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How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

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Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#21

Post by stronglikedan »

mehphp wrote: post #7
smokel wrote: post #6

Note that there is a difference between wanting to have more money and wanting to make more money . The author seems to be lucky in being born with the latter trait, but most humans luckily don't. If you're in the other group, feel free to simply ignore this advice. Make money to support yourself and your surroundings, but don't feel sad that you can't constantly do the things you love. It is just not how reality wor…

Can you elaborate on the difference, I’m not sure I get it.

There's people that would be happy winning the lottery, and others that would be happier if they had worked for it.

Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#22

Post by smjburton »

> Part of the reason I’ve been able to do this is because I’ve always designed my life such that it can benefit from having money (pinball arcade rooms and all that…) but is also compatible with having no money.

Good observation from the OP. Living lean opens up the possibility to do more things; but it also requires sacrifices that most aren't able to make, and why it's so difficult to work on the things you want to. Sometimes it's nearly impossible to give up life's commitments, comforts, and responsibilities.

Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#24

Post by eCa »

smjburton wrote: post #22

> Part of the reason I’ve been able to do this is because I’ve always designed my life such that it can benefit from having money (pinball arcade rooms and all that…) but is also compatible with having no money. Good observation from the OP. Living lean opens up the possibility to do more things; but it also requires sacrifices that most aren't able to make, and why it's so difficult to work on the things you want to…

I’m just not sure how to square that quote with this from the about page:

> I reside in Las Vegas but also spend a lot of time in Hawaii, Budapest, and elsewhere. I’m a minimalist nomad.

No matter how minimalist one is, traveling is difficult with no money.

Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#25

Post by smjburton »

eCa wrote: post #24
smjburton wrote: post #22

> Part of the reason I’ve been able to do this is because I’ve always designed my life such that it can benefit from having money (pinball arcade rooms and all that…) but is also compatible with having no money. Good observation from the OP. Living lean opens up the possibility to do more things; but it also requires sacrifices that most aren't able to make, and why it's so difficult to work on the things you want to…

I’m just not sure how to square that quote with this from the about page: > I reside in Las Vegas but also spend a lot of time in Hawaii, Budapest, and elsewhere. I’m a minimalist nomad. No matter how minimalist one is, traveling is difficult with no money.

I saw that too but took it to mean that he lives lean even when times are good by traveling as minimalistic as possible (cheapest flights, hotels, gear), and has set his life up in a way that he could survive even if he has very little to no money.

Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#26

Post by PetitSinge »

> I would rather be poor than make a lot of money doing something I hate.

This post and quote resonated with me. I love my work and have been fortunate to make enough disposable income to enjoy life and support my family. And it is funny how the money seems to follow the passion-- something that wasn't obvious to me for several years. However, I would stop well short of saying that I'd rather be poor than make money doing something I hate. I grew up poor and I can still recall moments from my childhood of being unhoused, not having meals or clean clothes, standing in line at food pantries, and of my mother and grandparents going without to ensure me and my siblings had something. Now, I admittedly haven't read the author's other posts to know his background, but for me I'd rather work just about any job than subject myself or family to poverty and it's longer term psychological and physical health complications.

Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#27

Post by Alacart »

yfw wrote: post #3

> I would rather be poor than make a lot of money doing something I hate. I too would love to have that choice. But my wife and kids might disagree

It's also entirely possible, maybe even likely, for people to get burnt out doing something they love because we don't set the natural boundaries we would with something we're strictly doing pragmatically.

I still think it's the best way to live, but the saying "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" really is double edged.

Re: How I Choose What to Work On (2023)

#28

Post by libertine »

treffeer wrote: post #18
HPsquared wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It depends just how miserable it makes you, and the rest of the family's views. I wouldn't want my parent/spouse to be absolutely miserable just so I can have nicer things. Also a parent who is absolutely ground-down by their work might have psychological problems as a result which could negatively affect the child, or at minimum less time/energy to directly give to the family.

This is what Kafka’s Metamorphosis is about. Most everyone only ever talks about parts 1-2, probably because that’s the beetle stuff. Everyone in his household is miserable and depressed and he is killing himself working hard to try to carry that burden for his family, just barely holding everything together, to the point it breaks him and he transforms. Part 3 is his slow death and then a quick denouement takes plac…

The subtle thing is that the family becomes the main character in the second half of part 2 into part 3, once they start getting agency.

> it’s about how happy and healthy everyone else is after he’s stopped making himself ill trying to give them something they clearly are happier without.

You can even say that in the end everyone feels relief, like they got rid of a burden.

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