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Austin Nasso left his job as a software engineer at Microsoft in 2021 to pursue stand-up comedy full-time.
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Nasso learned 3 important things from “The 4-Hour Workweek” that influenced the way he pursued his career.
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Nasso said following your passion isn’t always glamorous, and you need to be able to make money from it.
This as told-to essay is based on a conversation with Austin Nassothe 30-year-old comedian and co-founder of Tech Roast Show, based in New York City. His employment with Microsoft has been verified by Business Insider. This story has been edited for length and clarity.
I’ve been doing stand-up for 12 years. I went to UCLA, studied computer science and started a comedy company there. When I graduated, I went to Microsoft to become a software engineer in Seattle.
In 2018, my friends and I started Tech Roast Show, a crowdwork show that makes fun of tech people, which we run in tech hubs in the US, Europe and India.
In 2021, I left Microsoft to pursue comedy full-time. When I perform locally now, I’m at the New York Comedy Club and Westside Comedy Club, and some smaller ones. I just released a comedy special and I’m about to tour India for the Tech Roast Show.
I can’t imagine doing anything else, but I’ve approached the career change methodically, and pursuing this life isn’t always as glamorous as people often dream.
I saw my life as a startup
When I graduated, I read “The 4-Hour Workweek,” a book about how to earn extra income and live the life you want. It taught me three important lessons that I took with me when I juggled my full-time job and comedy.
One of the biggest things I learned from that was figuring out how to work remotely as quickly as possible. I worked at Microsoft for four years and after the first year I convinced my manager to let me work remotely. In 2018, I moved back to Los Angeles, worked at a WeWork during the day and did shows at night.
Another important principle I learned from the book is learning how to minimize my workday. I needed time to code, so I prioritized that first and made sure not to schedule meetings during those focus blocks. It’s easy to get caught up in a lot of disparate tasks that have a low priority.
Luckily with comedy it’s mostly at night, but there was still friction. Sometimes at 5 p.m. my manager would say, “Do you have two hours now?” I’d say, “No, I’m going to film a sketch. I can’t do that.”
The book also taught me to think of my life like a startup, and thinking that way made me feel more comfortable taking the leap. My income was at its peak at Microsoft, and I knew it would drop if I quit. I knew I could go a few years without making any money from comedy, as long as I could offset some of my expenses by renting out an apartment and an Airbnb.
A hobby is not a career
When you leave your job to follow your passion, you need to feel like you’re good at it. There must also be an indication that you can generate income from it. You need to recognize the difference between a hobby and a career.
People think it’s so brave and cool that I quit my tech job. In the end I just have another job.
I went viral on TikTok before I quit, which is part of the reason I left. I thought you could succeed in standup if you were good and had a lot of followers. I’ve been doing stand-up for twelve years, but it just doesn’t work that way. Even if you have a lot of experience with standup, are good, And followers, you still need to know each of these club bookers.
It’s not always glamorous. I get to do cool things and travel to places like India and Japan. My life is probably a little more interesting than a regular corporate job, but there is always a sense of obligation. If I book a show in two months, I have to do that show even if I don’t feel like it. Finding a balance is difficult. No one gives you a schedule, so you have to figure out how much you can commit to and at what pace it is sustainable.
I think success here comes from being able to stick to a routine and habits that you repeat over and over again.
But if you show up exactly the same every day, you won’t necessarily be successful. You have to constantly look for ways to get better at your writing and performing. Success will follow, but you must improve measurably.
Read the original article on Business Insider
