The happiest psychologist I know is many, many times more content than the happiest programmer I know at a corporate job. The most passionate software engineers I know might be able to claim similar joy, but they have overwhelmingly quit their corporate gigs and fly solo.
Yes, I'd agree with this. You make more money in a corporate gig, but if you're doing it for passion, not money, then the money doesn't overcome the corporate shackles.
- I'm happy, but not very
- I'm financially successful, but not very
- I like what I do, but too much
- I'm comfortable, but not too comfortable.
It's like my entire personality, likes, and dislikes have been smeared into a 2-dimensional caricature and propped up by a couple supports, for everyone to see and admire. This sort of existence is safe, inoffensive, and unremarkable.
Love your blog btw, it gives me confidence to be more like myself in my own life.
I read about some research recently where the researcher asked people how much money they earned and how much they would need to feel financially secure. No matter how much they earned they all felt they needed about 50% more.
It seems we are programmed to feel mildly dissatisfied no matter what our circumstances. I guess that is what drives us on.
Practically every person I ever asked told me more or less this:
"Yeah sure, who would not want 100K a month? But I am not willing to forfeit my personal and family life for it and that kind of money always comes with a catch. Nah man. I'd be happy with 20K a month but it ain't ever happening while there's always the next a-hole CEO who wants a bigger yacht than his bros in the golf club."
So yeah, I heard your take many times and I have not seen it out there. Not once.
Or perhaps you just had something you wanted to get off your chest.
Not sure what your response contributes to any discussion though. You did not try to defend or enrich your position.
The hedonistic treadmill does not exist.
It's a feel-good construct, I found.
No, it was an actual paper (unfortunately I can't find it now).
>The hedonistic treadmill does not exist.
I never referred to that in my original answer, although it is related it seems straw man like in this context.
I have done the solo thing and have come to realize I much prefer coding for others. There’s just too much annoying bullshit in running a business and I don’t need to deal with almost any of that as an employee despite getting basically all the same freedom, impact, and influence as a high level engineer.
There’s even a point where things switch from your boss telling you what to do to your boss asking you what to do.
If you're happy with not having a bigger slice of the pie, it's easier to just focus on SWE as an employee and let someone else figure out all of the other stuff unless you really crave the company building aspect.
Not to mention a smaller slice of a way bigger pie can still be a lot bigger in absolute terms. With much lower risk.
How? Actionable step by step, please. Measurable, with before-and-after descriptions.
Step 2. If you are still relying on steps, you did not actually complete Step 1.
If so, quite humorous.