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Hey guys!
The situation:
So for the last month or so I've been thinking about changing job (I'll find another one before I do), I'm currently a temp worker contracted to recruit for amazon and its a pretty decent wage. The reason I wanna leave the job is its 47.5 hours a week which leaves me without much time for SC2 (when you add in daily stuff like travel, eating, showering etc etc) and I have alot invested in it already wouldllike to invest more.
The problem:
Theres a few reasons I wanna invest more time into SC2. I'm a pretty decent player and would like to get better (not really pro level but GM is a target), I would really like to start coaching. So far no one has paid for lessons but I haven't really told alot of people, I still help friends and that tho  Then theres stuff like streaming, because I work alot I can never have a proper session of SC2 during the week, which means I only stream for like 3/4 hours and don't build up viewers. I don't get home before EU playhem starts and NA is too late  I'm also admin of CSL.eu which is going really well, its still pretty new and its getting bigger and better all the time, we just recently added a LoL league! And I'm on a team which is starting too become more known. Then I'm involved with Swansea Barcraft and that will become alot bigger next year! And then were just left with all the UK starcraft related stuff.
The solution:
I'm not planning on just quiting and being unemployed, I've looked around for various jobs (I'm looking at around 25-30 hours a week) but other then barwork theres not much about, though I haven't looked superhard. I know this might sound nuts but I'm considering working at McDonalds. Alot are 24/7 now ard offer fully flexible shifts (which is so appealing) and as a nerd I'd do night shifts which pay more. I could even move up the ranks fairly quickly for better pay and I'm not really concerned about what people think of me working there. I still live with my family and don't drive so a smaller paycheque wouldn't really be missed.
Conclusions:
Working fulltime and then putting time into SC2 can be very exhausting so I think its best I cut down my hours and put that time into SC2. The scene is growing at an amazing rate and with more and more ways for people to support themselves in eSports I think now is a great time to progress in the SC2 world.
Things to discuss:
Your SC2 and work situation, are you considering doing the same? Have you done it already? Do you think I'm fucking mental for considering this? People stories would be really useful and I'm sure quite insightful. If we could get people who are classed as 'successful' in the eSports world posting that would be really really awesome.
So yeah please post thoughts, stories or anything related between to work and SC2!
Thanks for reading and take care!
EDIT: I'm thankful to you guys for showing concerns but bear in mind this is a summerized blog, theres alot of stuff left out about my life and situation. I'm 24 and only a temp at my job and my contract ends in the new year if its not extended (which is unknown atm) so the dicussion is mainly about if I should aim for a part/fulltime job. I'm well expierenced so if I got a job in Mcdy's I could rank up fast and hell managers are on a good wage. I think its important to mention that I really do love starcraft, the game, playing it, meeting new friends through it and at lans etc etc. I used to game heavily years ago and then went casual with an xbox and SC2 brought me back, I dont no why but I just think its brilliant (BW was awesome but I played FPS back then so missed it )
  
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Just do whatever you think is going to be best for yourself and what you will be looking forward to doing everyday and if that means you have to work the nigh shift at McDonalds so that you can further your Esports career then I think you should go for it.
Me, I have always thought that having a job in Esports would be amazing but I would only pursue it as a secondary option as there are other careers I would rather have instead.
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Calgary25998 Posts
Are you insane? You want to go from full-time to part-time work so you can put more time into your hobby? This is a terrible, terrible, terrible idea.
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I "work" 45-55 hours a week and I wouldn't quit just to go part time and play sc2 more. I like video games, but money gets me further in life.
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Thats the point tho guys, I don't want SC2 to be a hobby forever, I'd like to make money off it. I'm still going to be working so that'll support me enough where I can invest time in to SC2. And like I said, I don't wanna turn pro at SC2 I wanna do SC2 scene related stuff like tournaments, coaching etc etc.
Thank you for your comments guys.
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Calgary25998 Posts
Like there are 168 hours in the week. Let's assume 112 of those are usuable hours.
You want to go from 64.5 to 80 free-time hours? I think if you can't fit something in 64.5 hours, bumping it up to 82 hours isn't going to do much for you.
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Calgary25998 Posts
On December 02 2011 05:10 Pughy wrote:
Thats the point tho guys, I don't want SC2 to be a hobby forever, I'd like to make money off it. I'm still going to be working so that'll support me enough where I can invest time in to SC2. And like I said, I don't wanna turn pro at SC2 I wanna do SC2 scene related stuff like tournaments, coaching etc etc.
Thank you for your comments guys.
