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Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

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101–110 of 122 posts

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#101
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m also in my thirties and have a 1 year old boy. I want to wake up at 5, but can’t find the power and energy. What would you suggest me?

I have 9 month old boy and I wake up at 2am, also 3, 4, 5, 5:30, 5:45... Joking aside, it is just hard to keep any schedule with kids that young. Brace yourself, in few months your sleep situation is going to get better.

For you and poster above - I have a 6-month old kid and he's sleeping full nights since 3-months old. He only missed two nights (one was sick and the other one just started teething). The resource we used was called "On becoming babywise", highly recommended! (also, knock on wood, I believe we've been lucky with the baby, so far!)

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#102
post #21
post #13

I found a meaningful 9-5 job.

I agree with this. When I had to look for work last, I asked myself what was the biggest problem I wanted to contribute to fixing (for me it was climate change). Then, I started researching and networking with people who worked for companies in that area. Eventually, I got a job in renewable energy. So far I've loved every minute in this field because I feel it is so meaningful. There's lots of 9-5 jobs that are mean…

This is exactly the path I'm on, software eng in ad tech would love to help the cause for addressing climate change - any advice?

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#103
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree with this. When I had to look for work last, I asked myself what was the biggest problem I wanted to contribute to fixing (for me it was climate change). Then, I started researching and networking with people who worked for companies in that area. Eventually, I got a job in renewable energy. So far I've loved every minute in this field because I feel it is so meaningful. There's lots of 9-5 jobs that are mean…

This is exactly the path I'm on, software eng in ad tech would love to help the cause for addressing climate change - any advice?

Sure! Check out this post (and posts like in my comment history).

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=15127154

Also, if you're in the bay area, start coming to events on my bayareaenergyevents.com calendar. Software engineers usually have no issues finding jobs once they come to a few events and learn who's hiring.

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#104

I'm delivering my notice today, in Brazil it's 30 days of notice and then I'm free :) My plan is to work on my projects, blog, study in both specializing and generalizing, get in touch with the developer community, do Open Source, seek remote & independent work, I've saved enough for about a year on a budget. I also plan to take the opportunity and take a very good care of myself, I skate and I'm taking up calistheni…

good luck on your ventures! you sound excited

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#105
post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

even bought a farm (don't ask) I know you said don't ask, but I guess there is a good story there. so why the farm? :P

I was born in wine making region and basically everybody there have/had small vineyard and winery. I was living abroad at that time and was visiting familly over Christmas. As it goes we went to cellar of my uncle and then second and third and I got a "bit" drunk when they started talking about some land that one of their friend is going to sell as he is too old to continue working on it. It sounded like amazing idea…

Thank you, nice story. Moral is to not make any decisions while drunk :)

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#106
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These miserable WS tech gigs pay well right?

Yea, the reason most of us stay put for a bit :-/ Typically tech jobs at big IB's and hedge funds pay more than your FB's and Google's of the world, and with way more time off per year.

Mind if I ask you what kind of work that you guys do?

Hardcore Math modelling implemented in C++ or something?

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#107

> How did you escape Out the window. I had to back up quite a bit and take a running leap, but I was able to easily shatter the floor-to-ceiling pane glass. Marge from Accounting tried to stop me, but luckily I had begun taking Parkour classes recently and was easily able to dodge her. > Did you have a strategy or was it a leap of faith? It was a literal leap of faith. Some banners set up to advertise a corporate con…

Should've grabbed some cat-6 cable for a climbing harness first. https://xkcd.com/308/

Cat 5a would do

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#108
post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have 9 month old boy and I wake up at 2am, also 3, 4, 5, 5:30, 5:45... Joking aside, it is just hard to keep any schedule with kids that young. Brace yourself, in few months your sleep situation is going to get better.

For you and poster above - I have a 6-month old kid and he's sleeping full nights since 3-months old. He only missed two nights (one was sick and the other one just started teething). The resource we used was called "On becoming babywise", highly recommended! (also, knock on wood, I believe we've been lucky with the baby, so far!)

Each kid is different, you might just get lucky. Our first born was heavy cryer till her sixth month, then she was sleeping nicely. Second did sleep very well till 6th month, then teething started and he is just crazy.

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#109
post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What does your company sell?

I haven't up/down voted you, but I think I understand why others did. Your comment appears either as relevant to or an off shot from the perceived topic, thus gets judged and receives its due votes.

How is the the product not relevant to the meaningfulness?

Re: Ask HN: How did you escape your safe 9-5 job?

#110
post #88

I really need advice, I'm in this exact situation and I'm feeling lost. I'm gonna go throwaway since I really need to spill the beans here: My story is full of 'pendulum swings' and 'comparisons' and I can't really make up my mind. I need help. - I am married with children. - I live in Brazil, which is shitty right now, as most of you know (far-right trigger-happy president just got elected). Lots of unemployment goi…

"- I know I need more free time for my family and the kid. I don't think I should be living two work lives for that much time or I'll end up not seeing my kid grow up or something. As much as the freelance gigs make me feel really accomplished, I realize I also need time for "real" hobbies (music making, woodworking), exercise, etc." This bothers me. You made a decision to start a family, when you did so, you made a…

thank you for your reply!
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