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Some of us bring in value by developing existing software packages which amplify the work effort of some critical sector or another. The renumeration for this w

by fsloth 10y ago

Some of us bring in value by developing existing software packages which amplify the work effort of some critical sector or another. The renumeration for this work is in the form of regular pay. A portion of which should probably be invested smartly. As software systems grow they turn into complex systems. They become embedded in the processes of the end users, while requiring constant boring work to remain alive. I fail to see how this maintenance work is less worthwhile than developing new tools. Any complex task requires decades and decades of labour. This is not to say that identifying niches that benefit from established tecnhinques and require only some domain specific customization would not also be wortwhile. But claiming "everybody should find such a niche and become entrepreneurs" is quite bit too much. My mental energy is used in my daily work which brings added value to my orgs and our clients. The benefits of this are enormous - I can focus on deep, technically complex work while outsourcing payroll, taxes, liabilities etc. to my employer. Effectively, I don't think many people can do deep work and become an entrepreneur at the same time. Also, expert skills in one domnain are no guarantee in some other. Star software engineers can turn up shit or stellar business operatives. I think you are covering the software engineer in some weird halo of infallibility. That said, I do have enormous respect for people who have created new businesses. But it hardly is the only way to bring in value.

forgetsusername 10y ago
>But claiming "everybody should find such a niche and become entrepreneurs" is quite bit too much. This is how you end up at conferences where everyone you talk to is the CEO, but nobody is actually making any money (or, in large part, actually doing any business). I also love entrepreneurship, but it is not, nor should it be, for everyone.
logicallee 10y ago
"The remuneration[1] for this work is in the form of regular pay. A portion of which should probably be invested smartly." I guess my objection was to the idea of saving "as much as possible." I don't mean to imply that you shouldn't work for a salary: but you should take some of that salary and spend it on actively building or backing businesses, not just passively. Based on your background I think you would be amazed how much business you could create by investing in/overseeing a developer in India or China, for example. Your knowledge/background + $5000 goes waaaaaay farther than you think. (regardless of who the owner ends up.) To me this is the opposite of the advice to passively save as much as possible! [1] I corrected the spelling of this word - I mispelled it before too.
- icebraining 10y ago
  Active investment is essentially a second job. Not everyone has the ability or desire to spend even more hours working.
- fsloth 10y ago
  "you should take some of that salary and spend it on actively building or backing businesses, not just passively." Active investment is highly context sensitive. I'm not denying someone might be plausibly in a position with sufficient information, domain knowledge, connections and a small amount of capital to operate as you suggested. Your claim that operating on this manner is the obvious best choice for everyone is highly controversial. For starters, private investment requires trust and communication and just the culture barrier to understand the true rules of business and engagement are non-trivial for someone who's native culture is for example northern european. Basically, I'm totally clueless. I have no idea how to a) hire an indian software dev for a few thousands b) what value added activity I should require of them and c) to whom to sell their work to. I do know, however, how to invest into low cost index funds with reputable finance organizations. Thus the latter from economic perspective is a highly more enticing option. I presume you have some specific situation in mind. Perhaps you could give some 'hypothetical' scenarios and what their profit model is?

by fsloth 10y ago

forgetsusername 10y ago

>But claiming "everybody should find such a niche and become entrepreneurs" is quite bit too much. This is how you end up at conferences where everyone you talk to is the CEO, but nobody is actually making any money (or, in large part, actually doing any business). I also love entrepreneurship, but it is not, nor should it be, for everyone.

logicallee 10y ago

"The remuneration[1] for this work is in the form of regular pay. A portion of which should probably be invested smartly." I guess my objection was to the idea of saving "as much as possible." I don't mean to imply that you shouldn't work for a salary: but you should take some of that salary and spend it on actively building or backing businesses, not just passively. Based on your background I think you would be amazed how much business you could create by investing in/overseeing a developer in India or China, for example. Your knowledge/background + $5000 goes waaaaaay farther than you think. (regardless of who the owner ends up.) To me this is the opposite of the advice to passively save as much as possible! [1] I corrected the spelling of this word - I mispelled it before too.

icebraining 10y ago
Active investment is essentially a second job. Not everyone has the ability or desire to spend even more hours working.
fsloth 10y ago
"you should take some of that salary and spend it on actively building or backing businesses, not just passively." Active investment is highly context sensitive. I'm not denying someone might be plausibly in a position with sufficient information, domain knowledge, connections and a small amount of capital to operate as you suggested. Your claim that operating on this manner is the obvious best choice for everyone is highly controversial. For starters, private investment requires trust and communication and just the culture barrier to understand the true rules of business and engagement are non-trivial for someone who's native culture is for example northern european. Basically, I'm totally clueless. I have no idea how to a) hire an indian software dev for a few thousands b) what value added activity I should require of them and c) to whom to sell their work to. I do know, however, how to invest into low cost index funds with reputable finance organizations. Thus the latter from economic perspective is a highly more enticing option. I presume you have some specific situation in mind. Perhaps you could give some 'hypothetical' scenarios and what their profit model is?