The Pathless Path with Paul Millerd Commit A Career Ending Move - Steven Foster on Permissionless Paychecks, Communal Living & Battling Life's Challenges While Pathless
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Nov 13, 2025 In this engaging conversation, Steven Foster, a former Silicon Valley engineer turned writer, shares his transformative journey towards a communal, nature-focused lifestyle after leaving the tech industry. He reflects on the idea of careers as a modern religion and discusses his essay 'Commit a Career-Ending Move.' Steven opens up about navigating personal crises, embracing foraging and barter systems, and the importance of community support. He also highlights the freedoms of permissionless income through creative endeavors like YouTube.
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Work As A Modern Religion
- Steven Foster frames modern careers as a form of religion with rituals and priests.
- Rejecting that faith meant stepping off the default path to reclaim meaning and agency.
From Border Childhood To Tech Ambition
- Steven describes growing up in a border, working-class family and feeling behind academically.
- He chased tech success to be lovable and prove worth through money and status.
Hacking A Way Into Apple
- Steven took a door into Apple instead of college, accepting low pay and any task to break into Silicon Valley.
- He learned on the job, negotiated up, and rapidly absorbed skills to catch up with peers.
