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Why do we work so hard?

1843magazine.com

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Re: Why do we work so hard?

#31

Post by econner »

buf wrote: post #7

I moved to SF in 2008 as a poor college grad. Since then, I've spent all of my time in startups. It's an unhealthy addiction and it's going to kill me. I was the third engineer at Eventbrite, and I spent years working many extra hours. After 4 years, it felt like I worked 10 years. I quit and moved to Europe to try to leave the startup scene, but a month later, I found myself the CTO of a startup in London. The addic…

Fwiw I grew up in Colorado and love it so much but live in Bay Area now. I too am trying to get to back to Denver. If you want to start a company there let me know! :-)

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#32

Post by jjoonathan »

madengr wrote: post #6
jotux wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

RF/Microwave hardware isn't work, it's sorcery. You just enjoy being a wizard.

All those professors in undergrad brushed it off as "black magic". All really boils down to problem solving and intellectual stimulation. I suppose any job that has that is good.

And expensive equipment :-)

You said "state of the art," too, so I fully expect that the price is well into "call us" territory. Speaking of which, I need to go enter my name into today's Agilent drawing...

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#33

Post by gyardley »

buf wrote: post #7

I moved to SF in 2008 as a poor college grad. Since then, I've spent all of my time in startups. It's an unhealthy addiction and it's going to kill me. I was the third engineer at Eventbrite, and I spent years working many extra hours. After 4 years, it felt like I worked 10 years. I quit and moved to Europe to try to leave the startup scene, but a month later, I found myself the CTO of a startup in London. The addic…

Of course it could happen - there's nothing inherent that keeps you from downshifting and enjoying your life more. Even if you're truly addicted to work, addictions can be beaten.

I have to admit I find articles like this completely perplexing. As soon as I achieved a little bit of professional success, I dropped full-time work like a hot rock, and I don't miss it at all.

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#34

Post by madengr »

jjoonathan wrote: post #32
madengr wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All those professors in undergrad brushed it off as "black magic". All really boils down to problem solving and intellectual stimulation. I suppose any job that has that is good.

And expensive equipment :-) You said "state of the art," too, so I fully expect that the price is well into "call us" territory. Speaking of which, I need to go enter my name into today's Agilent drawing...

Spherical near field antenna scanner, mm wave equipment, Keysight 50 GHz PNA with pulsed X-parameters, Keysight UXA spectrum analyzer, load pull tuners, etc; all good stuff.

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#35

Post by burgessaccount »

This will sound moralistic, and I don't mean it that way, but I think this relates to our general lack of clear values as a society. With religion absent in many people's lives, not much has stepped in to take up the slack and say "what really matters is being a good person" or "what really matters is wisdom" or "what really matters is family". So we're left with the messages we ARE getting, which are from a combination of advertising (what really matters is having a lot of money/nice things), Hollywood (what really matters is being good at shit) and the news cycle (which focuses on careers and especially major careers). "Mom gets home from work and has a fun late afternoon with her kids, spending no money and getting nothing much done" isn't a story we ever see upheld as a great, positive way to spend our time. So we pursue the things we do see people praising and talking about - promotions, money, milestones, important-ness.

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#36

Post by tranv94 »

buf wrote: post #7

I moved to SF in 2008 as a poor college grad. Since then, I've spent all of my time in startups. It's an unhealthy addiction and it's going to kill me. I was the third engineer at Eventbrite, and I spent years working many extra hours. After 4 years, it felt like I worked 10 years. I quit and moved to Europe to try to leave the startup scene, but a month later, I found myself the CTO of a startup in London. The addic…

It's 2016 and I feel like I'm going to become like this. I have a case of insomnia and drive to just work. I'm soon to graduate and the idea of working at a large company seemed nice after I applied, but when the offer was there I had to turn it down because I didn't want to be comfortable. I feel like start ups have so much to offer in terms of personal growth and I don't want to miss it.

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#38

Post by dfischer »

buf wrote: post #7

I moved to SF in 2008 as a poor college grad. Since then, I've spent all of my time in startups. It's an unhealthy addiction and it's going to kill me. I was the third engineer at Eventbrite, and I spent years working many extra hours. After 4 years, it felt like I worked 10 years. I quit and moved to Europe to try to leave the startup scene, but a month later, I found myself the CTO of a startup in London. The addic…

A sense of purpose is a burning fire. Stroke it as best you can. Take care of your health, but also your beckoning. You sound like you're on your happiest path. :)

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#39

Post by tim333 »

Good article. I've moved a bit from the five-year-old daughter's position to the "thinking about identity, community, purpose – the things that provide meaning and motivation" stuff. Still working on it.

Re: Why do we work so hard?

#40

Post by itsAllTrue »

namenotrequired wrote: post #13
itsAllTrue wrote: post #5

The only reason I work hard is to surround myself with people I respect. When I find myself pushed into situations where irritating people have crept into the mix, and no one seems to be willing or able to do anything about that, I look for an exit. Boss' nephews. Obnoxious assholes who constantly talk about getting laid. Bitchy careerist ladies who constantly demand bullshit, and seem to foment panic with every brea…

Is it working out?

Well, the trade exchanging one Boss' Nephew for one Smelly Weirdo is actually turning out to be an improvement.
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