How to Do Great Work • Hacker News Board

Re: How to Do Great Work

#91

Post by grrdotcloud » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 4:51 PM UTC

cushychicken wrote: post #11

Another thing you need: patience. I'm 34, and just in the last year reached the point where I have: - enough experience and context to do great work, and - the right people to leverage that context and experience on meaningful applications It took a lot of waiting for that ideal blend of circumstances to come around. I wish I'd have been able to tell my 26 year old self that as he slogged through an entry level EE jo…

Similar but more confidence.

And ignoring all self doubt and imposter feelings has made my career way less stressful.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#92

Post by hyperthesis » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 4:55 PM UTC

PSA: This is much longer than pg's other essays. There are multiline gaps between sections that can seem like the end.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#93

Post by culopatin » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 4:55 PM UTC

Ive been conflicted for 12 years now on what field to pursue. I’m between mechanical engineering because of my interest in materials and aerodynamics (I’d love to do research in this field), and software engineering (I don’t know what I’d do research in, but I like the idea of making tools people use).

I work in IT/light software dev, and I think I’m inclined towards software because that’s where I’ve been building my expertise in, but I’m always thinking of mechanics in my head.

This post made me think that maybe what I should truly follow is mechanics.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#94

Post by jahewson » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 4:56 PM UTC

js2 wrote: post #62

travisgriggs wrote: post #19

Hmmm… > At 7 it may seem excitingly ambitious to build huge things out of Lego, then at 14 to teach yourself calculus, till at 21 you're starting to explore unanswered questions in physics. But always preserve excitingness. I’m 53 and some of my greatest joys still come from well executed Lego builds. Wonder if I’m stuck in a rut :/

Some of my greatest joys are cooking a meal and doing the lawn. They are so much different than writing software. There's a start, an end, and a clear set of steps in between where you can easily see your progress. When you're done, you can step back and admire your work, and show it to others. Do you ever refactor your LEGO builds into new builds? Do you prefer kits or building something of your own design from gene…

I like to start with a deck of my LEGO design for the pre-seed round.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#95

Post by brigadier132 » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 4:58 PM UTC

scarface_74 wrote: post #8

> Develop a habit of working on your own projects. Don't let "work" mean something other people tell you to do. I spend eight hours+ a day supporting my addiction to food and shelter. Why would I spend my free time working toward “greatness” instead of doing hobbies I enjoy and spending time with friends and family? Any other time I have I’m spending working out and training for runs - neither of which I will ever be…

What's your complaint? That this article is not targeted at you? The article is titled "how to do great work". If you aren't interested in doing great work then you are not the target audience.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#96

Post by amts » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 4:58 PM UTC

fnord77 wrote: post #9

also: - Don't have any chronic diseases or pain that will distract or dull your attention - Have a stable source of income or enough wealth to let you try and fail at a lot of things - Have stable family and friends - Don't have optimism beaten out of you at a young age etc

Yep, get yourself a bs job first while implicitly getting yourself stroke, cancer and diabetes from it to pay for utilities and a few gallons of water per month and only then do great work.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#97

Post by neon_electro » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 5:00 PM UTC

andai wrote: post #82

cookie_monsta wrote: post #38

It feels like this takes a very narrow definition of greatness which is more aligned to innovation and "What will make you famous" or "What will be commercially successful". From plant life and human health all the way up to nation states, there are lots of people doing great work just making sure that things keep running smoothly.

Both are necessary. I think the difference is that Group A (keep things running) without Group B (explore new territory) would have kept us in the stone ages. However, that is not to understate their importance: a humanity consisting entirely of Group B would be much more unstable, and possibly have gone extinct. It's similar to the Rogue Bees: https://www.mrdbourke.com/what-if-you-did-the-exact-opposite... Although…

Could it be possible that there is also overlap between groups A and B, and the interdependence is what fuels societal progress more than “it’s all group B”?

Re: How to Do Great Work

#98

Post by dzogchen » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 5:01 PM UTC

cookie_monsta wrote: post #38

It feels like this takes a very narrow definition of greatness which is more aligned to innovation and "What will make you famous" or "What will be commercially successful". From plant life and human health all the way up to nation states, there are lots of people doing great work just making sure that things keep running smoothly.

It is a very narcisistic perspective. Which makes sense if you consider the author.

Re: How to Do Great Work

#99

Post by hcks » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 5:02 PM UTC

thisgoesnowhere wrote: post #58

helicalmix wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s literally a note that says the text assumes you’re very ambitious. If you have no desire to work towards some definition of “greatness”, I assume that you’re not ambitious, and the text doesn’t apply to you. Which is ok! You don’t need to be ambitious, but it also means you shouldn’t take this essay so personally.

This is a oddly very narrow view of ambition.

“Ambition is wanting to live any life you want” is not a very useful concept

Re: How to Do Great Work

#100

Post by andrewstuart » Sat, Jul 01, 2023, 5:03 PM UTC

cushychicken wrote: post #11

Another thing you need: patience. I'm 34, and just in the last year reached the point where I have: - enough experience and context to do great work, and - the right people to leverage that context and experience on meaningful applications It took a lot of waiting for that ideal blend of circumstances to come around. I wish I'd have been able to tell my 26 year old self that as he slogged through an entry level EE jo…

This is an important point…..

Great work and your craftsmanship/experience/wisdom/capabilities are interrelated.

Being able to do great work is partly a function of your ability to work.