4 ms·
Ask HN: How to not think about Money first?
Any project/career I get into in starts with passion and love but eventually it becomes about money. I am 35 years old software developer who makes choices by money first approach in every situation. I feel disconnected from my career, my community my life. I can't figure out if this is due to living in bay area or just the life choices I have been making.
Does anyone else feel this way and have successfully connected back to your life ? Its getting depressing, seriously thinking of just quitting everything and taking a sabbatical.
- fouc 9y agoI've attempted to work on things from a money-first perspective, but that often ends up with short-term thinking and ignoring producing things of real value to others. "Shut up and take my money" value. So maybe just swap "money" for "value" and focus on value instead? Might also help to reduce your cost of living so that you don't have as much pressure to generate an income?
- cryptozeus 9y agogood thought....how to swap money for value ?
- CyberFonic 9y agoI think that the suggestion is to focus on value first and when you deliver a lot of value, the money follows. If following this plan doesn't yield enough money, then look at how you can increase the value of what you are offering. Personally I found Cal Newport's concept of "Career Capital" very useful.
- CyberFonic 9y agoI too used to focus on money first. Eventually realised that it didn't make me truly happy. I weaned myself off the money first way of thinking by reducing my living costs so that I could actually save some money, invest it in real estate. These days I can choose which projects I take on. The funny thing is that since I am not desperate to get any contract, I end up earning more and enjoying the work and the people I work for. Living in high-cost of living areas, like the Bay Area, keeps you running on that money treadmill. You might want to consider moving to a city with lower cost of living.
- cryptozeus 9y agoYeh but its tough when your family friends are in the same area. Everyone I meet suffer through the same issues. You could be right but it would be good to work on your self and somehow achieve the value first mindset instead of leaving the area.
- cryptozeus 9y agoIts good point to reduce the costs but wont you just want to save and make more money then ? I feel its something else...what prompted you to take this step ?