Broke is better than massively in debt - so don't take on debt.
Burnt out is more difficult, but at least somewhat in your hands (and pretty easy to come by in the course of a 'professional' career).
Unemployable? Now that one's wholly in your hands.
Being an entrepreneur seems like a fair, if still-unorthodox way of gaining a lot of life experience, fast. Surely this a lot healthier than many alternatives (including 'just keep your shoes clean and get a white-collar job', right en-route for potential mid-life crisis and regret?)
Surely, with the experience gained (learning to execute, if naught else), the whole endeavour is a success of sorts irrespective of what happens to the startup?
Is it possible to create a startup and working normal hours while still having tight deadlines? Sure. Accountants do it for startups all the time. Why can't founders or developers? Likely because they're spending too much time working long and late, getting done in 4 hours at 2am what they could have accomplished in half an hour at 2pm. It is possible, but I have yet to see it happen.
I should also mention, having failed several times, that I was more employable afterwards because of the skills I had developed. For every Instagram, there are a 1000 founders that didn't make it but are now highly coveted by every major tech company.
Growing up in an Asian family, I was always pressured to take the safe, traditional college route. And then grow up to be a doctor or lawyer. It's not their fault, of course, who wants a risky life for their kid?
As part of the Thiel Fellowship, I'll be moving away from Vancouver to the Bay Area. Leaving the nest. This article will be my Mother's Day Gift, to let my parents know - it's okay to let go now.
Give your mom some flowers and, heck, draw something for her. Or use your talent to express your appreciation for her. But don't give her a goodbye letter on Mother's day.
Ping me directly--I'd be happy to help you get settled here.
Luckily it's turned out pretty well so far. I'll be sure to thank my parents for putting up with me for so long.
