What does it take for a software engineer to leave a stable career and start an online business from scratch? It’s a tempting but daunting idea for many.
Isak Vidinghoff, a former full-stack engineer, took the leap, going from deploying client code to building Wellsquire, an online life coaching business.
So, what does that look like in practice? Forget empty motivational messages or overnight success. The reality is a lot more grounded: Isak saw some periods of burnout, took calculated risks, and invested time in systems for scalability. And a career pivot like this starts with a mindset change.
Making the mindset shift
It’s a major shift going from a prescriptive career, such as an engineer, to a business owner. You have to juggle many more tasks simultaneously, you have numerous ongoing projects, and all final decisions rest with you.
“As an employee, you could come home and unwind, but now there’s always something on my mind,” says Isak. “Don’t get me wrong, I love it, but it can be incredibly draining.”
So, how can you better prepare yourself for such a shift? Isak pinpoints it to testing ideas first before leaving the security of your current position — something he reflects on in hindsight. He made the switch within a month, underestimating the workload that would follow such a drastic change.
“I’d suggest working on evenings and weekends while holding onto your job for a while, gradually reducing your work hours — maybe from 100% to 75%, and then down to 50%,” he says. “This kind of gradual transition helps ease the shift. My transition was quite abrupt, and I think it contributed to my burnout.”
However, during the process, Isak has become more attuned to spotting signs of fatigue early on. His secret? An hour of daily meditation to increase his awareness during the workday, accompanied by quality sleep, exercise, and a notebook to jot down any lingering thoughts.
Using key skills from your past career
Isak’s unusual path from engineering to life coaching has given him a distinct advantage in building Wellsquire. Drawing on the lessons and skills he honed in his technical background, Isak has applied a structured, methodical approach to developing his online courses and integrating the various tools he uses to run his business.
It may seem counterintuitive to start from scratch in a different field. But the beauty of a career change is the opportunity to take your unique experiences and apply them in a new direction. Sometimes it even gives you an edge that others don’t. Like in Isak’s case.
“In the software industry, I’ve learned the importance of creating precise standard operating procedures. Similar to coding, where missing a single semicolon can create chaos, my course content is organized along a well-defined pathway,” he explains.
Isak’s tech background also helps him find the right tools for his business. He uses over 20 customizable software tools, often coming from platforms like AppSumo where many are startups themselves.
“Integrating these tools can require significant effort, unlike top-tier software with pre-built integrations.” Isak says, “I often troubleshoot and fix these connections because of the startup nature of the tools. My software development experience has been invaluable here.”
Building a scalable business model
For any business to become scalable, automating, outsourcing, and giving up control is necessary. But you can only go so far as a one-person band aiming for perfect execution. This is where early behind-the-scenes work comes in: setting up automated workflows that allow you to step away while maintaining control over the resulting output.
Isak built his business systems using a mix of Notion and strategic outsourcing. He now works with a few long-term contractors he trusts who follow specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) Isak has set up. It may take ten times the effort to build them, but in the long run, investing in scalable procedures pays off.
“Now, I have the final say in my system, allowing me to review drafts that are 95% completed instead of overseeing the entire process from scratch. Setting specific privileges for team members in most of my software and Notion helps maintain control,” he adds.
But it wasn’t a straightforward process. At the start, Isak reached out to contractors on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, with vague instructions or assigning them full creative control.
“Trusting their competence without being specific was a disaster. Now, I’m incredibly detailed in my instructions. Step one, do this; step two, do that,” he says. And it works. All because Isak invested time in diligently setting up a Notion library with 30 to 40 SOPs.
Isak’s approach to scalability goes beyond repeat workflows. As much as he enjoys one-on-one coaching, he doesn’t want to tie his time to income. Instead, he’s planning on hiring and training coaches for group and one-on-one sessions and aspires to set up an online school that will offer foundational aspects of personal development, among other teachings.
Centralizing operations in Notion
Isak’s Notion headquarters look solid today, but, when he first started with the app, it was for personal tasks and project management. Soon, he also began showcasing projects and sharing progress with clients.
“Notion served my personal organizational needs, and back then, I merely used its native function to publish a site as a website. While it served its purpose, the aesthetics weren’t the best,” he explains. “Yet, since its inception, I’ve used it comprehensively for various purposes and transitioned everything to using Notion.”
Even the business plan for Wellsquire started out as a Notion template he had bought. So, it made sense for Isak to add Super to his tech stack, allowing him to keep all of his website content handled in Notion.
“My virtual assistants operate within Notion, where we manage tasks, publish content on the website, and keep our standard operating procedures in one place. The seamless transition to publication using Super and Notion has been incredibly convenient,” says Isak.
Foolproof systems for long-term growth
The path from employee to business owner is never easy. But Isak’s story shows why you should never discount the expertise you already have in a domain, even if you’re transitioning to something different.
Coupled with an adaptable tool like Notion, you can build the foundations of your next venture block by block. By taking a systematic yet flexible approach — much like Isak has done — you can transition into entrepreneurship while mitigating risks and avoiding burnout as much as possible.
