My First Job: Fired and Rehired on Day 1

I feel like I'm a different species when I hear someone excited about working 80+ hours a week. Having so little free time and so little time to spend with friends and family seems like a sad life regardless of the paycheck.

I agree with this: "Have a passion for Doing something rather than Being a title on a business card." I also agree that "Showing up a lot increases your odds" (in this case meaning working a lot of hours), but I just don't think it's worth the trade-off.

Life outside of work is, for many of us, far more meaningful than work. I thought this feeling was extremely common, but judging by what gets to the front of HN I'm in the minority here.

Re: My First Job: Fired and Rehired on Day 1

#7

Post by aaronbrethorst » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 7:44 AM UTC

"You’re not so smart, you just show up a lot in a lot of places."

Quite astute. As they say, showing up is half the battle.

Re: My First Job: Fired and Rehired on Day 1

#8

Post by evincarofautumn » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 7:45 AM UTC

ignostic wrote: post #6

I feel like I'm a different species when I hear someone excited about working 80+ hours a week. Having so little free time and so little time to spend with friends and family seems like a sad life regardless of the paycheck. I agree with this: "Have a passion for Doing something rather than Being a title on a business card." I also agree that "Showing up a lot increases your odds" (in this case meaning working a lot…

You’re not alone. I’m only awake for 80 hours during the week. Devoting half of that to a job is insane enough, thanks.

Re: My First Job: Fired and Rehired on Day 1

#9

Post by peterwiese » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 7:49 AM UTC

mattip wrote: post #2

Can anyone summarize? I do not read linkedin articles.

linkedin is such a rotten place and such a rotten company. remember intro? remember the package full of crap they sent that guy who found a vulnerability in intro?

remember what linkedin stands for? It stands for corporate America, it stands for enslaving people, especially the young. Everything about linkedin is broken, and people writing blogs on LinkedIn (what?) about how they successfully subordinated themselves for Money Inc., just makes sick and sad and sick again.

Re: My First Job: Fired and Rehired on Day 1

#10

Post by ryanjshaw » Mon, Nov 04, 2013, 7:49 AM UTC

ignostic wrote: post #6

I feel like I'm a different species when I hear someone excited about working 80+ hours a week. Having so little free time and so little time to spend with friends and family seems like a sad life regardless of the paycheck. I agree with this: "Have a passion for Doing something rather than Being a title on a business card." I also agree that "Showing up a lot increases your odds" (in this case meaning working a lot…

If I have to work 80+ hours a week to have the absolute financial freedom to live the rest of my estimated 40-50 years on this planet in any way I chose, nevermind ensuring similar benefits accrue to my family, then I think that's a pretty good deal. I still have down time and plenty of fond memories -- you just have to plan how you spend that time a bit better.

I live in a part of the world where a lack of financial resources is death. Every single day I pass by people begging for money and for work, and I live 5min away from my office. My crappy little second hand Fiat is worth more than combined net worth of every person I pass on the street. I remember seeing a documentary once where a labourer said something to the effect of: "I work like a horse so that my children can work like dogs, so that their children can live like people, and their children can be free."

And before any says your children should take care of themselves: try telling that to a child born with severe autism or down's syndrome, or some other disabling birth defect. If you're not planning for your family so that you can enjoy your younger years a bit more fully, you're taking a huge, selfish risk.

I'm much more fortunate than that guy was - my parents worked like dogs.