From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate • Hacker News Board

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#41

Post by orev » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 8:56 PM UTC

gnrlst wrote: post #23

I have a sense of guilt when I compare myself to my high school friends who have to work longer, work harder, and get paid significantly less. They are just as smart, they just made different choices. And this sense of guilt and of feeling like I don't deserve it just compounds the imposter syndrome to the point I can't even enjoy what I have because I think that at any moment I'll be "discovered" and lose everything…

> They are just as smart, they just made different choices.

Most people fall within a similar range of intelligence, and where they end up in life is far more a result of the choices they made than how smart they are. So you made a bunch of choices, like learning tech, etc, and they made a bunch of choices, like maybe partying instead of studying, and now you get to enjoy the rewards.

You shouldn’t feel guilty about that, you earned it by making better choices.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#42

Post by gamechangr » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 8:57 PM UTC

gnrlst wrote: post #23

I have a sense of guilt when I compare myself to my high school friends who have to work longer, work harder, and get paid significantly less. They are just as smart, they just made different choices. And this sense of guilt and of feeling like I don't deserve it just compounds the imposter syndrome to the point I can't even enjoy what I have because I think that at any moment I'll be "discovered" and lose everything…

I have had this experience. Sometimes its important to remember that money is just a proxy. For example, I have paid for 10 friends from High School to spend a week in a 3,000 SQ FT cabin in Colorado and just relax.

I'm going to say a few things that I normally wouldn't, just to better illustrate my point. A few of my friends make less than $30k a year. One is 1st grade teacher (male) and one is a full time math tutor. They are great people who go to work and make a difference. I wouldn't feel the same if they just laid on their couch and drank everyday...but still.

Remember money is really for experiences. I paid for the Cabin, 10 sking passes and sent each of them $2,000 for the trip to cover air fairs and transportation. The whole thing was maybe $30,000 and it's one of my better memories.

I would say -- be intentionally generous and look for ways to help your life long friends. Yes, it helps them. Yes, it helps you too. You would be shocked how much purpose it brings to your life.

Most 40 year olds have less than 2 people in their life that would lend them $10k. Be that friend and never keep track.

This is the reason you work hard and are paid more than you should be - to be a better friend than you otherwise would be able to be.

Blow someone away with your generosity

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#43

Post by ravedave5 » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 8:58 PM UTC

Has this dude never heard of hobbies?

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#44

Post by avgDev » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:00 PM UTC

symlinkk wrote: post #35

avgDev wrote: post #9

"The experience was physically taxing, he was diagnosed with tendonitis after moving hundreds of boxes a day, but it pulled him out of his depression and helped him gain perspective and a deeper sense of meaning"....... I have mixed feelings about this. What this has proven is working at amazon warehouse sucks, and is not sustainable. I've had many physical shitty jobs in my 20's. Then, I had some health issue and co…

Software development is taxing on your brain the same way physical labor is taxing on your body. It’s depressing, soul sucking work. You’re stuck inside, staring at a screen for 8+ hours a day.

Working at amazon as an order picker is depressing, soul sucking and can wreck your body for the remainder of your life.

Devs can get by working few hours a day, some barely do any work at all.

I refuse to stare at a screen 8+ hours a day. I take healthy breaks and create boundaries.

I rarely have to solve puzzles at work. The grunt of the work is almost the same thing over and over.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#45

Post by fjfbsufhdvfy » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:00 PM UTC

helen___keller wrote: post #3

> For me, a lot of my meaning comes from two things. One is doing something in the world that feels like it's actually making things a little better somehow. And so contributing to society in some meaningful way. > But the other thing is socialization with my coworkers is a huge part of my daily satisfaction in a job. You might be free Monday through Friday but all of your friends are working when you want to grab co…

There are a lot of people who have given up on a) and instead spend all their time trying to tear the stuff other people build down because they got bored.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#46

Post by scrlk » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:01 PM UTC

samstave wrote: post #30

WesternWind wrote: post #21

It's interesting that he developed tendonitis. I've read that the rate of injury at amazon jobs is incredibly high , which is not good practice in my view. Article says amazon rate of serious injury 80% higher than competitors https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57332390

Amazon will be the first to adopt the exo-skeleton-assist for factory/warehouse workers, which the unit is registered to you and any damage will result in a docking of your medical coverage/pay.

> "Alexa, open the exo-skeleton, I need to go to the bathroom"

> "I'm sorry, your exo-skeleton has already been opened for the allotted 15 minute break, it will not open again until the end of your shift"

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#47

Post by hkon » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:01 PM UTC

yuliyp wrote: post #38

spacemadness wrote: post #24

This person seems like they are suffering from typical tech bubble non-awareness disease. They always strive to make the world a better place as… a director of Facebook. Debatable. Early retirement is such a nightmare for me that.. I became an Amazon Warehouse Associate out of boredom? I’m not sure how any of this narcissism is making the world a better place.

How dare he find meaning in things that are different from you. Congratulations on figuring out how to find fulfillment and a balanced life before the rest of us. Philip's journey toward that is clearly different from yours.

There is a difference between enduring hardships because you want to for fun, and enduring it because you must to earn money.

It reads like a slap in the face

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#48

Post by humanistbot » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:01 PM UTC

symlinkk wrote: post #35

avgDev wrote: post #9

"The experience was physically taxing, he was diagnosed with tendonitis after moving hundreds of boxes a day, but it pulled him out of his depression and helped him gain perspective and a deeper sense of meaning"....... I have mixed feelings about this. What this has proven is working at amazon warehouse sucks, and is not sustainable. I've had many physical shitty jobs in my 20's. Then, I had some health issue and co…

Software development is taxing on your brain the same way physical labor is taxing on your body. It’s depressing, soul sucking work. You’re stuck inside, staring at a screen for 8+ hours a day.

If all jobs had the same salary, benefits, career path, etc, there is no way I'd trade software development for a job involving strenuous physical labor.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#49

Post by spacemadness » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:02 PM UTC

yuliyp wrote: post #38

spacemadness wrote: post #24

This person seems like they are suffering from typical tech bubble non-awareness disease. They always strive to make the world a better place as… a director of Facebook. Debatable. Early retirement is such a nightmare for me that.. I became an Amazon Warehouse Associate out of boredom? I’m not sure how any of this narcissism is making the world a better place.

How dare he find meaning in things that are different from you. Congratulations on figuring out how to find fulfillment and a balanced life before the rest of us. Philip's journey toward that is clearly different from yours.

Yes, Philip’s journey was an extremely privileged one apparently and required a blog post or it didn’t happen.

Re: From Burned Out Tech CEO to Amazon Warehouse Associate

#50

Post by mikrl » Mon, Oct 03, 2022, 9:03 PM UTC

WesternWind wrote: post #21

It's interesting that he developed tendonitis. I've read that the rate of injury at amazon jobs is incredibly high , which is not good practice in my view. Article says amazon rate of serious injury 80% higher than competitors https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-57332390

When I was in a warehouse slugging cast iron and black steel all day I could barely walk by the time I got home.

Spending all day on your feet, loaded with a large mass going up and down, and wearing the least shitty boots you can afford does a number on you. I still feel it in my foot and calf to this day and it’s been years.

The old guy I worked with must have been going on 65 and slugged harder and faster than me with less bitching. He hated the company, but not the work he did. Absolute trooper.