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It was January 2014, and I was working at a digital marketing agency. My wife was pregnant with our first child who was expected to arrive in June. I had just started exploring the Atlanta startup community, and began dreaming about starting something of my own.
To test some ideas I had, I began particpating to hackathons both locally and across the country. Much to my surprise, I was consistently placed in the top-3. This told me that I was either a really good salesman or my ideas were worth pursuing. Shortly after attending a hackathon in Santa Monica and winning the May 2014 startup weekend in Atlanta, I decided to apply for Edmunds.com inaugural accelerator program, FastLane. Our team and idea was accepted into the accelerator program. I came to a crossroad. I really enjoyed my current job, and loved working with the team, I knew I couldn't hold on to my full-time job and complete the accelerator program. With my new baby on the way, I was also scared about how I was going to provide for my family. On the other side, I had momentum in my favor so I decided to follow the words of Richard Branson's book Screw It, Let's Do It. Thus, in the same month my son was born, I quit my full-time gig to chase after my entrepreneurial dreams. People often ask me if I had to do it over again would I make the same decision. I always say without a doubt! I believe the career experience and life lessons I've learned since I made the plunge are exponentially higher than anything I would have gained by continuing in my previous role. I am now a co-founder of several products, a self-taught full-stack developer, and most importantly a dad. PS: I couldn't have done this without the support of family and friends. I am especially thankful for my wife's support. Trisha you're a rock star!
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