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Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

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Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#381

Post by bombcar »

antisthenes wrote: post #377
bombcar wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you get to know small business owners in these areas, you find that a large number of them have NOBODY to take over the business, for love OR money. Being a competent employee and you'd be surprised what can happen.

Of course they want someone to "take over" the business while keeping most of the business profits, while you are essentially just an employee. For a small business, if you are really looking for someone to take over, you need to offer them a stake in the business, otherwise why would I bother working my ass off? I can make the same or more money just being a grunt in a large corp with much less risk and much more st…

That's the thing, they often get to the point where they'll give the business away to you if you show any interest.

Sometimes they find someone, often they just close down when the owner gets too old.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#382

Post by ornornor »

gvedem wrote: post #142
GoToRO wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

(not US) It seems the whole setup is constructed to make you feel bad, no appreciation for work delivered, every technical argument is seen as an excuse, deadlines have nothing to do with reality an so on. When I interacted with blue collars, they got more respect from their boss or colleagues. Of course, "working with the public" is different and I would guess the only job that is more toxic than programming.

>It seems the whole setup is constructed to make you feel bad, no appreciation for work delivered, every technical argument is seen as an excuse, deadlines have nothing to do with reality an so on it seems like everyone in this thread saying "tech workers get no respect" actually just work for shit companies...

There are a lot of shit companies out there. In fact, I’d posit the average company is a shit company.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#383

Post by [deleted] »

counttheforks wrote: post #329
mdorazio wrote: post #263

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a quick note on this since I ran into the same wtf? moment a few years ago. 1) Saw Stop holds a number of patents that legally prevented anyone else from adding the same tech to their saws. Most of the patents didn’t expire until 2021, but a few are still effective until 2024. We will probably see other manufacturers add similar features in 2025 as a result. 2) SawStop built its reputation on being a premium bra…

Another point to show how deeply unethical the US patent system is. I wonder how many people have lost appendages because of these patents and the exorbitant pricing?

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#384

Post by dxs »

This isn't advice for anyone, but I quit my job when I decided that I'd rather die than keep working there (state government). That was July 7, 2005. I haven't worked since either. Somehow it happened to turn out OK.

You can take a look at the following (might find some ideas): www.bumfuzzle.com

"A couple of Minnesota suburban kids with a world-view that extended all of about twenty miles. It was big news when we upped and moved all the way to the big city of Chicago. Bigger news still, when we announced to the family just a couple years later that we were going to sail around the world. For four years we circumnavigated the globe aboard Bumfuzzle, our 35′ catamaran, returning a little more world-wise." And whole bunches more: "Bumfuzzle—twenty years under our keels and wheels. A life this good, we’re happy to have shared it all this time, and to have made so many friends over the years."

If I had actually been smart enough, I would have at least tried to go in their direction (starting in the 1960s, when I was young). Anyhow, me, I'm retired in Cuenca, Ecuador, living in an apartment right behind this place hotellosbalconescuenca.com/?lang=en , and things are not bad at all.

I'm spending my time learning how to think better, and studying whatever seems most interesting today.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#386

Post by shaman1 »

gavinray wrote: post #178
SamWhited wrote: post #49

Every job I ever had in tech was basically terrible and I was never diagnosed, but I suspect was clinically depressed for the 13 years or so I was in tech. I did not have the savings to do it, but I eventually quit and became a bicycle mechanic. I actually enjoy what I do now, and the work environment doesn't have me constantly jumping back and forth between panic, undirected rage, and extreme listlessness like tech…

Why are you going to lose your house? You bought it while you had tech money and the bicycle mechanic money can't pay for it now? Have you considered doing some consulting or something on the side? So sorry to hear this.

Have you considered cashing out? Meaning selling the house so you get you equity back. Maybe you can use that to move somewhere more affordable and start over.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#388

Post by danjoredd »

tayo42 wrote: post #316
siva7 wrote: post #41

It is important to understand that everyone has sometimes escape phantasies (teachers, therapists, baristas, founders, medical doctors, professors, developers, etc., they all do) because something is making them truly unhappy in their day-to-day job and they assume other people happier. Finding about the root cause what makes you unhappy will usually lead to more satisfying results than just running after to become a…

so how do you all make tech tolerable? Bonus points if you work in ops like SRE or something

By doing something else in my spare time. Don't get me wrong, I still play with tech sometimes, but staring at a screen all day and then going home to look at more screens makes it MUCH worse. Read a book, take a walk, attend a class somewhere, etc. You are not meant to work all day every day...enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#389

Post by mikewarot »

I took a job making gears (no experience required), and while it was less than half the pay of the IT admin job I had previously, I left feeling like I accomplished something, and didn't worry about things at night. Then Covid hit, and I've had long Covid ever since.

It was not a wise financial decision, but I'm fortunate that we've got a very low cost of living worked out.

Making gears was very rewarding, but the commute and the pay sucked.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone started over outside of tech?

#390

Post by danjoredd »

swyx wrote: post #16
droctothorpe wrote: post #15

I tech fast for 25 hours a week. No computer, no cell phone, no television, etc. It's amazing how much this sustains my motivation and enthusiasm. You can "switch" right now, at least 1/7th of the time. Not exactly what you're asking for but immediately actionable.

what do you do when you tech fast? read books?

Not OP but theres tons of stuff. Go to the gym, fish, go to the shooting range, visit a museum, find a super long nature trail and go as far as you can, etc. Even in small nowhere-towns there are tons of things to do when you let your imagination run wild. Finding stuff to do without computers is a skill we have as kids, but lose once we gain our careers.
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