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Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

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Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#21

Post by dynamicdox »

sadamznintern wrote: post #3
Pamar wrote: post #2

Do you have any hobby which you find rewarding in itself? (Note that I am not saying "find something outside your job where you can excel" - I mean "try to find something you like doing for the pleasure of it an see if it helps you finding some satisfaction in doing it, without any competitive aspect".

I honestly don’t - I used to spend time playing online games with friends but I’ve mostly stopped recently. It turns out I’m bad at them too. I tried learning to play an instrument but gave up. I might pick it up again but I haven’t found the time. The sad thing is I feel like I need an interesting hobby or interests like the folks that went to top schools and work at top companies but I can’t think of anything or do…

If there is a gym close to you, I recommend rock climbing if you are looking for something both mentally and physically stimulating. It’s like solving a puzzle (figuring out how to do the climb) and then executing by having the strength and technique to do it. It’s an absolute blast. Been doing it for a couple years and it brings me a lot of happiness. Plus the community is so open and welcoming! Slowly all my friends have become people I’ve met from those communities.

Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#22

Post by pvg »

tptacek wrote: post #14
pvg wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

because I have a saved search for "IQ" (historically, "IQ" has been a reliably marker for seriously gross threads) Wait, what? How many of those do you have? That seems like way more work than abstract algebra.

A lot. I automated it awhile ago.

Wow. So the Citation is... real?

"After a morning workout practicing his Fascism-Communism-false-equivalence combat katas, the Citation wonders what life would have been like if he'd chosen a more conventional path - perhaps teaching Spanish-speaking maths prodigies. A soft chirp from his watch interrupts his musings. The night's reports from Trollhunter, the autonomous threadoscaphe are coming in..."

Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#26

Post by konradb »

sadamznintern wrote: post #18
tptacek wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you are typical intern age and freaking out over your income over the next 4-5 years, you are also probably doing something wrong.

I’m 22. I’m seeing everyone I respect get TC over $180k and on. I don’t come close while working harder and being judged more harshly. I can’t even leave. Everyone thinks I’m a joke because of my background and lack of pedigree. I’m never going to make up for my prior failures at this rate.

You are telling yourself this, but you don't realise it - you are mistaking your own voice for objective reality. You might have heard the expression 'the map is not the territory'.

The only person thinking bad things about you is you.

Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#27

Post by rasmus1610 »

jackgolding wrote: post #23

You don't need any of this to be successful, what I've found in my early-mid twenties is in nearly all situations showing up and showing initiative puts you in the top 5%.

+1 I‘m always amazed how many people don’t do the basics right and how much you can win by just showing up and showing initiative and basic thinking

Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#28

Post by quickthrower2 »

sadamznintern wrote: post #16
tptacek wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My subfield, software security, is so full of people that tried to get a job at Google and failed that it became a running joke. Some extremely well-known people in the field number among them. If you're evaluating your life by whether you can pass an interview loop at Google or Facebook, you're doing something wrong.

I mean, I'm still making less (around 80% of what they make or less) than them. And I will for the next 4-5 years if I can hack it at Amazon FT.

In the book "The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A Fuck" by Mark Manson, he gives a good example of Dave Mustaine being pissed off that Metallica had much more success than Megadeth, so even though he had a tonne of success, sold millions of records (or whatever...) his value system didn't allow him to be satisfied.

Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#29

Post by eykanspelgud »

evervevdww221 wrote: post #24

I cut off my social networks (Facebook ...) because of this. Am I a coward? I'm still trying to improve my situation, but I too have insomnia because of stress and anxiety, I can't focus because of them.

Cutting off social media led to much improvement in my situation. It's a time sink - unless you're using it for marketing purposes. The time I use to peruse Facebook, IG, Twitter, is used for more useful things.

Re: Ask HN: How did you come to grips with your own mediocrity?

#30

Post by tptacek »

pvg wrote: post #22
tptacek wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot. I automated it awhile ago.

Wow. So the Citation is... real? "After a morning workout practicing his Fascism-Communism-false-equivalence combat katas, the Citation wonders what life would have been like if he'd chosen a more conventional path - perhaps teaching Spanish-speaking maths prodigies. A soft chirp from his watch interrupts his musings. The night's reports from Trollhunter, the autonomous threadoscaphe are coming in..."

LET ME HAVE MY HOBBIES IN PEACE
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