I worked 13-hour days building my startup while working at Apple. Here's why I ignored advice to go all in sooner.
Entrepreneur Julie Zhu shares her experience of building a startup while maintaining a full-time job at Apple for eight months. She emphasizes the importance of financial security and strategic planning over the common advice to quit one's job immediately to pursue a venture.
Why it matters
The story challenges the 'all-in' startup culture narrative, offering a more cautious and financially stable approach to entrepreneurship.
Julie Zhu built her startup before and after work while she was still employed at Apple. Julie Zhu Julie Zhu spent eight months building her startup while working full time at Apple. She structured her days around both jobs, often working about 13 hours. She waited to quit until she felt financially secure and confident in her business. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Julie Zhu, a 29-year-old entrepreneur in New York City who left Apple last year to focus on her startup, Odd One In. The following has been edited for length and clarity. A few years ago, I started considering leaving my job at Apple and making the leap into entrepreneurship. A lot of people around me thought the decision was obvious: I should just quit. There were a few factors nudging me out the door.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in