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Ask HN: How do I get over constant failure?

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Re: Ask HN: How do I get over constant failure?

#121

Post by cardosof »

noogle wrote: post #73
ravenstine wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think we overestimate the unpopularity of opinions auch as yours and the person you are responding to. Tons of HN users work for BigBoringCo after experiencing the typical startup and realizing they can't and shouldn't handle thr volatility anymore, and tons of developers work for non-techy firms because that's more problems can be solved. Most of my best times as a software engineer was when I worked at non-techy…

How does the compensation compare? Aside from finance, does any other industry pay as well as SV and startups?

It may vary a lot of course but I'd say it's generally worse... And the difference gets brutal if the startup gets successful and you get to exercise stock options. However, money isn't everything... Mental stability is priceless.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get over constant failure?

#122

Post by wwkeyboard »

burnoutgal wrote: post #11
pezzana wrote: post #2

> ... It's been a couple months and I have achieved nothing. Not a single PR merged. ... There's a lot to be said for getting into a rhythm of picking an issue, solving it, and merging it. Doing it a few times can be a real confidence booster. What's the reason behind having no PRs merged? Did you create them, only to have them rejected? Have you not completed the work for any? Is there nobody to review them? Also, j…

I've teed up maybe 6 PRs, but it is hard to find who's actually responsible to review things and get sign-off one way or the other. The iteration speed is also very slow and deploys are pretty high risk, so it's hard to throw things at the wall and see what sticks.

If you're feeling this pain your colleagues are as well. Small improvements in this area are yeoman's work that's often appreciated by peers, if not management. When I've been in a rut making baby steps in tooling has helped get me moving again.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get over constant failure?

#123

Post by giantg2 »

My career sounds similar but all at a large company. High performer initially. They wouldn't promote me, wouldn't give a modest raise, and then screwed me over a few times. It's been a downward spiral. I just don't care - even if I perform well I would probably get screwed like in the past.

My advice is to not care. If you get fired for work in tech for a non-tech larger company. It will be boring, but you'll get paid.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get over constant failure?

#124

Post by 71a54xd »

vijucat wrote: post #6

Possibly unpopular advice on HN, but stop joining startups. Idiosyncratic-Culture Risk is off the charts for startups. Join more stable firms with a more "boring" but predictable culture where things get delivered every Sprint, everyone gets paid well, there is no Mountain Dew being guzzled at 8 pm in the office to meet some deadline, weekends are truly off, and your mental health actually recovers. Your dream jobs a…

Yeah, I realized my aspirations to be a founder / work at early stage startups were kind of idiotic after a while. But more importantly, I realized I just liked making more money and only dealing with my own problems.

It sort of sucks, but idk - in my late twenties I'd like to think I have a much better understanding of what makes me happy now.

I'm actually trying to pass FAANG interviews and it sucks, but at the same time I've realized just optimizing for TC over the next few years is something I actually prefer.

Re: Ask HN: How do I get over constant failure?

#125

Post by d--b »

First: take it easy, a couple of months is nothing, and your boss left, so you’re kind of in limbo, that happens.

Second: talk to people. There is nothing wrong telling your coworkers / senior people how you feel. Just pull someone who seems senior and nice apart and tell them straight up: “hey Can I talk to you too ne sec. - I am a bit at a loss here, since my boss left I am not exactly sure what I am supposed to do, who do you think I should talk to to sort this out?”

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