Can you explain to me your business plan?
How is "doing tournaments" going to make you money. Explain it to me like I'm 10 years old please and don't skip any steps. Explain why, who, and how someone is going to pay you to run a tournament.
How are you going to make money coaching? Name one person who isn't known in the scene that makes money from coaching. If you can't make money coaching in 64.5 hours per week, how is increasing that to 82 hours per week going to make it more viable?
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This will be mildly off-topic...but people are upset about working 40-55 hours per week?
I hate to whip out my epeen but I work around 6am-6pm M-F and sometimes work 5 or 6 hours on Sat+Sun as well at my full time job. :p
Stick with your job, dude. Use what free time you have on your hobby, are you sure it's a good idea to risk a stable income for something as volatile as a game? I mean there are people that have done it but...yeah, idk. I wouldn't recommend this at all.
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On December 02 2011 05:10 Chill wrote:
Like there are 168 hours in the week. Let's assume 112 of those are usuable hours.
You want to go from 64.5 to 80 free-time hours? I think if you can't fit something in 64.5 hours, bumping it up to 82 hours isn't going to do much for you.
While your point is very intresting I dont think its fair to really say that. First off you make to many assumptions about my lifestyle and secondly from 60-80 hours is 25% which is a fairly big percentage 2bh.
I'll defo's consider taking what you say into considering though so ty bro.
Out of curiousity could you talk of your expierences with making money in eSports? I know your a TL admin and casted the TSL but I don't know alot about or how you got to where you are so could you share please?
On December 02 2011 05:12 Chill wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:10 Pughy wrote:
Thats the point tho guys, I don't want SC2 to be a hobby forever, I'd like to make money off it. I'm still going to be working so that'll support me enough where I can invest time in to SC2. And like I said, I don't wanna turn pro at SC2 I wanna do SC2 scene related stuff like tournaments, coaching etc etc.
Thank you for your comments guys. Can you explain to me your business plan? How is "doing tournaments" going to make you money. Explain it to me like I'm 10 years old please and don't skip any steps. Explain why, who, and how someone is going to pay you to run a tournament. How are you going to make money coaching? Name one person who isn't known in the scene that makes money from coaching. If you can't make money coaching in 64.5 hours per week, how is increasing that to 82 hours per week going to make it more viable?
Ok dude you don't have to jump on my back about this. This is all in consideration as stated. I haven't planned that far ahead, like I said I'm not becoming unemployed, I can afford to live off 30 hours a week pretty happily.
The way I see it, if I wanna make a career out of this I need to start putting hours in now in advance for the future and hell I'm a good worker with alot of experience so finding work isnt super hard and if it doesnt work out, guess what? I can just go full time and problem solved. There isn't a big risk in doing it now where as there could in a few months or whatever.
And I could answer your questions but you wouldn't know the people I'm on about anyway so why bother?
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At the end of the day, SCII is still your hobby (not your career). I don't think it's a good idea to cut down on work to get in more SCII time...
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On December 02 2011 05:22 Pughy wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:10 Chill wrote:
Like there are 168 hours in the week. Let's assume 112 of those are usuable hours.
You want to go from 64.5 to 80 free-time hours? I think if you can't fit something in 64.5 hours, bumping it up to 82 hours isn't going to do much for you. While your point is very intresting I dont think its fair to really say that. First off you make to many assumptions about my lifestyle and secondly from 60-80 hours is 25% which is a fairly big percentage 2bh. I'll defo's consider taking what you say into considering though so ty bro. Out of curiousity could you talk of your expierences with making money in eSports? I know your a TL admin and casted the TSL but I don't know alot about or how you got to where you are so could you share please? Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:12 Chill wrote:On December 02 2011 05:10 Pughy wrote:
Thats the point tho guys, I don't want SC2 to be a hobby forever, I'd like to make money off it. I'm still going to be working so that'll support me enough where I can invest time in to SC2. And like I said, I don't wanna turn pro at SC2 I wanna do SC2 scene related stuff like tournaments, coaching etc etc.
Thank you for your comments guys. Can you explain to me your business plan? How is "doing tournaments" going to make you money. Explain it to me like I'm 10 years old please and don't skip any steps. Explain why, who, and how someone is going to pay you to run a tournament. How are you going to make money coaching? Name one person who isn't known in the scene that makes money from coaching. If you can't make money coaching in 64.5 hours per week, how is increasing that to 82 hours per week going to make it more viable? Ok dude you don't have to jump on my back about this. This is all in consideration as stated. I haven't planned that far ahead, like I said I'm not becoming unemployed, I can afford to live off 30 hours a week pretty happily. The way I see it, if I wanna make a career out of this I need to start putting hours in now in advance for the future and hell I'm a good worker with alot of experience so finding work isnt super hard and if it doesnt work out, guess what? I can just go full time and problem solved. There isn't a big risk in doing it now where as there could in a few months or whatever. And I could answer your questions but you wouldn't know the people I'm on about anyway so why bother?
