The Enabler's Paradox: Reflections on Career Transitions

For the past nine months, I've been living what many would consider a privileged existence—working remotely for a Web3 project, handling business development and marketing tasks, with minimal oversight and considerable flexibility. By conventional standards, it's a comfortable arrangement: decent pay, low stress, and the freedom to pursue side interests.

Yet beneath this surface comfort lies a growing restlessness.

The "Stress-Free" Illusion

For nearly two years before this role, I experienced what I called a "stress-free" life—no deadlines, no pressure, no one to answer to. This freedom allowed space for deep thought and creative exploration. I valued this mental clarity, believing it essential for innovative problem-solving and seeing the bigger picture.

I once thought a high-paying job would be the ultimate achievement. Imagine the possibilities: endless consumption, exotic vacations, material comforts. But as Naval Ravikant aptly observed, "People are addicted to heroin and a paycheck." Many high-paying roles come with a hidden cost: stress. The stress of performing tasks you dislike, conforming to limitations, constantly fighting fires.

This type of stress, I've found, hinders creative thinking. It traps you in a reactive state, making it difficult to develop innovative solutions.

The Principal-Agent Dilemma

One month into my current role, I found myself struggling to maintain motivation. I recalled Naval's concept of the principal-agent problem—I was now the agent working for someone else's interest, not the principal pursuing my own vision.

Though I tried to think like a principal, the reality of being an agent remained. I disliked the menial aspects of business development, particularly cold emailing. Instead, I gravitated toward documentation for whitepapers and a new gaming project. But a month in, the pattern became clear: I wasn't engaging with the work daily, and when I did, I completed tasks quickly before disengaging again.

The Enabler, Not the Goal

Looking back over these nine months, I've realized something important: this job functions as an enabler, not a goal. It has provided:

• A sense of dignity with myself, my wife, family, and social circle
• Funding for my interests in AI coding and exploration
• Resources for travel with my wife
• Financial support for family purchases
• Consistent contributions to my savings and retirement accounts

But an enabler is not a destination. While I initially thought that a remote job would create space for building a side business, after nine months, this approach isn't yielding results. The job has become comfortable enough to prevent urgency but not fulfilling enough to satisfy ambition.

Leveling Up Without Purpose

I find myself thinking in gaming metaphors lately. It's as if I've been grinding experience points—leveling up my skills—without facing the main quest boss. I'm improving, certainly, but improvement without purpose feels hollow.

In the past nine months, I've:

• Advanced my coding skills significantly, especially with AI integration
• Attended training and networking events
• Built several side projects

Yet none of these achievements aligns with my larger entrepreneurial ambitions. I'm leveling up without a worthy dungeon to explore or a boss worth defeating. As in Solo Leveling, there comes a point where you must test your strength against worthwhile challenges.

The Loyalty Complication

If not for my friendship with my boss, I would have left this position already. More accurately, nobody else would have protected or kept me paid while I explored these various interests. I'm deeply grateful for this relationship, but gratitude has become a comfortable cage.

Breaking Free of the Middle Ground

I can't imagine being in this same position a month from now, neither here nor there. It could easily stretch into another 2-3 months of career limbo.

I promised myself I wouldn't leave until I secured a better opportunity or decided conclusively on my next move. Yet I'm facing increased pressure in my current role—pressure that immobilizes rather than motivates me. The perks—fully remote work, minimal responsibility, and a reasonable salary—make it a decent arrangement on paper.

But "decent" isn't enough anymore. I need to aim much higher. And true side income should come from a legitimate business, not another job.

The Decisive Moment

This realization has reignited my entrepreneurial spirit. I crave the challenge of building something from scratch—something truly my own. I can't spend the rest of my life working for someone else's dream.

My current approach has been to focus on business development, particularly securing VC investments. While stressful, this skill is essential for my future. If I can convince investors to fund someone else's vision, surely I can do the same for my own.

My Philosophy Moving Forward

When it comes to building my future venture, I'll prioritize a few key principles:

1. Integrity: Honesty and ethical behavior are non-negotiable.
2. Personal Accountability: I want people who own their work and take responsibility for results.
3. Problem-Solving Prowess: Employees who proactively identify and solve problems before they escalate are invaluable.
4. Premium Compensation: Pay top money to hire the best people. Low or middle compensation won't attract the talent that aligns with my vision.

The Path Ahead

I need to find a challenge worthy of my skills—a "boss" worth defeating with adequate rewards. This challenge should be larger than my previous ones yet not so overwhelming that failure is certain.

It's time to sacrifice the comfort that has enabled me thus far. High agency requires decisive action. The journey has been valuable, but the time for leveling up is over.

Now is the time to enter the dungeon and face the boss.