4 ms·

So, I'm dubious about anyones ability to actually see a tipping point in advance, but if this is the case how do software engineers (as opposed to founders etc)

by cavisne 11y ago

So, I'm dubious about anyones ability to actually see a tipping point in advance, but if this is the case how do software engineers (as opposed to founders etc) protect themselves?

lvs 11y ago
Buddy, it already happened. It'll take a year to catch up to most of you, but the "point" already "tipped" months ago. If your job fundamentally relies on inflated financials, prepare your butt and your resume. Maybe apply to work somewhere that is very well established and clearly has positive noncyclical cash flow.
- bognition 11y ago
  When was this tipping point? What is the evidence that supports it has already happened?
  - nostrademons 11y ago
    IMHO, August 2015. It's usually better not to bother trying to convince others, though; just bet your book and either you're right or wrong, but at least you won't have wasted your time.
lacker 11y ago
Go work for Facebook.
potatolicious 11y ago
Work for a company that isn't actively running out of money. IMO the tipping point has been obviously visible for some time now - many VCs even openly admitted as such. The trick with doomsaying is that even if you can accurately predict doom, it's hard to predict when everything is going to explode. So yeah, the peanut gallery like myself have been preaching this for a while, but honestly nobody could've predicted with any precision when it was going to happen. As an employee though you can de-risk yourself by simply not playing in the first place - this is a problem that's largely isolated to high-valuation startups that don't seem to have a handle on profitability. Profitable companies are doing fine, and will survive all of this without much pain. If you're working for a company that has taken a substantial amount of funding, is as of yet not cashflow-positive, and doesn't have a long runway, I'd be a bit worried.

4 ms·

So, I'm dubious about anyones ability to actually see a tipping point in advance, but if this is the case how do software engineers (as opposed to founders etc)

by cavisne 11y ago

So, I'm dubious about anyones ability to actually see a tipping point in advance, but if this is the case how do software engineers (as opposed to founders etc) protect themselves?

lvs 11y ago
Buddy, it already happened. It'll take a year to catch up to most of you, but the "point" already "tipped" months ago. If your job fundamentally relies on inflated financials, prepare your butt and your resume. Maybe apply to work somewhere that is very well established and clearly has positive noncyclical cash flow.
- bognition 11y ago
  When was this tipping point? What is the evidence that supports it has already happened?
  - nostrademons 11y ago
    IMHO, August 2015. It's usually better not to bother trying to convince others, though; just bet your book and either you're right or wrong, but at least you won't have wasted your time.
lacker 11y ago
Go work for Facebook.
potatolicious 11y ago
Work for a company that isn't actively running out of money. IMO the tipping point has been obviously visible for some time now - many VCs even openly admitted as such. The trick with doomsaying is that even if you can accurately predict doom, it's hard to predict when everything is going to explode. So yeah, the peanut gallery like myself have been preaching this for a while, but honestly nobody could've predicted with any precision when it was going to happen. As an employee though you can de-risk yourself by simply not playing in the first place - this is a problem that's largely isolated to high-valuation startups that don't seem to have a handle on profitability. Profitable companies are doing fine, and will survive all of this without much pain. If you're working for a company that has taken a substantial amount of funding, is as of yet not cashflow-positive, and doesn't have a long runway, I'd be a bit worried.