Why I took the plunge

I spent 19 years in corporate business and technology, the past decade + was in Product Management in Healthcare Tech. I had a great career that paid well, but I made the switch for a combination of 3 reasons.

1. I saw and felt the writing on the wall about tech - layoffs, AI, market changes, all of those things are going to make working in tech without an engineering background harder in the coming years. As a 41 year old I know I will have a hard time continuing to justify my jobs. I experienced 1 RIF from a start-up and know there could be more. I came out of school right before the 2007-2009 recession, and saw so many 50 year olds competing for jobs with new grads, or unable to find work, and vowed many years ago I wouldn't be in the same situation

2. The corporate VP/C-suite isn't for me - I'm not saying I could have ever gotten there...maybe this is the equivalent of saying playing in the NBA isn't for me because it's never gonna happen. Idk, however I do know if it would happen, it's not my cup of tea. I love creating, solving problems, working through things. I love engaging with all sorts of people, and a life of meetings and video conferences and management wasn't for me if it ever were to happen.

Ultimately taking points 1 and 2 together, I never really LOVED what I did - and I know not much of us did - but I always felt a little bit like I was phoning it in and going through the motions because I was supposed to, because i made a good living.

3. I really am passionate about starting a business and being my own boss, and what i am doing - working with kids to improve themselves. I don't buy into the idea that I will love everything I'm doing because I like it more. I'm more of a believer that Passion gets you started and Persistence keeps you going. I know this will be hard, and maybe much harder than corporate tech jobs, but I do find a lot more fulfillment in what I am doing. I couldn't go to the end of my career and not have tried this at least once...maybe it won't workout and that is OK.

If you find this post - what made you or what makes you want to start your business at this point in your life.