Why I Quit My $100,000+ Software Engineering Job…

Summary

The video script narrates the journey of a software engineer turned YouTuber, detailing the pivotal moment that led to his decision to quit his job and pursue content creation full-time. The story unfolds from his initial YouTube beginnings during the pandemic to the realization that he could not excel at both his job and his growing channel. With the support of his family and the inspiration from books like 'The Alchemist', he takes the leap of faith into the world of entrepreneurship, aiming to reach 100,000 subscribers by March 2025 and launch a podcast called 'Liftoff with the Mananager'.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The creator started his YouTube journey during the summer of 2020 after being inspired by Ali Abdal and other influencers, focusing initially on computer science and software engineering topics.
• 🌐 The COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the creation of the channel, as it provided ample time for content creation while the creator was quarantined.
• 🔥 The channel gained traction with videos going viral, but YouTube remained a side project while the creator pursued a career in software engineering.
• 💡 In May 2023, the creator joined a software engineering company and continued to balance YouTube with his full-time job, investing his own money into the channel.
• 📈 The creator's commitment to YouTube intensified after joining Captain Sbad's YouTube coaching program, investing $5,000 and significantly increasing the time spent on content creation.
• 🚀 The turning point came when the creator felt overwhelmed by his job and the desire to focus on YouTube, leading to a digital detox and a realization that he needed to prioritize his passions.
• 📚 Reading 'The Alchemist' and listening to Ali Abdal's podcast inspired the creator to take the leap and pursue YouTube full-time, viewing it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
• 🤔 The creator faced a crossroads when his boss indicated that more effort was needed for a promotion, prompting the decision to quit his software engineering job to focus on YouTube.
• 💻 The creator resigned from his software engineering position in late February, with the support of his family who agreed to provide financial backing for a year.
• 🎯 With YouTube as his full-time endeavor, the creator aims to reach 100,000 subscribers by March 2025, setting a goal of publishing 100 videos within the next 12 months.
• 🎙️ The creator is launching a podcast called 'Liftoff with the Man' to share strategies and tools from successful individuals in the tech industry, further solidifying his commitment to the YouTube community.

Q & A

What was the turning point for the speaker to start his YouTube channel?

The speaker's turning point was in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic when he discovered Ali Abdal's videos on active recall and space repetition, which inspired him to create content.

Why did the speaker decide to invest $5,000 in Captain Sbad's YouTube coaching program?

The speaker decided to invest after his brother encouraged him to apply, and upon getting accepted and realizing the potential value of professional coaching, he committed to the program despite the high cost.

How did the speaker's involvement with the YouTube coaching program change his approach to creating content?

After joining the coaching program, the speaker started treating YouTube like a part-time job, spending 10-20 hours a week on it, which significantly increased his focus and effort on creating content.

What book had a profound impact on the speaker's decision to go all-in on YouTube?

The book 'The Alchemist' by Paulo Coelho had a profound impact on the speaker, inspiring him to pursue his passion for YouTube over his software engineering career.

Why did the speaker feel overwhelmed and consider a digital detox?

The speaker felt overwhelmed due to increased job stress and a sense of disconnection, which he associated with his phone and social media, leading him to seek a digital detox.

What was the speaker's reaction to his boss's statement about needing to put in more effort to get promoted?

The speaker felt that his boss's statement was the final straw that confirmed he needed to choose between his job and his YouTube channel, ultimately deciding to prioritize YouTube.

What was the speaker's primary goal for his YouTube channel after quitting his software engineering job?

The speaker's primary goal was to hit 100,000 subscribers by March 2025, which he believes would allow him to make a full-time income from YouTube.

How did the speaker's family react when he told them about his decision to quit his job and focus on YouTube?

The speaker's family, particularly his parents, were supportive and agreed to provide a financial safety net for a year, which gave him the confidence to pursue YouTube full-time.

What is the name of the podcast the speaker launched, and what is its focus?

The speaker launched a podcast called 'Liftoff with the man manazer', which focuses on highlighting strategies and tools from other successful people in the tech industry.

What was the speaker's realization about his skills and where they are best utilized?

The speaker realized that his skills were more aligned with packaging up advice, teaching, and creating content to help others in the tech field rather than pursuing the highest levels of technical roles himself.