I am almost 50 and on my ninth job. I haven’t been “passionate” about my job ever. It has always served as no more than a means to support my addiction to food and shelter.
You didn't get hooked on dihydrogen oxide? That's the worst, a very difficult addiction to kick.
Hang in there!
You sir, were a wise man even when you were young (Not being sarcastic). A very rare trait among people young or old.
Haha, that's a poetic way to put it.
How do you set boundaries? Any tips?
1. Develop a strong network
2. Keep an updated career document with a list of your accomplishments in STAR format
3. Keep your skill set in line with the market
4. Live below your means and keep a cash cushion
5. Don’t be a “ticker taker” work on having projects with scope where you can talk about things “you led” or “you designed”
Now worse case, you can find another job quickly. I was PIPed from AWS last year and found another job within three weeks because I was prepared. I also lived enough below my means where I didn’t need “FAANG money” to be comfortable.
On the other hand, you need to know how to talk about trade offs within the holy trinity of any project - on time, on budget and meets requirements. When one changes, the others have to change.
The STAR format is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are describing. Here's what each component stands for:
1. *Situation*: Set the context for your story. Describe the event or situation that you were in. This could be from a previous job, from a volunteer experience, or any relevant event.
2. *Task*: After describing the situation, you talk about the actual task or challenge that was involved. This is the problem or issue that you were confronted with.
3. *Action*: Explain the actions you took to address the situation or task. This should be a detailed account of how you tackled the problem.
4. *Result*: Share the outcomes or results of the actions you took. Ideally, this should be a positive outcome that demonstrates how you effectively handled the situation.
Using the STAR format in a career document helps to clearly and effectively convey your accomplishments in a way that highlights your problem-solving and task management skills.
Like building a product so well made that it makes people say “I’ve searched for 15 years for this product”;
Like watching this self-absorbed geek grow from a 40-yo single to a polished mannered person with a girlfriend.
I mean no-one is excited to build an accounting software, but I’m excited when people grow. Actually, I’ve once heard that an army of psychologists will never take a man out of depression, but give them a hammer and they’ll get to work, get recognition and gain positive experiences. And the opposite: Being barred from working, from giving your labour, to a company that appreciates it, is an extenuating experience for men.
The fact that software is a "product" and not a "collective resource" tends to put a damper on that enthusiasm. After two decades in the industry it's abundantly clear we're condemned to rewrite the same software over and over again in the name of profits—a colossal waste of humanity's efforts.
I’ve gone back years later to a couple of ex-workplaces and seen with my own eyes how those uncertain (or over-certain ;-) folks are in their power and confidence and capability. Others I run into in professional settings and get feedback from others about them not just being great people but awesome professionals.
Knowing you’ve smoothed the way, helped out with existential fears, fed growth of good people when they needed it is the most awesome part of my career. Better even than much of what the paychecks bought me - blurry photos, fatty-liver and electronics in landfill.
Personally I find joy in two different settings
- the hard problems, where I have to go for a walk around the apartment, and think about it when I shover. These are rare.
- putting on some music, pouring myself some coffee, and just coding up something relatively easy while in the flow. Making something which did not exist before.
Of course there have been things that are fun and interesting but I don't drone on about it, pretending it is like I am getting paid to drink at a bar and flirt.