4 ms·

A Short Lesson in Perspective (2012)

65 points by sp527 11y ago

mschnell 11y ago
What the article describes is something I also see in the electronics/software industry. So many people are competing about who works the most insane hours, but do not take the time to sleep over things.
- zodPod 11y ago
  This! I'm a programmer and I get looked down on at work because I don't work extra time over weekends. Sorry, I have a wife that I'd actually like to be able to spend time with. When I'm 80 and I look back, would I be glad that I spent every weekend in my 20s and 30s at work instead of enjoying myself? Doubtful.
  - shoo 11y ago
    I am glad that you have made a conscious decision about what is important to you. It took me about two years of work in a commercial environment to actually internalise this and realise I much preferred working 40 hour weeks and freeing up more of my time to enjoy an equal relationship that was not polluted by the involvement of money. I am at the point now where I think my "passion" for programming has been destroyed by work, and I think I am happier for it. I am still very willing to negotiate and participate in trades where I exchange valuable programming in return for money. Working 40 hours a week for $1.5x in an environment where everyone goes home by 5:30pm seems more promising than working 55 hours a week for $1.0x where employees are starting to fall apart.
mettamage 11y ago
Insightful post, it felt refreshing, thought provoking and personal to read how he dealt with the fact that he believed his job was meaningless and fun. Many people I talk at uni nowadays are having the fear that they will choose wrong for what they want to do after they graduate. This blog post shows that when an executed career plan does not pass the overnight test, you still live to see the morning.
acqq 11y ago
The context: http://www.businessinsider.com/its-not-worth-it-linds-reddings-short-lesson-in-perspective-2012-11?IR=T http://www.businessinsider.com/its-not-worth-it-linds-reddin... Also: http://www.lindsredding.com/2011/10/12/my-shits-fucked-up/ http://www.lindsredding.com/2011/10/12/my-shits-fucked-up/
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
amelius 11y ago
> It is a universal truth that all artists think they a frauds and charlatans, and live in constant fear of being exposed. This makes me wonder what people working in advertisement are thinking of their jobs.
- ska 11y ago
  This makes me wonder what people working in advertisement are thinking of their jobs. Isn't that the entire point of the article, more or less?
serve_yay 11y ago
Work reasonable hours, get paid what you're worth, and damn the rest.

65 points by sp527 11y ago

What the article describes is something I also see in the electronics/software industry. So many people are competing about who works the most insane hours, but do not take the time to sleep over things.

zodPod 11y ago
This! I'm a programmer and I get looked down on at work because I don't work extra time over weekends. Sorry, I have a wife that I'd actually like to be able to spend time with. When I'm 80 and I look back, would I be glad that I spent every weekend in my 20s and 30s at work instead of enjoying myself? Doubtful.
- shoo 11y ago
  I am glad that you have made a conscious decision about what is important to you. It took me about two years of work in a commercial environment to actually internalise this and realise I much preferred working 40 hour weeks and freeing up more of my time to enjoy an equal relationship that was not polluted by the involvement of money. I am at the point now where I think my "passion" for programming has been destroyed by work, and I think I am happier for it. I am still very willing to negotiate and participate in trades where I exchange valuable programming in return for money. Working 40 hours a week for $1.5x in an environment where everyone goes home by 5:30pm seems more promising than working 55 hours a week for $1.0x where employees are starting to fall apart.

mettamage 11y ago

Insightful post, it felt refreshing, thought provoking and personal to read how he dealt with the fact that he believed his job was meaningless and fun. Many people I talk at uni nowadays are having the fear that they will choose wrong for what they want to do after they graduate. This blog post shows that when an executed career plan does not pass the overnight test, you still live to see the morning.

acqq 11y ago

The context: http://www.businessinsider.com/its-not-worth-it-linds-reddings-short-lesson-in-perspective-2012-11?IR=T http://www.businessinsider.com/its-not-worth-it-linds-reddin... Also: http://www.lindsredding.com/2011/10/12/my-shits-fucked-up/ http://www.lindsredding.com/2011/10/12/my-shits-fucked-up/

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

amelius 11y ago

> It is a universal truth that all artists think they a frauds and charlatans, and live in constant fear of being exposed. This makes me wonder what people working in advertisement are thinking of their jobs.

ska 11y ago
This makes me wonder what people working in advertisement are thinking of their jobs. Isn't that the entire point of the article, more or less?

serve_yay 11y ago

Work reasonable hours, get paid what you're worth, and damn the rest.