great vids!! Love the journey!

Congrats and best of luck!

dpmt worry, i work inn a 9 to 5 and currenntly in a wweelding school and just two hours a day coding. to learn

What would be your net worth as a software engineer as compared to what you are pursuing ?

You buy franchises ?

Great video...thanks for sharing, newly subscibed. Good luck and all the best :)

Don't you normally figure out what you do next first before quitting. I guess if you can afford it great.

How are you going with this now Peter? Thanks for the video it’s great insight

Good luck!

why did you left part time lifestyle?

Great video. My issue is a short attention span and imposter syndrome. I have a Web Dev degree I completed with honors in 2020 and have done so much self-study, but whenever I see dev job listings, there's 10+ technologies listed that I've never even been exposed to lol. I took a break from dev for a few years as well, and just recently started re-teaching myself everything, but I don't really want a full time job, I'd rather figure out how to code on upwork or something, but I've heard that can be hit or miss.

Talks about COVID: “remember back to that time”. Crazy it’s already been over 2.5 years.

I really enjoyed your video and the topics you brought up. I'm curious if you're married and/or have kids. I ask because family is a major component in the financial decision making process.

Do you think this is a great time to go to boot camp and become a software engineer?

DISLIKE You are beating the bush and you are hiding something, You don't really provide the truth why you did it. Maybe becasue you don't want to scare away the viwers and the wanabe newbes who don't know the realities of working in Software Development. I will just say that it is hard and underpaid, but that would be an understatement :(

I hope u'll achieve what you want 😉

Sir can you please help me to get job I don't have work experience but I am ok with work from home job

Buy dunkin donuts there's no whites with dubkin donuts

-no hair -glasses -patagonia walking meme NPC

Learn how to daytrade stocks!? It can be a good source of income once you learn and become a profitable trader. Many profitable traders only trade a few hours in the morning and then they focus on the things they like to do and enjoy life!

Peter, you took a whole bottle of red pills! 😂 Congrats on your new adventure, I'm proud to know you!

You should think about the eternal hereafter not this short life

Or go back to school

Wahala iya e niyen

Hi Bro. Brilliant story. Glad you figured it out. Would you be able to share your Insta or WhatsApp?