> if you haven't made it big at 40
I remember a meme in Silicon Valley that if you weren't a millionaire by 30 then you failed. And that was in the 1980's.
Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
91–100 of 105 posts
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#92I am 40 now, I have been programming since I was 7 and I still enjoy it.
I am still trying to build side projects and improve my skill.
Learning to write code that is easy to maintain is one of the key skills you come to appreciate with time. Documentation is another thing that becomes important.
I would add that teaching and mentoring are just as important as you get older. The junior programmers can really benefit for the knowledge you have gained in the trenches over the years.
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#93Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but while high, that's still not "I'll buy myself a Learjet and a tropical island" level income. Anyway, the topic was career satisfaction. Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses). So, I would not use the total comp as a metric in this discussion.
Said parent commenter: "Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses)." Please! Try having a few kids and living in a desirable metro area. I didn't stop worrying about money until my salary was twice that, and my wife works too. So many sayings about financial happiness seem written for single people with no dependents…
"I didn't stop worrying about money until my salary was twice that, and my wife works too."
Good for you. But I really wasn't trying to say how much people have the right to earn, just pointing out that likely there is some upper limit where money alone does not bring much additional happiness. Obviously people have different priorities, life situations and preferences. I just wanted to point out that money can't be used as an objective measure of happiness or professional success in the most generic philosophical sense.
I can totally see how a metropolitan location would increase life satisfaction by providing a rich selection of entertainment, cultural venues and restaurants (i.e. experiences).
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#94Not 40+ -- but darn close, and recently went through a bit of a "midlife career crisis" - this is what I came away with: - I need a physical outlet: I practice Jiu Jitsu now 2-3x per week and this has literally re-lit the burners on many aspects of my life, career included. Much more energy and stress tolerance when I thought I would be more exhausted -total opposite. - Family time is most important at this age: Maki…
Oss!
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
My point was more he had his time, and it's gone. He hasn't lived on past that. Carlin and the likes were relevant until their death.
Carlin did comedy his whole life though. And I don't personally hear Carlin references more than I do Murphy ones. Eddie quit pretty early as you know, so I can't help but suspect his time was over voluntarily. Not long ago, he had to give a speech for the Mark Twain award and his Bill Cosby bit still had people laughing.
This is an unfortunate side effect of being a popular comedian, people will literally laugh at any word you say. The podcast escapes me, and I've read numerous articles, where big comedians often consider just quitting because they can't tell if they are actually funny anymore. Everyone just ends up laughing at everything that comes out of their mouth. It sounds like a good problem to have, but you can see how it would weigh on someone.
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but while high, that's still not "I'll buy myself a Learjet and a tropical island" level income. Anyway, the topic was career satisfaction. Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses). So, I would not use the total comp as a metric in this discussion.
Said parent commenter: "Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses)." Please! Try having a few kids and living in a desirable metro area. I didn't stop worrying about money until my salary was twice that, and my wife works too. So many sayings about financial happiness seem written for single people with no dependents…
I think this particular saying should be changed to 70k per individual (including children), a family of 4 would then be at 280k - I would be more inclined to agree with the 'happiness' factor then, some people are miserable and they won't be happy with millions either.
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you don't mind me asking -- have you found trouble with staying in programming / development into your 40s? Or do you see trouble staying in programming into the "good number of years" ahead? I'm just curious as someone in their early 30's who feels the "pull" towards management as a career longevity move. But on the flip side, I love "soft/upwards management" and being hands-on way more, and without the massive d…
As someone who went from development to management and then recently back, I strongly recommend that you avoid seeing management as a pull, or as a natural progression for your career. Management is 100% a different skill set, and going there from an engineering position is a career change , not evolution. It's not a promotion, either. If you do decide to go into management, jump with both feet and give it 100%. And…
It depends on the company.
I am 47, very senior "management" position in a large company. I manage a whooping team of three. By choice.
What I am not comfortable with in your comment is the manager = leader (implied in the last sentence). I hate to manage people (to plan their work, to do the logistics of their life at the office etc.). On the other hand I live to be the one pushing for a solution, bringing others in, pushing my obviously brilliant point of view, retro-pedalling when it is not the right one finally and again bring in people with this new solution.
I put a lot of enthusiasm and energy into it and I am very happy.
I think the qualities of a manager and a leader are different, some people can be both but also only one of them.
I managed from 1 to 350 peple, the latter was horrible.
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#98Earlier quoted context omitted.
Said parent commenter: "Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses)." Please! Try having a few kids and living in a desirable metro area. I didn't stop worrying about money until my salary was twice that, and my wife works too. So many sayings about financial happiness seem written for single people with no dependents…
I think this particular saying should be changed to 70k per individual (including children), a family of 4 would then be at 280k - I would be more inclined to agree with the 'happiness' factor then, some people are miserable and they won't be happy with millions either.
You don't need that much money for the kids themselves but I find spending quite a bit on conveniences to compensate for being short on time. Cleaners, gardener, dry cleaners, extended childcare facilities etc.
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#99Just a couple of precisions here, to clarify (even for myself) and maybe bring some more fuel to the discussion. >make up for a slower brain, less stamina and decreasing memory It's a fact, physiologically, that our cognitive skills decrease after the late 20s, there's abundance of literature on the subject. Now, getting older, and with experience, I believe we process information more efficiently (less cycle spent o…
That is interesting definition o making it big. I believe you need to be somewhat on the business side of things to make it big that way. There is a surplus of programmers who can write to spec but how many can spot the thing to build that will be disruptive? That's a different skillset.
Re: Ask HN: Software development after 40, how do you keep the fire?
#100Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but while high, that's still not "I'll buy myself a Learjet and a tropical island" level income. Anyway, the topic was career satisfaction. Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses). So, I would not use the total comp as a metric in this discussion.
Said parent commenter: "Without any good life strategies the happiness money brings peaks at 70k or such (basically you don't have to worry about regular life expenses)." Please! Try having a few kids and living in a desirable metro area. I didn't stop worrying about money until my salary was twice that, and my wife works too. So many sayings about financial happiness seem written for single people with no dependents…
Clearly "desirable metro area" is the problem. Some would even call it a self-contradiction.
The increased salary of an expensive area does not normally compensate for the increased costs. It might if you are content with a studio apartment and you put most of your income into a retirement fund that you will spend only after you leave the area. You're in deep trouble if housing is a significant need for you.
It's like this: salary goes up 50%, and expenses go up 200%, so you lose.
70k, with just a single income, is perfectly fine if you live somewhere cheap. You can easily own a home and raise a family with that kind of money. I know people who manage that on far less.