I quit a comfortable tech job to launch a startup. Moving back in with my mom was humbling, but now I make $400,000 and travel all the time.

• Gene Caballero left his stable job at Dell to cofound GreenPal, an on-demand lawn care service.
• He had to make financial sacrifices in the beginning, but now he earns more and travels often.
• He's happy as an entrepreneur and will never return to 9-5 life despite the challenges.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gene Caballero, a 44-year-old cofounder of GreenPal, based in Nashville. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I'm a cofounder of GreenPal, a platform that connects homeowners with lawn care professionals.