Most people get into software development for the money—and hey, I get it. The tech industry can be insanely lucrative. But if your end goal is to break free from the corporate grind and work for yourself, could a high income actually be holding you back?

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In this episode, I dive into my own career stories—when money was a good motivator, and when it turned me into a "perfect programmer slave." I’ve seen it all—from promotions I didn’t even care about to chasing startup dollars and, finally, finding freedom through coaching and serving others.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Chapter markers / timelinks:

(0:00) Introduction
(1:27) 1. How Loving Money Prevents Self-Employment
(1:39) 1.1 Story: Early Raises
(4:19) 1.2 Story: Starting Up to Cash Out
(7:11) 1.3 Story: Starting Up to Serve
(10:43) 2. 3 Ways to Find Freedom from High Income Dependence
(11:18) 2.1 Reduce Monthly Expenses
(13:10) 2.2 Focus Effort on Your Highest Value
(14:44) 2.3 Quit Your Corporate Gig
(15:10) Take the DevPathfinder Career Assessment
(16:54) Join our Discord Community

Visit me at thrivingtechnologist.com