[michaelchisari]

> I dream about retirement in my 30ies.

If this is what you want, then pare your life down to the bare minimum (get roommates, don't buy gadgets, don't eat out, drive a sensible sub-$15k car, or no car at all if possible), and invest and save every penny you make as a highly paid software engineer. That's a much more surefire way to early retirement.

[maaku]

And switch jobs or get external offers often, and use it to ratchet up your salary to the higher end of market rate. Work for big corporations (they pay better), or be employee #1 or #2 of startup (stock >= 5% or it ain't worth it). Only do projects that have a high probability of success and which will make your resume more valuable. Live frugally and put it all into savings and passive investments.

Not what I do, but it's the best course of action for most people who want to retire in their 30's.

EDIT: As for what I do, I'm co-founder at a well funded startup, although without a CxO title, after bootstrapping a different business nights and weekends for around 2-3 years and fulltime for 1 year. My motivations are similar to graeme -- a burning desire to not work for someone else, and a driving need to accomplish certain things in the course of my life which no one else is doing. Also a certain uncomfortableness with perceived stupidity in how things are organized, which miraculously went away when I was the one doing the organizing. For people like me, taking responsibility relieves stress.

[throwaway8137]

I shouldn't have mentioned this. I was trying to be as honest as possible with myself, and that is one of the images that comes up. But what I really meant was financial independence (working only when I want to).

I have a family, so I can't save every penny, I am already payed at the higher end of market rate and I could never ever work in corporate job.

[maaku]

Hrm that's trickier, although the specifics depends on your family situation (does your significant other work?). I have a family myself, wife and two kids. I can say from experience that what would have helped was having a large rainy day fund - e.g. 1/2 your annual salary. I had a much smaller amount set aside, which was only barely enough to make it to a comfortable job as a higher up in a startup (see my edit above). And to be honest the stress and uncertainty almost destroyed my marriage, even though she was very, very supportive of my choice.

Having a much larger savings would have helped. Having a plan B is also good. With a family you need a safety net.

I'll be honest that your options are more limited, but I'm proof that it is possible.

But is it what you really want? Whether you go this route depends on what is driving you, and how strongly.

Are you local? Feel free to reach out to me if you want more advice from a parent entrepreneur. My email is in my profile.

[sumedh]

> I have a family

Its going to be 10x harder for you, if you have a family.

Why dont you start working on weekends/spare time on your idea, if you get some traction then you can think about quitting your job.

[jarnold]

I wholeheartedly disagree. A much more important factor is how ready you are and what kind of support structure you have to start out with. If that is later in a career (and when you have a family) so be it. It's the right time.

Founded current company with two young kids and just had a third. Pulling together the right team way more of a factor than having a family.

[maaku]

> Why dont you start working on weekends/spare time on your idea

I suspect you don't have a family ;)

If you have a family it is better to start moving on your idea within normal business hours, where legally possible (some creativity may be required).