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"The only way to equal or beat someone naturally talented is to put in many hours." I totally agree with the sentiment. I work an extra 1-2 hours every day whi

"The only way to equal or beat someone naturally talented is to put in many hours." I totally agree with the sentiment. I work an extra 1-2 hours every day which gives me an additional 260-520 extra hours per year to outperform my peers. However, the older I get, the more I'm starting to think that being exceptional is overrated. Time is arguably the most valuable resource I have. Every extra hour you spend trying to become more skillful is one less hour to "live". The hardest part for me after college was to find this work life balance.

SaltyBackendGuy 9y ago
So much this. I've tried to 'out work' everyone my whole career/life. All that has change recently when I had a baby girl. All we really have is time, so spending it with my daughter has become more of a priority. Instead of grinding tickets on the weekend (obviously if there's a hard deadline then..), my time is spent with my baby. It's so much more rewarding and I am far less stressed all the time. But balance it truly the key.
saiya-jin 9y ago
Outperform for what? Just the feeling of accomplishment? OK I guess, if you require it. For money? Very, very bad strategy (much easier is to simply switch jobs). It is overrated if you work in big corporations, it can be invaluable if you work for yourself/small team, depends. Time and HEALTH are the most invaluable things we have, both are shrinking till we hit 0. Personally, I stopped pursuing latest gimmicks in tech after work, latest frameworks (which would be probably obsolete in couple of years) and one of reasons I don't jump into javascript bandwagon yet. it just feels wrong and like it will pass, hopefully before I need it. If I can learn it during work, cool, otherwise socializing, climbing, adventuring, whatever has always priority. People and experiences. Imagine what amazing experiences and new friends you could have from those 250-500 hours yearly. Logic is simple - right now is the best time of my life, my health won't get magically better, and life will probably bring more problems rather than solve them. I would feel guilty wasting that little time I have by putting in extra hours. So I don't unless its critical.

SaltyBackendGuy 9y ago

So much this. I've tried to 'out work' everyone my whole career/life. All that has change recently when I had a baby girl. All we really have is time, so spending it with my daughter has become more of a priority. Instead of grinding tickets on the weekend (obviously if there's a hard deadline then..), my time is spent with my baby. It's so much more rewarding and I am far less stressed all the time. But balance it truly the key.

saiya-jin 9y ago

Outperform for what? Just the feeling of accomplishment? OK I guess, if you require it. For money? Very, very bad strategy (much easier is to simply switch jobs). It is overrated if you work in big corporations, it can be invaluable if you work for yourself/small team, depends. Time and HEALTH are the most invaluable things we have, both are shrinking till we hit 0. Personally, I stopped pursuing latest gimmicks in tech after work, latest frameworks (which would be probably obsolete in couple of years) and one of reasons I don't jump into javascript bandwagon yet. it just feels wrong and like it will pass, hopefully before I need it. If I can learn it during work, cool, otherwise socializing, climbing, adventuring, whatever has always priority. People and experiences. Imagine what amazing experiences and new friends you could have from those 250-500 hours yearly. Logic is simple - right now is the best time of my life, my health won't get magically better, and life will probably bring more problems rather than solve them. I would feel guilty wasting that little time I have by putting in extra hours. So I don't unless its critical.