If I had a safety net for one year, I would program some open-source games and/or applications (business model: “if you like this game/app, please send me €5”), write a blog about programming games (business model: adsense), and then publish the blog contents as a book (business model: obvious). At the end of the year, if I had a stable income of €500 monthly, I would continue this strategy.
Outside view:
I would spend all day reading and commenting web sites, complaining each evening how short was this day. After half year I would become very anxious and try to find the best way to spend the rest of the year; while reading and commenting web sites all day. After 3⁄4 year I would become very depressed, and after 11 months I would swear that if only I had the same chance again, I wouldn’t waste it.
If someone wants to drop out of the usual frameworks to paint, to write the great American novel, or to develop FAI, I’d say -- first, produce something in your offhours to prove (to yourself) you’re serious.
If you manage to do something worthwhile that way, go ahead and quit.
These days I make more money than I spend, so if nothing exceptional happens, I may be able to create such safety net for myself in a few months. But before really using it, I want to be sure that I will use it well, not waste it. And by “being sure” I mean doing something that would convince a rational observer. Any by convincing a rational observer I mean… what you said.
If I can do something cool during weekends, and if I can do it not just randomly, but according to a plan, only then there is a chance that I will be able to follow the plan after the safety net opens.
My future self is the same lazy guy as my present self. If my present self can’t follow the plan, I don’t trust my future self. May the BeeMinder help me...
Inside view:
If I had a safety net for one year, I would program some open-source games and/or applications (business model: “if you like this game/app, please send me €5”), write a blog about programming games (business model: adsense), and then publish the blog contents as a book (business model: obvious). At the end of the year, if I had a stable income of €500 monthly, I would continue this strategy.
Outside view:
I would spend all day reading and commenting web sites, complaining each evening how short was this day. After half year I would become very anxious and try to find the best way to spend the rest of the year; while reading and commenting web sites all day. After 3⁄4 year I would become very depressed, and after 11 months I would swear that if only I had the same chance again, I wouldn’t waste it.
If someone wants to drop out of the usual frameworks to paint, to write the great American novel, or to develop FAI, I’d say -- first, produce something in your offhours to prove (to yourself) you’re serious.
If you manage to do something worthwhile that way, go ahead and quit.
Yes.
These days I make more money than I spend, so if nothing exceptional happens, I may be able to create such safety net for myself in a few months. But before really using it, I want to be sure that I will use it well, not waste it. And by “being sure” I mean doing something that would convince a rational observer. Any by convincing a rational observer I mean… what you said.
If I can do something cool during weekends, and if I can do it not just randomly, but according to a plan, only then there is a chance that I will be able to follow the plan after the safety net opens.
My future self is the same lazy guy as my present self. If my present self can’t follow the plan, I don’t trust my future self. May the BeeMinder help me...
Both the inside view and outside view descriptions are approximately what I was thinking.
Sounds like avoiding the ‘outside view’ prediction would be worth spending some initial time on.