Are you spending 60 hours a week on SC2 now? If not then why do you think getting an extra 20 hours a week will make a difference.
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Unless SC2 is making you alot of money then I don't really agree with what you are proposing to do.
From the sounds of it, this is just a hobby for you. That isnt even all that much time you spend working, thats still enough to get like at least 4 hours of SC2 a day.
Stick with your job, keep SC2 a part-time hobby imo.
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Do not quit your day job to try and start a career in SC2.
You will get in over your head easily.
If you are good, a team will find you. There is no reason to stop what you are doing and there's already an overabundance of people who are coaching (whether they are good or not is up for debate). What you choose to do in your downtime is your call, but I repeat to not drop your job for it.
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You won't miss the money? Save some, when you want to get a house and stuff you will need it O_O
Stay working full-time, and just try to use most of ur free time doing starcraft related stuff. When you have things going (like getting money from coaching, tourneys, etc). First get to GM, dont know how good a 'decent' player is, i hope ur at least master otherwise you really really really should keep ur full time job.
How do you want to get somewhere in like 10 years if you decide to work less and maybe even work at McDonalds? Please think again before you actually do it!
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Calgary25998 Posts
On December 02 2011 05:22 Pughy wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:10 Chill wrote:
Like there are 168 hours in the week. Let's assume 112 of those are usuable hours.
You want to go from 64.5 to 80 free-time hours? I think if you can't fit something in 64.5 hours, bumping it up to 82 hours isn't going to do much for you. While your point is very intresting I dont think its fair to really say that. First off you make to many assumptions about my lifestyle and secondly from 60-80 hours is 25% which is a fairly big percentage 2bh. I'll defo's consider taking what you say into considering though so ty bro. Out of curiousity could you talk of your expierences with making money in eSports? I know your a TL admin and casted the TSL but I don't know alot about or how you got to where you are so could you share please? Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:12 Chill wrote:On December 02 2011 05:10 Pughy wrote:
Thats the point tho guys, I don't want SC2 to be a hobby forever, I'd like to make money off it. I'm still going to be working so that'll support me enough where I can invest time in to SC2. And like I said, I don't wanna turn pro at SC2 I wanna do SC2 scene related stuff like tournaments, coaching etc etc.
Thank you for your comments guys. Can you explain to me your business plan? How is "doing tournaments" going to make you money. Explain it to me like I'm 10 years old please and don't skip any steps. Explain why, who, and how someone is going to pay you to run a tournament. How are you going to make money coaching? Name one person who isn't known in the scene that makes money from coaching. If you can't make money coaching in 64.5 hours per week, how is increasing that to 82 hours per week going to make it more viable? Ok dude you don't have to jump on my back about this. This is all in consideration as stated. I haven't planned that far ahead, like I said I'm not becoming unemployed, I can afford to live off 30 hours a week pretty happily. The way I see it, if I wanna make a career out of this I need to start putting hours in now in advance for the future and hell I'm a good worker with alot of experience so finding work isnt super hard and if it doesnt work out, guess what? I can just go full time and problem solved. There isn't a big risk in doing it now where as there could in a few months or whatever. And I could answer your questions but you wouldn't know the people I'm on about anyway so why bother?
If you can't explain in one sentence how you're going to make money then it's probably not a good idea. I'm not jumping on your back I'm just trying to stop you from making a stupid, ill-informed decision.
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u underestimate how hard it is to make money in sc2.
You either have to be a loveable asshole a la destiny or incontrol or you have to be 0.0001% of the people in the world.
Or you have to live in a 3rd world country/eastern block.
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I'll mostly second what everyone else here has been saying, except to add:
I understand if you're not happy in your current job - there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to do something else other than what you're doing right now. On balance, my current job is very nice, but it's not what I want to do with the rest of my life. I'm pursuing a variety of different career options in poli sci/history/policy analysis/research/etc. Hopefully a few months from now I'll be doing something different than what I'm doing now. So if you want a change of employment, then by all means, go for it (with the obvious caveat that jobs in this day and age can be pretty hard to come by).
