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I wonder if anyone really loves working for McDonald's, or if this kind of advice is only supposed to apply to privileged middle-class (and above) folks?
Can anyone name a field for which that's true, not counting software development? Even among us, that's not even true for 50% of programmers.
Hewever, I think there's a level of professionalism that comes with getting paid (ie: you feel bad slacking off reading HN), but if you're working for free, then I can see it turning into: "Hey, let's try framework Z, because it looks like fun!" (not because of client requirements). "OH LOOK, HASKELL ON A HORSE! I've never written Haskell, but let's try it for the Foo subsystem!"
Yes, this is too simplistic, ie the open source community. Usually when I work on open source stuff it falls out of client work (I want X to be better, I found a bug in Y, etc).
Then again, I've been a contractor for the last 8 years, so I might have a different view than a independent software vendor with their own product lineup.
(Yes, I am working on my own product, but not because I want to work for free: it's because I want to create a revenue stream and get paid.)
I wonder if anyone really loves working for McDonald's, or if this kind of advice is only supposed to apply to privileged middle-class (and above) folks?
Some jobs are a way of working yourself up to the job you'd do for free and that's what a McDonalds job is to people who aren't stuck in it. If I were the author I'd make that an addendum.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are plenty of rewards that aren't monetary. The author isn't saying you should work in a job that provides no benefits. He's saying the benefit of money shouldn't be the primary one because other benefits (like fulfillment) are more important. So the point of the mental exercise is to help you find a job that is worthwhile regardless of the money you're paid to do it. So you'd still be rewarded for your efforts…
Those rewards won't buy me or my kids food, or pay the mortgage. I get the larger point the advice is supposed to make, but I'm sorry, I will never work for free. I will quit working, if I ever become wealthy enough to afford it, and I would tinker on my own "for free", but I wouldn't call it work at that point.
But yes, his advice only applies to independently wealthy people, unless you start attaching caveats: "If you wouldn't do what you do for FREE, then find another JOB, secure IT, and then QUIT your current one".
This greatly reminded me of Randy Pausch's last speech [1]. Please, if you haven't seen it already, you should find some time, today.
As for the author's points, it seems like some people are missing the point. He is not saying you should work for free. He is saying that if you involve yourself professionally in something you are deeply passionate about, something you would enjoy doing in your free time, everything else will come. And by everything else one means fulfillment, expertise and inevitably money.
You are better off seeking that something sooner rather than later. Hence, quit now. Find in. Enjoy it. Make money.
My 0,02 €.
I think the world of startups is unfortunately filled with youth that expect candy and fun and complain when it isn't, all the while making enough money to put them in the top %10 of salaried wage earners on earth.
Honestly I wouldn't mind seeing more Marines in startups. Running up steep mountains in sub-zero temps while being shot at after not sleeping for a week, on top of being hungry would give you some perspective on what to complain about.
After quitting each job I lived from savings and worked diligently creating my own products. The products themselves were not spectacularly successful. However they did help me get my current job which is awesome.
My point: try to make sure you invest your time wisely. Jobs don't need to be perfect (none are) but they should help you advance to the next "gig" (own company, early retirement, better job etc).
Being passionate isn't a substitute for mastery, getting burned out by hard work, and general marketability of an idea or product. No matter now passionate you might be about widget-building, your lack of skill and the lack of a market for widgets is the cold hard reality.
If you would do your job for free, you're an idiot and I don't want you on my team. I've liked almost every job I've ever had, and loved some of them. I would never have done any of them for free. Even when I was volunteering during high school, I got free food and discounts on parts.
I think you're missing the point. My take on what he's saying is "If you had a billion dollars and money was absolutely no object would you still do your job". Hence the "remember when you were 12" line calling back to a time when money is not a primary concern.
But seriously, I'd set sail and never put a foot on land again. About the most work I'd do is rigging and some weight lifting. I would do that until the day I die, which with any luck would be sooner rather than later (being old and rich doesn't appeal to me almost as much as being old and poor). Does this mean I should look for jobs doing those things right now instead of in tech? No, that's silly. In fact, the best chance I have right now for ever being at the point in my life where I can do that is if I stay in tech and work my ass off for a decent paycheck.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
There are plenty of rewards that aren't monetary. The author isn't saying you should work in a job that provides no benefits. He's saying the benefit of money shouldn't be the primary one because other benefits (like fulfillment) are more important. So the point of the mental exercise is to help you find a job that is worthwhile regardless of the money you're paid to do it. So you'd still be rewarded for your efforts…
Those rewards won't buy me or my kids food, or pay the mortgage. I get the larger point the advice is supposed to make, but I'm sorry, I will never work for free. I will quit working, if I ever become wealthy enough to afford it, and I would tinker on my own "for free", but I wouldn't call it work at that point.