I Was Like Him, 3 Years Ago

Hey friends,

Yesterday I spoke to Mario (fake name). It was a networking call.

Mario reached out weeks ago for career advice. I've spoken to many like him over the years.

People are stuck in full-time jobs.

Usually middle-aged with partners, kids, and years invested working for somebody else.

Deep down, they feel their skillset isn't being used at 100%.

Constant layoff fear makes life harder. Companies are under more pressure. That pressure lands on the sales floor: higher goals, less resources, more competition.

Mario is just another one of them.

He reached out after reading one of ​my post​ about why I left full-time to live a life of solopreneurship.

We jumped on a call. The first thing he said was: "I'm stuck. I apply for new jobs seeking happiness. But I don't want to do it anymore."

This is the most common thing I hear from people like Mario.

We're used to changing jobs to escape the bad boss or the low salary, hoping the next one will be better and higher paid.

But the reality we find is something else.

More pressure. More micromanaging.

Hiring managers pitch the role. Old tech stacks. Fear of AI, poor leadership, experimentation.

Everything Mario wanted to leave kept coming back.

Here are my 3 recommendations for Mario, and for anyone in his situation.

1. Full-time vs Your thing

If you're coming to me with these doubts, another full-time job probably isn't the answer.

If you stay awake at night thinking about it, your gut is telling you something.

It's telling you to make the leap. To go solo and build your own thing.

But here's what you need:

• 6 months parachute: Give yourself at least 6 months of runway, likely with no income, and more expenses.
• Money flow to pay the bills: In any country you are in, you need a state aid / payment to keep cash flowing. You can't drop from 3, 5, or 10K monthly to zero - just like that. You need to pay at least bills to have some sort of security.
• Your partner must be on board: Full alignment is vital - this can't be your solo fight. You need support living with you.

2. The Zone of Genius

The first thing I asked Mario was: "What's your zone of genius?". You can't build something without building something you are truly good at as well as passionate about.

Your ​zone of genius​ is where passion and skills align.

Ask yourself these simple questions:

• What am I great at?
• What am I bad at?
• When do people see me in flow?
• When do people see me forcing it?

Example:

My zone of genius is building and scaling first sales teams. I love working with founders to set up the first CRM, playbook, scripts, goals, compensation, and first hires. In the first 3 to 6 months, I'm in flow. Once everything is built, I start feeling forced, bored. So I leave. I've done this hundreds of times. The first 3 to 6 months are when I'm at my best.

You need to find your zone of genius before building whatever you have in mind.

Start Building (on the side)

If you have found what you want to build you are now in the phase of Idea Market Fit.

I was lucky. My CEO let me run side projects. I helped founders build sales teams then.

Test the market first. Sharpen your offering safely before you bet the house.

Ask your manager if side projects are allowed. You need their approval first.

3. Pull or Push?

If there's real demand, you'll know.

Start selling whatever you have in mind. If there's little resistance, you've got something.

If there's no pull, keep your job. If you believe in it, keep trying.

I'm lucky to be on the other side of the shore with my work today. I'm 100% grateful. I built my dream job from my home.

Three years ago, I was in Mario's shoes. I know how much it sucks.

And as I told him: if I did it, anyone can.

Mario, best of luck with your quest to finally build your own thing. See you on the other side.

Thanks for reading this far. See you all next week!