[itswindy]

The more dramatic the move the worse it ends, he can very easily stay up an extra hour a night, cut some TV and learn. Looks to me like a basketball player opening a record label...just because some have become rich and famous with it.

[scotch_drinker]

I disagree. One hour a night or a Saturday here and there do not add up to the required amount of effort for doing something completely different with ones life. Plus, it's very easy to be too tired or have other interests or whatever. When you burn the bridges, you're going to find out much more quickly whether you have both what it takes and the interest to make it work.

I recently quit my well paying job for exactly this reason. For years, I've told myself I'd learn X or do Y or whatever. Instead, I keep waking up Monday morning and trudging into the same soul sucking job I have. On June 1st, I wake up and get to find out a few very interesting things about myself. You might argue that I've already found them out because I can't find the time to do it now but I've saved enough money to be financially able to. When money is of no or little object, I think the truth will be a lot clearer.

[itswindy]

I used the one hour as an example. They are 24 hours in a day and anyone that says "I have no time," is probably lying or not interested enough. Dell was founded in a college dorm and so was Google. Even Obama finds a few hours to go and play golf, basketball or take his daughters for ice cream. This guy wants to quit his job to become a programmer. What programmer? He doesn't know. Money doesn't buy you programing skills, you can learn a lot more with an old 386 computer at home if you truly want, than at MIT if you aren't as motivated.

[scotch_drinker]

But there aren't 24 hours in a day, that's the fallacy that people get caught in all the time to keep doing something they don't want because they are afraid. People sleep for 7-8 hours, they work for 9-10 more including lunch and at a minimum, there are now only 6 to 8 hours in a day, M-F if there is no commuting. Even if you have no other commitments and prefer to spend all your free time pursuing the idea of becoming a programmer, you're severely limited from a time perspective.

Your advice might be useful for someone with a wife and 3 kids plus a mortgage and a car payment. This guy is operating from the assumption that money is no object for at least 24 months. You can learn a lot more with an old 386 computer and 10 hours a day than you can with the same computer and 2 hours day. If you have planned and saved well and have no dependents like this guy does, I don't see anything wrong with what he's doing at all.

[cageface]

I agree that a few hours a week is not enough. Plus, having your back to the wall financially is a huge motivator.