So after a long time for working part time on my start-up we have assembled a team and it looks like we’re finally about to secure investment funding (it’s medtech so we can’t really do much engineering or manufacturing without funds for materials and salaries).
While we were doing this, I was continuing with a day job which I don’t love but it pays the bills. My problem is the job isn’t something from the front page of r/antiwork: my colleagues and my boss are very kind and supportive and because things aren’t certain on the funding yet I haven’t handed in my notice and I don’t intend to until I’m sure that I’ll be moving to working in the startup full time.
But I’m in something of a leadership/project management position in my current job and in team meetings my boss will often say how much she’s going to be relying on me next year. There were also some interpersonal issues a few months ago that made me feel uncomfortable and, without me asking, my boss really went to bat for me and did her best to make sure I had a comfortable working environment. The reason she did this was because she “really values my work and doesn’t want to lose me”.
So the whole time she’s going to bat for me and saying how much she appreciates me, I’m quietly thinking to myself that in a month or two, if things go well, I’ll be leaving. And with the deadline on our current project looming, there definitely won’t be enough time to get someone else trained to get things over the line.
I’m really passionate about the start up and I can’t not take a chance on it but I feel so guilty leaving my team short staffed. Has anyone else dealt with this? What is the best thing to do to not feel so guilty?
I have been a pretty similar situation 2 years ago. Working 4 days a week for my employer, the boss was great and would accept anything we asked for and really trusted us in our work, giving us full autonomy. On the side I was building my company (bootstrapped, no funding).
At some point I needed more time for my company, and decided to quit. My boss offered me to continue working for them as a contractor, 2 days a week.
The first year was great and I effectively worked 2 days a week for them, the rest on my company. This year (the second year), they had a bit less work so it most of the time was just one day a week. Still not sure if I will accept to continue next year as the job is changing a bit.
But one thing is sure, I did not regret doing it this way. Also it was a security that if my company failed, I still have this contract as a backup. And also as our collaboration continued in very good terms, I know that even if I totally quit today, they would take me back full time later if I needed work.