I took a coding boot camp at age 40+ and changed my career.
Been working for years, making good money, very happy with the decision.
Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
91–100 of 305 posts
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#92In my admittedly still short life, I have started to notice something: you can broadly divide the world into two groups - those who do things and those who keep wondering if they should have done things. So for what’s worth, here is my advice to you: drop Gladwell and self-help books, if you want to and can switch to a new job, do it. Should it work or fail, you will have experienced trying. If you don’t feel like it…
This.
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#93I know this is just one person who was in a different time and under different circumstances, but I've found it inspirational to put age into perspective. Grace Hopper first entered computing at age 38, completed the first compiler at age 46, influenced the design of COBOL at age 53, wrote COBOL for the Navy through her 70s, retired from the Navy aged 80 and only then became a consultant for DEC. So for me , at least…
There are two good reasons why Grace Hoppen should not be used as an example. 1. You are (likely) not Grace Hopper. 2. Computer science was, in a way, much easier back then. At least very different. Listen to the Brian Kernighan being interviewed by Lex Fridman; he keeps repeating that you didn't have to be as awesome back in his days, using himself as an example. Saying "If Grace hopper can do it, then so can I" is…
But (1) is suggesting only a woman at that age with those life experiences could have done what she did. I don’t see why that has to be empirically true
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#94The 10,000 hours thing is A) probably more workforce folklore than fact, and B) about becoming an expert, but you don't need to be an expert to switch careers. Hell, you don't even need to be an expert to be highly successful.
I'm in my 40s also and one of the things I've become certain about over the years is actual competency is depressingly low on the list of traits you need to have a successful career. Far more important are traits like confidence, charisma, the ability to bullshit (I hate this), and soft skills.
Don't sweat the 10,000 hours. It's probably not true and you don't need to be an expert anyway. I'd say if you really want to switch careers, go for it. Worst case scenario is it doesn't work out and you can come back to your current field. That's a far better outcome than spending the remainder of your life wondering if you could have done it.
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#95I know this is just one person who was in a different time and under different circumstances, but I've found it inspirational to put age into perspective. Grace Hopper first entered computing at age 38, completed the first compiler at age 46, influenced the design of COBOL at age 53, wrote COBOL for the Navy through her 70s, retired from the Navy aged 80 and only then became a consultant for DEC. So for me , at least…
There are two good reasons why Grace Hoppen should not be used as an example. 1. You are (likely) not Grace Hopper. 2. Computer science was, in a way, much easier back then. At least very different. Listen to the Brian Kernighan being interviewed by Lex Fridman; he keeps repeating that you didn't have to be as awesome back in his days, using himself as an example. Saying "If Grace hopper can do it, then so can I" is…
I totally agree, hence my preface. I don't believe that to be inspired by great people and their situations means one has to expect to repeat their feats in full. I'm not a Chinese military general but I have been inspired by Sun Tzu ;-)
That she contributed so much with such energy from her 40s through to her 80s inspires me to not see my age as a downside. Am I ever going to be 1/100th as smart or consequential as Hopper? Ha, of course not!
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#96I know this is just one person who was in a different time and under different circumstances, but I've found it inspirational to put age into perspective. Grace Hopper first entered computing at age 38, completed the first compiler at age 46, influenced the design of COBOL at age 53, wrote COBOL for the Navy through her 70s, retired from the Navy aged 80 and only then became a consultant for DEC. So for me , at least…
There are two good reasons why Grace Hoppen should not be used as an example. 1. You are (likely) not Grace Hopper. 2. Computer science was, in a way, much easier back then. At least very different. Listen to the Brian Kernighan being interviewed by Lex Fridman; he keeps repeating that you didn't have to be as awesome back in his days, using himself as an example. Saying "If Grace hopper can do it, then so can I" is…
The good news is Quake was an exception to game develop experiences (in many ways!), not the rule.
So the mindset “If Carmack can make Quake, then I can QA Subway Surfers for iOS” seems imminently reasonable.
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#97You sure can, but depends on people you need to support, and some luck.
As to the rule, a few observations:
- you don't need to become an expert to be in a certain career. - Pareto rule applies. You can learn 80% of the job in 20% of the time. After that, it is diminishing returns, in which case you can be average and have a career.
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#98In my admittedly still short life, I have started to notice something: you can broadly divide the world into two groups - those who do things and those who keep wondering if they should have done things. So for what’s worth, here is my advice to you: drop Gladwell and self-help books, if you want to and can switch to a new job, do it. Should it work or fail, you will have experienced trying. If you don’t feel like it…
Good advice. Thanks. I don't read self-help books. I believe in learning by practice
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#99I started programming (intermittently because wife/kids and fulltime job) at ~37, got my first coding job at ~40. Do it.
Use time management practices for max effect. I'm currently listening to Cal Newports' "Deep Questions" podcast, and even the first few eps (go back and listen from the start) have been tremendously helpful.
Re: Ask HN: 10k hours rule to master anything. Could I switch career when I am 43?
#100I have the feeling is in midlife when people switch careers, so 43 doesn't sound strange to me.
You have to be ready to take an income cut though, at least at first. Other than that, I don't think you should be afraid.
That 10k hour rule is stupid. Talent is what makes the difference, either you have it or not. Regardless, it has nothing to do with switching jobs, most people moderately suck at what they do and make living and live happy lifes.