Ah yes, very good point. Only been overseas a couple times. Though some of the designs I've worked on have probably ended up in the very car you're driving. I've been in the industry for about 6 years total now (on and off, so really maybe 3.5 years solid).
I don't think you can ever bail on all the knowledge you've acquired, but it can easily be applied to other areas outside of engineering.
It sounds like you definitely know your stuff and continue to enjoy the passion for engineering that I lost a while back. I'd much rather depend on products designed by someone with your enthusiasm than those designed by the majority of people I know who are just going through the motions. Good luck in your career!
Sorry, to clarify, the "think" part of the headline was actually due to the contingency that this friend send me the contract in time for me to read it, approve, and quit before the end of the day. It had nothing to do with uncertainty.
Just to clarify, I have already done a personal risk analysis. I have discussed this decision with my family, my friends, my business partners, and my mentor over the past week and a half. I have a few month's savings already, and I am well-qualified for many positions that are open in the area should I need to take one.
As I stated in the first line of the post, I've already made up my mind, and I was just soliciting additional feedback from a group of peers, whom I trust. I'm sure everyone else here would agree that getting feedback from as many sources as possible, is on the contrary, a very good "strategem" for any decision (btw, the word you're looking for is "strategy," a "stratagem" is a type of strategy used to deceive someone).
And finally, I see that you are new to this group. From experience I can tell you that this group is far from being anonymous. We are a very tight-nit, common-interest-bound group of thoughtful and contributing individuals.
These are actually my 3rd and 4th companies. I know that roller coaster well, and I love every minute of it. Unlike the droll monotony of mid- to large-company employment.
I agree that there is certainly much more to learn. However, I feel that running my own few companies over the past 6 years (on the side) has taught me much more (and much more quickly) than employment has to teach. My recent elevator pitch contest wins and entrepreneur of the year award are also good motivation for me to go ahead and take the plunge. I think it's time for me to have as much confidence in myself as others seem to have.
You are absolutely right. I think my main hang-up is the guilt I feel for quitting my job when so many of my friends cannot even get a job in the first place. I think maybe it's just simply unfounded.
And yes, everyone here is very good at pushing for risk and action over all else (myself included), and that is exactly why I posted here. Though, even if I had gotten the opposite reaction, I probably would have said you guys don't know what you're talking about, and then taken the plunge anyway ;-)
I have been reprimanded for such atrocities as my lunch hour not matching exactly with the bell, and for talking casually to a co-worker. They have been running their company this way for a long time and have had many many people quit for that exact reason. They have not changed anything yet, I have no reason to believe they would if I talk to them, nor do I have much desire to stay if they do.
I don't think you can ever bail on all the knowledge you've acquired, but it can easily be applied to other areas outside of engineering.
It sounds like you definitely know your stuff and continue to enjoy the passion for engineering that I lost a while back. I'd much rather depend on products designed by someone with your enthusiasm than those designed by the majority of people I know who are just going through the motions. Good luck in your career!