Refactoring Podcast Small Bets for Engineers 💰 — with Daniel Vassallo (Small Bets)
Apr 26, 2024
Join Daniel Vassallo, creator of Small Bets community, as he shares insights on career transitions, Small Bets philosophy, and self-employment. Learn about market understanding, lifestyle improvements, time allocation, and criteria for idea selection.
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Leaving Big Tech For Independence
- Daniel Vassallo left a high-paying AWS job in 2018 to pursue self-employment because the employee structure drained him mentally and physically.
- He quit after finishing a project, fearing that if he stayed he'd never leave and lose independence.
From Userbase Failure To Quick Wins
- Daniel spent nine months building a serverless database product called Userbase and nearly depleted his savings with little revenue to show for it.
- He pivoted to low-hanging projects, wrote a short AWS guide, and made $5,000 on day one, which changed his strategy.
Secure Quick Income First
- Do chase low-hanging fruits that can make you quick income to sustain self-employment rather than doubling down on speculative long projects.
- Prioritize monthly or near-term targets to regain peace of mind and reduce financial anxiety.