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Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

cabada.mx

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Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#41

Post by SallySwanSmith »

Stop living in the past and suck it up cupcake. You've been though interviews that went poorly. Reflect, learn, grow, try again. You're not that good. It's more then just some raw amount of code or random projects that you spew out while interested and then abandon when you're bored.

As for the complaining about lack of support. I'm sorry, but you're being supported! You have a roof over your head and food in your belly. You have a computer and freedom of choice.

It may not be the support you want or imagine, but it's support. Don't forget that and don't take that for granted.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#42

Post by laurentdc »

> Wish I haven’t touched a computer when I was 10.

This hit way too close to home. I'm sure computing skills have made me a better person in the long run (logical reasoning, resource planning et al). But I also wish I spent more time working on equally important aspects of my life - starting from those soft skills that make the difference in interviews.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#43

Post by kzisme »

mrcabada wrote: post #36
kzisme wrote: post #27

I'm not sure why people consistently get hung up on getting accepted at one of the "Big Five" "I tried to look for a job out of my city, but no luck, I don’t know what’s the deal with coding interviews, but I bet they don’t work good. I’ve been rejected from" ... Google Facebook Magic Uber Holagus (Mexican startup) I'm not sure what draws everyone to places like this when there are ~many~ other companies. Also does t…

I'm mexican, is not that easy to get a working Visa. Is a bit easier to get working Visas in big companies, that's the main reason why.

Ah I understand that - I've never had to get a Via (US Citizen),but someone will probably offer up advice here)

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#44

Post by projektir »

j45 wrote: post #19

Learning to lead yourself and doing what you know is right and understanding how you add value and what your value is the most important skills I have worked to learn. Motivation is the wrong thing to go after. Discipline is the key. Building discipline to do the things that are needed will beat motivation every time. It's always nice to have external support, but the best support you can build and keep is from the r…

> Motivation is the wrong thing to go after. Discipline is the key.

Please provide either some sources or argumentation for such a significant claim.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#45

Post by david927 »

Since you're asking, I will tell you what I would do, and what you will think is blasphemy: I would take your dad's offer. I would start working with him.

I'm sure you're a very good coder; don't get me wrong. But despite what you'll hear, there are a lot of them out there. If you think you're the best programmer around, it just means you haven't looked very hard.

Remember, software is never an end but always a means to an end. A bridge isn't metal and concrete, it's something that connect places. Software is about solving problems, and sometimes creating new bridges where no one thought to connect before. It's all in the service of something. In other words, stop learning how to make the metal and concrete of bridges and look up from your computer and learn what you could connect with them. (Yes, get off of your computer. Turn it off. Go at least a week without looking at it -- try to go a month or two.)

Learn what your dad does, learn how the business is run, and then find efficiencies and ways to make it better using software. You'll be making money and opening your mind.

You're 26 and good at software, and you're ambitious. That's great. But take a break. Step away. I have a sense that what's stopping you is you. Change who you are and you might just find the way that was blocked before opening up.

Since you're asking, that's what I would do.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#46

Post by SallySwanSmith »

mrcabada wrote: post #35
kzisme wrote: post #27

I'm not sure why people consistently get hung up on getting accepted at one of the "Big Five" "I tried to look for a job out of my city, but no luck, I don’t know what’s the deal with coding interviews, but I bet they don’t work good. I’ve been rejected from" ... Google Facebook Magic Uber Holagus (Mexican startup) I'm not sure what draws everyone to places like this when there are ~many~ other companies. Also does t…

Fixed, my SFTP didn't pass the whole file.

Making simple mistakes like being off by a factor of 10 and not looking at something you're uploading to get feedback on to ensure it's complete doesn't bode well for how you would handle an interview process...

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#47

Post by michaelgrafl »

I think at this point in your life your next step should be to grow up and move out from your parent's. Get a job - any job - that provides you with enough money to get your own place. Then work from there. Work hard at your job and take part in your local community, building strong relationships.

If you are genuine and talented, things will progress fast and you'll get more and increasingly interesting opportunities to grow as an engineer and a human being. But you must not let yourself be scared from taking on responsibility for your own life.

Who gives a shit what your dad thinks about stuff he doesn't know Jack about! He may be disappointed that you don't follow in his footsteps, but he doesn't own you. Don't let him gaslight you into thinking your are a failure. Once he sees you succeed he'll change his mind anyway.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#48

Post by donnfelker »

aasarava wrote: post #7

For me the most eye-opening lesson about the business world was the realization that you are not an entrepreneur just because you can build something. You become an entrepreneur when you build something that people are willing to pay for. You may be good at writing software, but are you writing software that solves a problem for anyone? If not, you're going to be hard-pressed to find external validation. You don't sa…

"You become an entrepreneur when you build something that people are willing to pay for." This.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#49

Post by yosito »

mrcabada wrote: post #36
kzisme wrote: post #27

I'm not sure why people consistently get hung up on getting accepted at one of the "Big Five" "I tried to look for a job out of my city, but no luck, I don’t know what’s the deal with coding interviews, but I bet they don’t work good. I’ve been rejected from" ... Google Facebook Magic Uber Holagus (Mexican startup) I'm not sure what draws everyone to places like this when there are ~many~ other companies. Also does t…

I'm mexican, is not that easy to get a working Visa. Is a bit easier to get working Visas in big companies, that's the main reason why.

How many companies did you apply for? To get my current job, I applied for about 120 positions, interviewed with four of them. It's a competitive market, which means it's a numbers game. Don't give up after applying to a small handful of companies. Also, if you're near Mexico City, try spending some time at a well-connected coworking space like Centraal. If not, check out workfrom.co for coworking spaces near you and start spending time there and going to events. Jobs come easier through connections than through cold applications. Plus you'll probably find encouragement there too.

Re: Ask HN: How do you keep motivated if nobody supports you?

#50

Post by iktwo »

mrcabada wrote: post #36
kzisme wrote: post #27

I'm not sure why people consistently get hung up on getting accepted at one of the "Big Five" "I tried to look for a job out of my city, but no luck, I don’t know what’s the deal with coding interviews, but I bet they don’t work good. I’ve been rejected from" ... Google Facebook Magic Uber Holagus (Mexican startup) I'm not sure what draws everyone to places like this when there are ~many~ other companies. Also does t…

I'm mexican, is not that easy to get a working Visa. Is a bit easier to get working Visas in big companies, that's the main reason why.

Also mexican. Not sure what visa you are trying to get. But if you just want to work in USA it is very easy to get a visa if you are Mexican and you have a relevant degree. Look at TN Visa. You just need an offer letter. 3 close friends have done that and the process was very simple.

https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/employment/nafta.h...

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