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Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

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Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#11

Post by mrbirddev »

muzani wrote: post #6
paulcole wrote: post #4

Before changing your life, go ask people in Real World Jobs how much they’d like to sit at a computer for 35 hours a week and make $200k or more.

I had a gamer buddy who works in the metal industry. He keeps a huge beard because it shields his body from the molten metal. I tell them I make roughly $100/hour, which is an exaggeration but not really. They think I rob banks or something. To them, if you were that successful, you wouldn't be playing games... which might be true, but if you can sit at a computer 35 hours a week and work from home 3 days/week, you h…

I've wondered that if you wan WFH 3 days per week, picking a offline part time job that you can relate to is an option? This is what I've always wanted

Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#12

Post by fool1471 »

devwastaken wrote: post #9
paulcole wrote: post #4

Before changing your life, go ask people in Real World Jobs how much they’d like to sit at a computer for 35 hours a week and make $200k or more.

They'll tell you to keep it, sitting all day working on problems that don't matter to enrich billionaires comes with it's own problems. Primarily that almost everyone that works in such unnatural conditions ends up a slave to the system, mentally ill, and severe drug abuse. Very few ever achieve the optimum setup.

Yes, the problem here isn't that working in tech has what most people consider to be bad working conditions, it's that working in any "thought work" role requires both mental and physical engagement to achieve any kind of fulfillment. Mental engagement is increasingly difficult when you operate within an economic model that increasingly doesn't even pretend to care about anything beyond making even more money for a handful of dudes who are already richer than anyone has ever been in the history of wealth.

Flipping burgers for a company you don't care about is very different to marshaling your mind into doing work that requires you to care about a company you don't care about.

That said, flipping burgers for a company you don't care about also sucks for many other reasons that should not be downplayed. Chiefly, the lack of cash makes it hard-to-impossible to even attempt to find your fulfillment in activities outside of work.

My recommendation would be to do what I've done and to find a small company staffed by engineers who aren't sycophants. Look for meaningful benefits (e.g. more PTO, an office in a nice location, four-day week) and try your very best to relax: it's just a job. (Then take up yoga /s).

Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#13

Post by paulcole »

devwastaken wrote: post #9
paulcole wrote: post #4

Before changing your life, go ask people in Real World Jobs how much they’d like to sit at a computer for 35 hours a week and make $200k or more.

They'll tell you to keep it, sitting all day working on problems that don't matter to enrich billionaires comes with it's own problems. Primarily that almost everyone that works in such unnatural conditions ends up a slave to the system, mentally ill, and severe drug abuse. Very few ever achieve the optimum setup.

> sitting all day working on problems that don't matter to enrich billionaires comes with it's own problems

Yes, my point is that every job has its own problems.

And everybody who’s dissatisfied thinks they’d prefer the situation somebody else has — and tend to overlook the problems that come with it.

“I hate solving a billionaire’s problems at a computer, I’d rather work with my hands.” Vs. “I hate how much my hands hurt, I’d love to just work at a computer.”

> Primarily that almost everyone that works in such unnatural conditions ends up a slave to the system, mentally ill, and severe drug abuse

It’s lucky that nobody who’s ever worked a blue collar job has gotten into trouble with drugs.

Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#14

Post by ironlake »

Both of my adult children have foregone career paths for menial jobs (retail worker and admin stuff). So far, they are both really happy. Living their lives without stress or overtime.

Blue collar work wears out the body. Are you going to be welding at 50? Working as a guide at 60? Tile workers in my family all stopped in their 40s because they could no longer do it.

I could quit my programming job and live on a lot less, as I have savings and already own most of the stuff I need, but health insurance is a problem. (And I like having money).

Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#16

Post by aynyc »

You can work as unlicensed or uninsured plumber/HVAC/handyman if you live in the right area, assuming you are competent. If you want to hustle, you can make a decent living. My cousin who couldn't handle medical industry (billing, insurance and finance area) moved to handyman work and he's doing OK. He gets plenty of work, and makes decent money ($120-$150K). One thing he does differently than others is that he charges by project. So his hourly rate can be $200-$250 for replacing an emergency water heater, and sometimes his rate is $30 (a quick paint job). He basically can work 24/7 if he wants to, but he doesn't. Since he hates managing people, he also doesn't want to grow his business.

Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#17

Post by reconqueronline »

First ask yourself how much you need to make. Possibly take into account any government benefits you receive when you're low income (often free health insurance and food) and whether you can save a lot by living in a place with cheaper housing.

Then figure out which job would make you the happiest on a day to day basis.

Then write a plan that would allow you to make that income doing the job that you actually want to do.

Re: Ask HN: Which Manual Work to Pivot To?

#19

Post by gperkins978 »

I know a welder. He had to quit after 15 years do to physical ailments. If you get a job like that, you must be into fitness. It is easy to work a desk at 55, but being a welder is hard. Personally, I would live modestly for a few years and bank as much as you can. Then go buy or build a small business. That is an easier, more interesting life, and you can learn all the "hard stuff" typical business owners must pay others to do (finance, IT,supply chain,...)
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