Tech career advice from a “dinosaur” who sold his $10M company
I’m about to share the best tech career advice ever written (in my opinion). It’s by a tech “dinosaur” who sold his IT and consulting company for $10M.
Why is he a self-proclaimed dinosaur? It’s because he uses old-school technologies when working on software projects for some of the largest brands in the world.
Give this intro a read, and tell me it doesn’t punch you in the gut:
“The fact that I’ve spent the past 31 years working on my own terms and have managed to make a good living shocks me. It’s even more surprising that I’m still going strong as a relative “dinosaur” in the tech field.
“In hindsight, it would have been so much easier to take the traditional route: get good grades in high school, graduate from college, and settle into a cube for the next 40 years.
“But that route seemed like death to me, so I did it the hard way.” — Travis Hubbard
Good, right?!
Travis spills lots of tech career advice in this Substack post. And although I don’t agree with everything Travis writes, Confessions of a Serial Job Hopper contains nuggets of gold.
Here are those nuggets.
“I wanted to get rich, and I didn’t want to wait.”
“The average age for a CEO is 59. Who wants to wait until you’re almost old enough to collect Social Security to run the show? Why wait? I’m supposed to put in my time, pay my dues, and wait for someone to decide I’m good enough.
“F*ck that sh*t.” — Travis Hubbard
Thanks to the internet, you can work from anywhere, choose your schedule, and freelance with clients around the world.
So don’t wait until you’re 59 to run the show.
Follow Travis’s lead.
If you’re a developer, we can help you get clients. Here at Gun.io, our senior developers vet jobs and match you with clients who will make you happy.
Talk to us today and learn how we can help you land your next gig.
Pick up skills — not years
“I would take a job, spend 6 to 12 months working there, picking up skills and making connections, then start looking again. I did this for about 5 years and racked up more experience across different domains than I ever would have if I had stayed with one job for those 5 years.” — Travis Hubbard
Well-meaning advice for new grad tech careers is wrong.
You don’t need to stay in a job for years, just so there are no “gaps” on your resume. What you need are skills and connections.
So if you feel like you’re not growing in a role and want to develop new skills, consider freelancing.
It could be for you.
“The dirty little secret…”
“The dirty little secret that everyone should know by now is that employers need us a lot more than we need them.” — Travis Hubbard
The feeling after leaving a 9–5 job is meh.
You blast out an email, say goodbye, and ask colleagues to keep in touch. You might get a cute “miss you” card if you’re lucky.
This is all lovely – don’t get me wrong – and I’ve worked with wonderful people over the years.
Just don’t forget you’re dispensable.
A company can hire someone next week. Heck, they might even ask you to interview your replacement. (This has happened to me—twice.)
So if you can be your own boss whilst having the support of a company like Gun.io instead?
It’s a win-win.
“When you land somewhere that feels right, hang around.”
“And on those rare occasions where it’s all coming together, there’s nothing wrong with taking a breather and hanging out for a while. My big things are autonomy […] and the ability to take time off between projects.
“Think about what is important to you and keep an eye out for when your conditions are met.” — Travis Hubbard
This is how I feel about working with Gun.io. I love the people I work with, and my work is having a positive impact.
So if you land your dream client, that’s awesome!
Go smell the roses.
Takeaways
People like Travis show there are different ways to see the world, and his tech career advice gives you permission to experiment.
If you want, you can:
- Work from anywhere, choose your schedule, and freelance with clients around the world
- Pick up skills—not years
- Take control of your life with our help
- If somewhere feels right, smell the roses
So what are you waiting for?
Talk to us today and see if we can help you make your dreams come true!
“There will be bumps on the road, but they’re there to make sure you’re paying attention. So stay focused on yourself, learn high-value in-demand skills, and get out there and do your thing.” — Travis Hubbard
