I quit my job for my startup, so now what?

It’s been two weeks since I put my notice in.

I gave 5 weeks' notice to work through May. In part because my role as a product manager is fairly integral to the team and two weeks' notice at my previous job felt far too short.  Though I would be lying if I left out the fact that this is also because I do not have a job lined up and appreciated the thought of getting two full paychecks in May.

I’ve been asked “Are you going to a new job?”, and have graciously been offered help in finding one (lesson learned, even if you do not like your job you should still make friends, I may need a job down the line).

Instead of looking for a job, I’m on a mission to try to create one. I’ve been working on an SEO software and services business (Centori) on and off, nights and weekends for a few years now, but it is finally time to take the leap and pursue it full-time.

How I got here is worth a separate post with practical takeaways (though it can all be boiled down to trial, error, hard-headedness, and luck).

So now what?

I’ve read about this moment on LinkedIn, in books, and on forums like Indiehackers and I’ll be honest, I envied the heck out of every single person who wrote a post like this. I mean, how can I not? I long dreamt of the day that I would quit my job. I rehearsed what I would say to my boss in the car when running errands or on mornings when I woke up way too early and couldn't fall back asleep. All the while, I sincerely doubted it would come.

Looking back, there is a fine line between determination and obsession and I am not particularly happy with how I navigated it. Mainly because now that I’m here, rather than elation (which did last for a day or two), all I have are questions and the surprisingly empty feeling that comes with getting what you wanted.

Make no mistake about it, I am excited.

There are many reasons I decided to leave my job and make a run at starting my own business. I believe in what I’m doing and I love the fact that I get to help my customers grow (rare in SEO, I know. It’s not all just snake oil!). But this is so much more than a solid product and personal conviction. There’s a not-so-secret fact they forget to tell you in the accelerators, motivational podcasts, and blog posts: building a business is far different than building a product.

Building a product is fun and filled with hope and optimism. Building a product happens nights and weekends and while it can make money, it’s always just enough to spark hope while being little enough to remain a dream. Dreams are good. Dreams are fun and offer limitless potential without any real commitment.

Turning that dream into reality though? It’s never the same as when it was just a dream.

I think the gravity of that is what hit me and settled in after the adrenaline wore off. Building a business means building a team, being a leader, hiring, and yes, firing. Building a business full-time means paying bills and taxes, and hoping for a profit each month. It means being responsible for those who get involved, and much more time invested than when it was just a side hustle.

If there is one thing I wish I knew when I started all of this it is this: quitting my job isn’t the destination, that’s just step 1. There are a lot of steps after, and some of them will be much harder than quitting my job. Some of them might even be a bit scary.

After a quick dip from excitement down to existential dread, I can (at this moment) say that I am excited about what is to come. I like to think I have built a pretty solid small business and while I’m still searching for a defined product-market fit (aren’t we all), I’ve seen enough traction to give me courage.

Whether that is bravery or foolishness will be determined in the coming months.

I'm no #buildinpublic influencer guru and I loathe the thought of putting entrepreneur in any of my social bios, but I hope to have more time to write and that the lessons I learn along the way can be of use.