Just make sure that whatever life choices you make are motivated by a realistic expectation of success, and not just out of a desire to do something differently than what you do now. Starcraft (and video games in general) can massively enrich your life without requiring them to contribute to your income. Be cautious and realistic in your deliberations, consult people who know you well and whose judgment you trust (and take their advice seriously), and most importantly make sure you are honest with yourself about your motivations. You only get one life to live - make sure you live it smart.
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On December 02 2011 05:22 Pughy wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:10 Chill wrote:
Like there are 168 hours in the week. Let's assume 112 of those are usuable hours.
You want to go from 64.5 to 80 free-time hours? I think if you can't fit something in 64.5 hours, bumping it up to 82 hours isn't going to do much for you. While your point is very intresting I dont think its fair to really say that. First off you make to many assumptions about my lifestyle and secondly from 60-80 hours is 25% which is a fairly big percentage 2bh. I'll defo's consider taking what you say into considering though so ty bro. Out of curiousity could you talk of your expierences with making money in eSports? I know your a TL admin and casted the TSL but I don't know alot about or how you got to where you are so could you share please?
Chill earns his living as an engineer working full time in the oil industry. He plays SC2, mods TL and participates in various events (TSL, etc.) as part of his hobby. He was just suggesting you follow his lead and pursue your SC2 passions in your spare time. Maybe if you get as well known in the scene as Chill is while treating it like your hobby, then maybe you consider a career...
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Calgary25998 Posts
On December 02 2011 06:02 NevilleS wrote:Show nested quote +On December 02 2011 05:22 Pughy wrote:On December 02 2011 05:10 Chill wrote:
Like there are 168 hours in the week. Let's assume 112 of those are usuable hours.
You want to go from 64.5 to 80 free-time hours? I think if you can't fit something in 64.5 hours, bumping it up to 82 hours isn't going to do much for you. While your point is very intresting I dont think its fair to really say that. First off you make to many assumptions about my lifestyle and secondly from 60-80 hours is 25% which is a fairly big percentage 2bh. I'll defo's consider taking what you say into considering though so ty bro. Out of curiousity could you talk of your expierences with making money in eSports? I know your a TL admin and casted the TSL but I don't know alot about or how you got to where you are so could you share please? Chill earns his living as an engineer working full time in the oil industry. He plays SC2, mods TL and participates in various events (TSL, etc.) as part of his hobby. He was just suggesting you follow his lead and pursue your SC2 passions in your spare time. Maybe if you get as well known in the scene as Chill is while treating it like your hobby, then maybe you consider a career...
Pretty much.
If you can't hold a fulltime job and find success in your hobby, then making your hobby your job is not a good idea and will not suddenly make it successful.
Oh I missed your last thing. This year has been my best year for making money from ESPORTS and I've barely cleared a couple thousand. If I accept my new job offer, I will make more in a week (40 hrs) than all the money I made from SC2 in 2011.
That being said, I don't go out looking for work or trying to make business opportunities. So that's why I've always said that if you want to make a living at Starcraft, you should be 10x better at making business opportunities than you are at the game. Lots of people are good at Starcraft. Almost all of them suck as business. If your plan is to get experience at Starcraft and figure out how to make money later then, frankly, you're doing it wrong. You'll end up like me, making nothnig.
I got to where I am (Where am I?) because the scene was 10 times smaller. I could play BW at a decent level and felt like I had a pretty good grasp on BW strategy. I released some BW strategy VODs and eventually I was asked to be the strategy forum moderator. Being a moderator at TL let me be involved in running events. With my VOD experience + events experience, when streaming started getting big, I was usually involved in commentary of the streamed events. That ran over into TLA, TSL, TSL2 and TSL3. I also used to stream my BW games before streaming really became popular.
I feel like I'm one of the few that's left SC as a hobby. So I don't know if that makes my advice more meaningful or less.
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i know people like this... makes me LOL every time i hear them say it. "Dude, im seriously considering quitting my job and going pro!"
i love this.
your statement about working at mcdonalds night shifts and "opportunity to advance positions" in the same sentence is so ass-backwards it's not even funny. you're working almost 50 hours a week for a GREAT company (amazon as in the .com i assume?), and want to take up flipping burgers part time at the worst company in the WORLD in terms of opportunity for advancement?
jesus man, get your head on straight. I know there are a lot of people that would LOVE to do something and be successful in the sc2 community, but lets face it... it's a dream. you gotta get your head back in the game man, let's be realistic for a moment.
cool blog though (as far as the comments go - very entertaining)
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EPT
