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Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

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Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#101

Post by cgopalan »

louprado wrote: post #29

Coincidentally 15 years ago a fellow engineer told me his plan was to keep the same job as long as possible, get to the point where it isn't demanding intellectually, clock in the minimum hours, and then find fulfillment through family, friends, and hobbies. He has built 3 homes in his spare time, is a millionaire, and has an amazing family. It took me 15 years to realize he was right. I now work 4 hours a day as a .…

Great comment. I think I have similar goals - work on a job for about 4 hours a day so that I can do what the rest of the time. I have 2 questions:

1. Did you get the 4-hr job after a history of working full-time for the company? Or are there companies looking for people to work reduced hours?

2. Given that its 4 hrs, is it a live-able wage? I know it depends on where you live but my actual question is - does the job pay more per-hour just because its reduced hours?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#102

Post by quackquackgo »

cylinder wrote: post #85
quackquackgo wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would not advise a job in the oil industry if you are a minority in. I've heard lots of traumatic experiences from friends in Texas and Alberta. Lots of good reviews in Norway though

Houston oil execs: we need you to help us negotiate with this Arab guy. Iranian-American: but I'm Iranian. Not Arab. Execs: blank stares Same thing though right? Happened. That said, I wouldn't expect one to experience any malice in a corporate Texas environment based on ethnicity or race. Rather, there's often a narrow perspective, in that they want you to be as Texan as possible, ideally an alumnus of their favorit…

Yes, I've noticed if you have Texan culture in you, they welcome you with open arms.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#103

Post by louprado »

cgopalan wrote: post #101
louprado wrote: post #29

Coincidentally 15 years ago a fellow engineer told me his plan was to keep the same job as long as possible, get to the point where it isn't demanding intellectually, clock in the minimum hours, and then find fulfillment through family, friends, and hobbies. He has built 3 homes in his spare time, is a millionaire, and has an amazing family. It took me 15 years to realize he was right. I now work 4 hours a day as a .…

Great comment. I think I have similar goals - work on a job for about 4 hours a day so that I can do what the rest of the time. I have 2 questions: 1. Did you get the 4-hr job after a history of working full-time for the company? Or are there companies looking for people to work reduced hours? 2. Given that its 4 hrs, is it a live-able wage? I know it depends on where you live but my actual question is - does the job…

> 1. Did you get the 4-hr job after a history of working full-time for the company?

Yes, I worked full time for about 3 years. I established myself as someone that focused on the customer, company, and group's interest over my own. Once you successfully do that, you establish a strong sense of trust and can then start making requests that benefit you. Note I am an independent contractor.

> Or are there companies looking for people to work reduced hours?

If you are competent and your team relies on you to help make important decisions, then your employer will do what it takes to keep you.

> 2. "Given that its 4 hrs, is it a live-able wage?"

Somewhat. I wouldn't have reduced my hours without first having a little secondary income. After sometime, I reduced my hours to 35 hours a week (9 to 5 plus hour lunch), then I was able to work on side projects and get income properties. Once my side project started making $2k/mo and income property netted over $1k/mo, I reduced my work hours considerably.

> Does the job pay more per-hour just because its reduced hours?

No, but that has to do more with my personal negotiation strategy. I value working less hours and flexible deadlines. In good conscience I have to then offer a concession such as not raising my bill rate for a few years.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#104

Post by baccheion »

ZeroFries wrote: post #100
baccheion wrote: post #68

Yes, start a company or create an app (or several apps) that will pull in enough revenue to keep you going. This is either doable, or not really possible at all, so it should be obvious which situation you're in. Also, meditate, listen to brainwave entrainment, maybe spend some time in a sensory deprivation tank, research DXM reset (6.4mg DXM per kg of body weight-- at most once every 2 weeks), then start taking N-Ac…

Do you have any links for DXM reset? Is that similar to ketamine for depression? Interested in your burn-out reversal protocol.

Yes, it affects the NMDA receptors similar to Ketamine, though it's "safer" (when taken properly). Just search for DXM online. You can also read articles posted to Erowid. Another alternative is Memantine, but DXM also acts as a sort of SSRI and affects the mu-sigma opioid receptors, so for this one-off-once-every-2-weeks use it's more appropriate.

You can also research options like combining it with Phenibut (1-2g split across 2 servings the day and night before, as it can become addictive or problematic if used too often (more than 1-2x/week) or in high quantities (more than 1-2g/day)), 5-HTP, Melatonin, fasoracetam, etc.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#105

Post by Bar_Code »

kzisme wrote: post #98
Bar_Code wrote: post #97

You're in tech, so an experience you have that is over 5 years is largely useless. What you need to leverage is your wisdom gained from the 15 years of experience. Wisdom is what separates you from someone with "only" 5 years of experience, but who can code almost as good as you and work for less. So no, there is no respect for experience beyond a number of years. I've been in tech for over 25 years and I am more eng…

Should there ever be a fear of being stuck with one technology, or language while at a job (or in a career?) Currently I write .NET but I don't know if that would be the most interesting career to ~only~ write .NET (I'm a recent grad)

I think you should be afraid of only knowing one technology/language. You should strive to at least play with one new technology/language per year. "language" can be flexible, like CSS, SQL, HTML. It doesn't have to be things like Go, Erlang, or Haskel. It would be nice to be at a company that encourages that. Even if you just know why people like certain languages, that would be helpful.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#106

Post by marktangotango »

JamesBarney wrote: post #99
marktangotango wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Frustrated at programming's long-term career trajectory (Nobody will hire you after 40). Simply not true. At 40+ I'm making the highest salary of my career thus far, and have no problem switching jobs. Had three offers last time I switched (8 months ago). I post this as a warning to anyone less experience reading this thread and taking this as fact, when it is most certainly anecdotal.

I'm just curious but do you have a specialty? And if so is it domain or technical? Like the ruby guy, or the HIPPA guy etc..

Just Java and Spring, senior level, nothing special by any means.

Re: Ask HN: How to get out of Tech and still make a decent living?

#107

Post by vancouverwill »

kevindeasis wrote: post #58
gaius wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much of that is paid in rent tho'? Classic landlord tactic, get a business in, if it's a success capture all of its profit, if it goes bust get another one. As with all things, if it was easy everyone would be doing it...

Including the business outside the campus are around 100k-5million after rent. I have not seen any landlord doing what you've mentioned.

Those sound like good figures. How are you getting those numbers? Estimations or have you managed to speak to there book keepers. I always won D we about coffee shops, they seem to be popular but I wonder how much profit is actually made.
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