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

Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

41–50 of 78 posts

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#41

Post by joseda-hg »

I remember this one, not only because it was bad, but it really made me angry when I got it

"Don't go into programming, you're not in Silicon Valley and life isn't like what you see on the internet, you have a good thing with your grandpa, just become a Mechanic like him"

My biggest passion in life have always been with computers, and I know (Now even with empirical experience) that I'm a horrible fit for a mechanic

But lets say I wasn't, and take it that it wasn't said in bad faith; It still enraged me that he didn't thought I'd be capable, I managed to learn and earn enough, escape my birthplace and (Sadly) The good thing my grandpa had going on went down in flames (Due to external circumstances)

It's been years and it still pisses me off, but I'm confident that he doesn't even remember that we ever talked about it

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#43

Post by francisofascii »

a_bouncing_bean wrote: post #37

- Fake it until you make it. While there is some truth to this depending on the context, for the most part, especially in software engineering world, you don't know everything. Don't be afraid to say if you need to research something or do POC or investigation. No one will be mad at you and if they are, you don't need to be working with that person. I spent many nights frantically trying to figure out things, to make…

Right, or at least that is just one part of the criteria. Your job should be something:

- you are naturally good at - takes years to master - the job market values - you like doing or don't mind doing all day

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#44

Post by runjake »

a_bouncing_bean wrote: post #37

- Fake it until you make it. While there is some truth to this depending on the context, for the most part, especially in software engineering world, you don't know everything. Don't be afraid to say if you need to research something or do POC or investigation. No one will be mad at you and if they are, you don't need to be working with that person. I spent many nights frantically trying to figure out things, to make…

Ironically, both of these platitudes have been crucial to my own success. But I think they probably only work for certain types of people, so I don't disagree with you.

My personal approach with "fake it until you make it" has been to decide I am a $thing (one example: an "ultramarathon runner"). OK, now what do I do as a $thing? I do x, y and z. Then, I do those things, because I am a $thing. Ultimately, I trick myself into becoming the $thing.

This all occurs inside my head. I've never discussed or mentioned it to anyone. I've done it time and time again for career decisions and for personal hobbies. I don't believe it's very ego-driven. In my head, I crucify myself for hypocrisy and not admitting faults.

With "Do what you love, and the money will follow", well, like many of you here, that was computers. And like with many of you, the money followed.

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#45

Post by francisofascii »

genter wrote: post #22

Don't become a computer programmer, the industry is being outsourced to India. So I became a plumber instead. Don't have to worry about someone from India flying here to crawl under a house to snake out a line.

Well, maybe the advise was right, but 20 years too early.

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#46

Post by chuankl »

A meta-comment: whether an advice is good or bad should not be assessed based on a specific outcome.

You can follow a good advice and end up with a bad outcome. Similarly, you can follow a bad advice and end up with a good outcome. This is more obvious in poker (Annie Duke wrote a few books on the topic), but I think the same principle also applies to life in general.

Sure, "I went against this sensible advice and look at what I accomplished!!" makes for good storytelling. But that does not help us decide which advice to follow now and in the future.

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#47

Post by jalapenos »

aitchnyu wrote: post #13
pain_perdu wrote: post #5

The following was advice an accomplished PhD wrote to me discouraging me from co-founding Pretty Litter which would eventually become a billion dollar (sold to Mars) CPG business: “here is some free consulting advice: you need to think very carefully through the economics and competitive environment of the cat litter business. At the end of the day there needs to be a real business, not just an exercise in PR and cro…

So how did you overcome your "zero expertise, IP, or competitive advantages" limitations, assuming they were accurate?

When you work really hard at something, you get pretty good at it

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#48

Post by jalapenos »

linotype wrote: post #33
jalapenos wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Move to a better dating market

This is the real answer. If you’re 26 in the Midwest, odds are many of the women a person would date are already married with a kid or two.

Not sure about US culture, but this seems to carry a peculiar assumption that men should date around same age? Because I doubt most 20yo women in "midwest" are married with a kid or two. Maybe some bits of cultural bagage you need to shed there.

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#49

Post by beachy »

genter wrote: post #22

Don't become a computer programmer, the industry is being outsourced to India. So I became a plumber instead. Don't have to worry about someone from India flying here to crawl under a house to snake out a line.

The dad of one of my son's friends told me this, and he was a computer programmer himself (as am I). "Don't get your kid into programming, it will all be outsourced to India".

I didn't give my kids any such prescriptive advice, and he got into game dev which has always been his passion and outsourcing hasn't come for his job yet.

The modern day equivalent would be "don't get your kid into programming, it will all be done by AI soon".

Re: Ask HN: What's the worst advice you've ever received?

#50

Post by thro1 »

francisofascii wrote: post #45
genter wrote: post #22

Don't become a computer programmer, the industry is being outsourced to India. So I became a plumber instead. Don't have to worry about someone from India flying here to crawl under a house to snake out a line.

Well, maybe the advise was right, but 20 years too early.

> Don't become a computer programmer

I got such GOOD advise from my mother 40 years ago, she took me even to place where she worked to show how boring it is. It was pure amber magic in mysterious world of murmuring machines. If I had listened to her, I would have time just for the music, for sure.

Post reply on HN