Layoffs are up again. But that's just inspiration for indie hackers like Kyle Davidson of Sourced Adventures ($191k/mo)

Though not as dire as Spring 2020, Covid is spurring another rise in layoffs and unemployment. And an increasing portion of layoffs are expected to be permanent.

But the good news is that people are being inspired to create their own job security. Just look at the boom in new business applications — up 40% in October compared to 2019.

I talked to Kyle Davidson of Sourced Adventures ($191,000/mo) about his life-changing experience of getting laid off and going out on his own:

They basically cut our division completely. Imagine having this job where you work 80 hours a week putting your heart and soul into building this product and then it’s over.

A few of our former vendors asked me to continue on my own. And at first, I was like, "What? No. You're asking me to risk everything." A big part of me just wanted to cut my losses and do something else.

But I ended up deciding, fuck it. I'll take a crack at it, this could be my chance.

So I went for it, with no savings. I had to give up my apartment. But talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Essentially, in our very first year we did like $1 million in sales. I mean, the year before this I was literally just sitting at a desk, a pretty underpaid startup worker. And then a year later, boom, I have this fledgling successful business. I've just continued to grow it since then.