Codie Sanchez breaks down a study of 5,000 startup founders. Those who kept their jobs while building were 33% more likely to succeed. The reason: steady income keeps you from running out of cash.
About 5,000 individuals.
About 33% more likely.
April 16, 2025.
Actually a really fascinating study that basically tracks like 5,000 individuals who either stayed or left their job while doing a startup and said which ones succeed more? The people who stay at the company while they build their next thing, or the people who leave the company and go build their next thing 100% of the time? My gut originally might say, and many people say on Twitter, go all in, sleep on the couch if you have to. And I've never agreed with that. I have always started my own thing while I've been at a corporate job, not a startup. But the numbers tell us you are more likely to succeed by 33% if you stay at your job and build your side thing than if you just go and build your side thing. Because that income is lifeblood, and the thing that'll kill you more than anything else is running out of cash.
