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Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

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Re: Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

#281

Post by JSavageOne »

boring_twenties wrote: post #228
e_i_pi_2 wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The "U" part means everyone would get it, so you don't have to opt for it, and everyone would still pay taxes Another way to think of it is as a negative income tax - as a simple example the equation could be ((income * 0.2) - 20000), so if you make no money you get 20k, if you make 100k you pay no taxes and get nothing, if you make 200k you owe 20. This is using a flat tax rate for simplicity but then everyone get t…

The question is how many people making 200k will, given the option, take the free 20k and not work, therefore paying no taxes.

Why does anyone work in countries that already have strong welfare systems then (eg. Scandinavia, Germany)?

Re: Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

#282

Post by jfil »

kafkaesque wrote: post #223
tomdell wrote: post #5

As someone who tried the music-or-nothing approach for several years after college and two years in ended up with semi-regular panic attacks, persistent existential dread, and crippling anxiety over finances, I can't recommend getting a day job enough. It saddens me to think of all the creative work I could be doing and all the artistic growth I could be seeing instead of developing marketing software, but at least I…

I tried living off my music for 10 years when I was young. I was on the verge of homelessness at the end. The existential dread was good for my art, but not my mental health. I was very creative, but also on the verge of not wanting to exist. After that, I sold all my gear and focused on a career in software development. I live a comfortable life now and slowly building back up my home studio and making music again.…

You're a different person now, under different circumstances. It's reasonable that your process and music will sound very different than before.

Re: Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

#283

Post by [deleted] »

WalterBright wrote: post #272
solarmist wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I envy him in a way. Everything’s so black and white. I wish everything had been stacked in my favor that way.

If you develop a reputation for integrity and honor, things will stack in your favor. If you go around telling people that it's fine to steal from them, do you think they'll consider doing business with you? I wouldn't. I had a conversation once with the contractor who was fixing my roof. He said that he'd have a customer now and then who didn't pay. He said the roofing contractors all knew each other, and they kept…

[deleted]

Re: Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

#284

Post by Apocryphon »

WalterBright wrote: post #272
solarmist wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I envy him in a way. Everything’s so black and white. I wish everything had been stacked in my favor that way.

If you develop a reputation for integrity and honor, things will stack in your favor. If you go around telling people that it's fine to steal from them, do you think they'll consider doing business with you? I wouldn't. I had a conversation once with the contractor who was fixing my roof. He said that he'd have a customer now and then who didn't pay. He said the roofing contractors all knew each other, and they kept…

How often would the client need roofing work done anyway?

Re: Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

#285

Post by Apocryphon »

WalterBright wrote: post #148
digging wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

yes, I'm happily making that choice. it is the only sane choice. if you really think the kingdom can be neatly divided into wolverines, nuthatches, and happy people on one side, and "honorable" people on the other side, you do you. aren't you amazed that an animal like me can argue with you though?

Choosing honor over animalism has nothing to do with intelligence nor education. Like I said, each of us gets to make that choice. An observation - many people brag about things like cheating in school "because everybody does it", or other excuses. When other people hear these, they smile and nod and move them to the "do not trust" list in their heads. The cheaters unwittingly miss out on a lot of opportunities that…

What about all of the cheaters who don’t brag?

Re: Lifers, Dayjobbers, and the Independently Wealthy: A Letter to a Former Student

#286

Post by specproc »

softfalcon wrote: post #276
specproc wrote: post #230

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worry there's a bit of HN bias here. I don't know anyone whose partner owns an investment management firm or similar. I know a fair few day jobbing musicians and creatives of other stripes though, only one of which with parents of any real means. One is a manager at a theatre, one does care work, one does WordPress and a bit of JS for small companies. The most full-time musician I know did have the richest parents…

Oh, you’re not wrong. There are lots of day-jobbing creatives that I know as well. I’m one of them. I work a good tech job and do photography as a hobby. Forgive me if I seemed overly focused on these folks and their lucky circumstances. If I’m being honest, I’m a bit jealous they get to spend all their time focused on their creative interests when I only get to do it part time. If money wasn’t a requirement, I’d be…

Heh, sorry if I misread or sounded narky! That category one is clearly there and influential, but I don't think you suggested they were everywhere.

I'm impressed by those who find the time and energy to be consistent with a craft, on top of the pressures of work and family.

I like a dabble here and there at lots of things, but don't make the time and don't follow through enough. Something to aspire to.

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