Brian L. ⚡🪄

Loves humans and computers!

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Bold move

[Pat Walls @thepatwalls]

5 years ago today, I quit my $125K/year software engineering job.

I had less than $10,000 in savings.

I canceled the lease on my $2,200/month NYC apartment.

And I moved into a $150/month apartment in Thailand (pictured).

I decided to sacrifice everything and finally do the one thing I’d been dreaming of for years:

Build my own business.

I stuffed one backpack and purchased a one way flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

When I got there, I walked around the streets looking for “For Rent” signs.

I found a "studio" for $150/month. The bed was as hard as a rock.

Then, I work up the next morning and just started executing. I worked my ass off every single day including weekends.

At the time, https://t.co/zSf5Z2Gzjh was doing about $3,000 per month.

But I didn’t have some grand plan on how I was going to grow it, or how I was going to match my old salary.

My back was against the wall.

And that made me feel alive.

Because I was finally following my dream, finally doing the thing I'd put off for years!

I realize that not everyone can make this kind of sacrifice. I was 28 years old. I didn’t have a family.

But I do believe that if you want to build a business, you must sacrifice something.

I’m not sure you can be successful if you don’t.

[Pat Walls @thepatwalls]

5 years ago today, I quit my $125K/year software engineering job.

I had less than $10,000 in savings.

I canceled the lease on my $2,200/month NYC apartment.

And I moved into a $150/month apartment in Thailand (pictured).

I decided to sacrifice everything and finally do the one thing I’d been dreaming of for years:

Build my own business.

I stuffed one backpack and purchased a one way flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

When I got there, I walked around the streets looking for “For Rent” signs.

I found a "studio" for $150/month. The bed was as hard as a rock.

Then, I work up the next morning and just started executing. I worked my ass off every single day including weekends.

At the time, https://t.co/zSf5Z2Gzjh was doing about $3,000 per month.

But I didn’t have some grand plan on how I was going to grow it, or how I was going to match my old salary.

My back was against the wall.

And that made me feel alive.

Because I was finally following my dream, finally doing the thing I'd put off for years!

I realize that not everyone can make this kind of sacrifice. I was 28 years old. I didn’t have a family.

But I do believe that if you want to build a business, you must sacrifice something.

I’m not sure you can be successful if you don’t.

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

@kdy1dev Try it!

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

@t0ri333 What tool do you use for search?

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

If you're interested to learn more about this, check out this website: https://t.co/aMBVNpDwei

They have technical writing on the what, why, how

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

I had a chat with Kyle on the topic of "local first" software. I think it makes a lot of sense, and the technology nowadays seems to be able to support it. The whole idea is that the data you create on the
software should only live on your device, and cloud syncing is optional

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

The really challenging piece is creating a highly collaborative environment like Google Docs and Trello where multiple users could be updating and interacting with the software simultaneously.
The good part is that you own the security, privacy, control and storage.

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Met a js legend at the @FITC !!

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Sunday morning, learning CSS nesting by @LeaVerou at @FITC

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Great conference @FITC, lots of insights!! Super pumped for the next day 💪

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Thanks for the stickers @wesbos

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

I am going to "Web Unleashed" in Toronto!
Anyone else in my network going?
https://t.co/H1e8q7oL0q @Eventbrite

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

@dhh How is this done? Can someone point me to some resources video/blog/conference?

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

@addyosmani Ask a Manager
Simply Said

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

This is kinda unfortunate, MUI is such a great component library with a11y focus.

"Material UI was designed from the ground-up with the constraint of rendering on the server"

https://t.co/zOmgoE2qQM

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Big tech and startups solve different problems?

I see big techs are creating abstractions and improvements on nodes of their tools/problems?

Startups are just using whatever there is out there?

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

I feel stupid lol

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Vite conf NOW!

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

I'm attending React Summit US 2023 - get your free remote ticket and join me there with 1500 other engineers and 60+ great speakers
https://t.co/xtP1bhpOyz
#ReactSummitUS

[Brian L. ⚡🪄 @brian_wtLau]

Just got my ticket for @Nextjs Conf — claim yours!

https://t.co/EgSBYPix3E