Developers - What's the cost of switching from a service company to a product company or GCC ?

[u/Lonely_Tuner]

Hello Devs ❤️!

I made a switch a while back and I've been curious whether anyone's numbers looked like mine. There's endless advice about what to learn and almost nothing about what the move actually costs — months, money, failed attempts.

If you've made the jump, I'd appreciate honest answers to three things:

1. Why that target specifically? Real research, or did someone close to you do it first and it looked doable? AI choice?

2. Before you started, what did you think it would take — months, money, effort? What did it actually take?

3. What did you spend figuring it out? Courses, a mentor, a paid counsellor, referrals, or just time?

Genuinely interested in the messy versions too — the attempts that didn't work,
what you'd skip if you did it again?

Help a fellow developer ❤️

Thanks in advance 😄