Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

You are not your career/job

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 30 posts

Re: You are not your career/job

#21

Post by dsauerbrun »

thn-gap wrote: post #18
dsauerbrun wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if it's any consolation I'm going through the exact opposite. In my 20s I took a year off to travel, came back and only cared about taking jobs that would give me enough flexibility to work remotely and have lots of vacation so I could travel. Now I'm in my early 30s seeing some of my peers from college making double my salary. Big tech doesn't seem all that interested in me so I'm kind of stuck working for smaller c…

Thanks for offering contrasting experiences. Can you be more specific on why doubling the salary would be life changing? I read this as you're prevented from doing things that you're life can not be plentiful otherwise. A lot wished they did more traveling like you when you where younger, but they cannot go back. Is your case a need for doubling the salary now, or can it happen through time? Would you feel the same i…

I love the area I live in and want to buy a house. I finally had saved up enough for a downpayment in 2020... obviously we all know what happened to the housing market around then.

If I could have gotten that downpayment earlier I would have been able to buy my house. Now I need more money to buy the same house and the longer I wait I might get priced out again once I get the down payment together.

If I'm lucky there will be a crash and my dp that I saved will be enough. I prefer to focus on known entities though such as looking at levels.fyi and seeing what comparable position salaries are like right now.

If my peers were making the same amount as me I would probably not feel the same. I don't see it as jealousy because i knew the trade off I was making when I was younger. I just see it as the road I could have taken to have a house today.

FWIW, I don't necessarily regret the year I took off. It was life changing in more ways than a house would be. I just wish I wasn't as imbalanced when I came back from the trip and took my career a bit more seriously.

Re: You are not your career/job

#22

Post by dsauerbrun »

bluefirebrand wrote: post #15
dsauerbrun wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if it's any consolation I'm going through the exact opposite. In my 20s I took a year off to travel, came back and only cared about taking jobs that would give me enough flexibility to work remotely and have lots of vacation so I could travel. Now I'm in my early 30s seeing some of my peers from college making double my salary. Big tech doesn't seem all that interested in me so I'm kind of stuck working for smaller c…

There's no guarantee you'd have double your salary now if you'd worked harder in your 20s. A lot of salary in tech is just location. A few years ago I nearly doubled my salary just by moving to a new city and taking on a new job there. Also I love working for smaller companies even if they do pay less than big tech. The opportunity to work on greenfield projects and actually have meaningful input into the direction e…

In hindsight I would have done the "Silicon Valley University" thing and worked in SF for a year or two. Having big tech or growth startup on your resume appears to be quite important.

Re: You are not your career/job

#23

Post by dsauerbrun »

tharne wrote: post #16
dsauerbrun wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

if it's any consolation I'm going through the exact opposite. In my 20s I took a year off to travel, came back and only cared about taking jobs that would give me enough flexibility to work remotely and have lots of vacation so I could travel. Now I'm in my early 30s seeing some of my peers from college making double my salary. Big tech doesn't seem all that interested in me so I'm kind of stuck working for smaller c…

It may not feel like it now, but you did the right thing in your 20's. Those experiences you had and the memories that go with them will last you a lifetime, and you'll only appreciate them more, the older you get. You still have plenty of time to land that fat salary, even if it doesn't seem that way at the moment. Most people I know making large salaries didn't start doing so until they were older than you are now.…

Agreed. The one year I took off to travel changed my life for the better. I became more comfortable socially and made friends all over the world that I try to see whenever I travel again. I found my love of rock climbing on that trip which also has proved to be a hobby that keeps me healthy and motivated to go outdoors.

It's not too late for you. Next time you switch jobs take 6 months off in between and go travel. Stay in hostels, have days where you do nothing at all, etc...

Re: You are not your career/job

#24

Post by brezelgoring »

codingdave wrote: post #20
nly wrote: post #8

Most of us probably spend 40-45% of our waking lifetime either in the office or on our way to or from the office. And most of us will spend 30-40 years of our lives, including all your prime years, spending that 40-45% to serve somelse's desires. Even if you in enjoy your job, the reality is work is one of the biggest parts of our lives and wrapped up in our sense of self worth and identity.

That is exactly the point - that leaves 55-60% of our waking time not working. Why let the minority of your time define your self worth and identity? Sure, our work time serves someone else's desires... in exchange for money that we use to build the home and life that we want. Hopefully spending our time and energy with the people and family we want. Work is a tool to empower everything else. Do that work - do it wel…

Do you sleep? You, realistically, get only 15~20% of your waking hours to yourself. I know it goes in favor of the 'you are your job' camp, of which I am against, so what I'd say is 'choose wisely'.

Re: You are not your career/job

#25

Post by frontman1988 »

Wonnk13 wrote: post #9

I'm not a woulda/coulda/shoulda kind of guy, but one of my few genuine regrets is skipping scheduled vacations for client fire drills and just generally not taking more time off in my 20s. I am thankful that my perspective changed before I lost my 30s as well. HN certainly has a selection bias toward founders and early stage employees, but I feel very strongly that your career cannot be your sole source of meaning. B…

What's up with the fixation of travelling and having fun in the 20s? If you maintain your health you can easily postpone it to your 40s and 50s as well.

Re: You are not your career/job

#27

Post by r-zip »

frontman1988 wrote: post #25
Wonnk13 wrote: post #9

I'm not a woulda/coulda/shoulda kind of guy, but one of my few genuine regrets is skipping scheduled vacations for client fire drills and just generally not taking more time off in my 20s. I am thankful that my perspective changed before I lost my 30s as well. HN certainly has a selection bias toward founders and early stage employees, but I feel very strongly that your career cannot be your sole source of meaning. B…

What's up with the fixation of travelling and having fun in the 20s? If you maintain your health you can easily postpone it to your 40s and 50s as well.

Living that long is not guaranteed.

Re: You are not your career/job

#28

Post by jasfi »

dsauerbrun wrote: post #22
bluefirebrand wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's no guarantee you'd have double your salary now if you'd worked harder in your 20s. A lot of salary in tech is just location. A few years ago I nearly doubled my salary just by moving to a new city and taking on a new job there. Also I love working for smaller companies even if they do pay less than big tech. The opportunity to work on greenfield projects and actually have meaningful input into the direction e…

In hindsight I would have done the "Silicon Valley University" thing and worked in SF for a year or two. Having big tech or growth startup on your resume appears to be quite important.

You could still get a startup going, it's not too late. Look into writing a SaaS for example. No matter where you are.

Re: You are not your career/job

#29

Post by bradlys »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #13
nly wrote: post #8

Most of us probably spend 40-45% of our waking lifetime either in the office or on our way to or from the office. And most of us will spend 30-40 years of our lives, including all your prime years, spending that 40-45% to serve somelse's desires. Even if you in enjoy your job, the reality is work is one of the biggest parts of our lives and wrapped up in our sense of self worth and identity.

> wrapped up in our sense of self worth and identity Speak for yourself. I can completely fail at work, go home, and sleep like a baby. Conversely, I can have an amazingly good day, enjoy it and then completely forget about it the next day. It's just a job.

Guess it depends on your employer. Many where I am will fire you depending on your performance and very hastily so. They’ll also try to make your life miserable along the way.
Post reply on HN