4 ms·

Just to state the obvious, there are things to optimize for other than compensation (like happiness); ~$100k/year provides a comfortable life and saving opportu

by drb91 8y ago

Just to state the obvious, there are things to optimize for other than compensation (like happiness); ~$100k/year provides a comfortable life and saving opportunity in many (most?) parts of the country.

toomuchtodo 8y ago
Happiness doesn’t provide good health care to my wife and kids, or help me retire years earlier (I get to save >$100k/year because we live in a low cost of living area). I suggest a hobby if you want to be happy, as well as time with your family and loved ones. Be careful about those who offer you emotional fulfillment or purpose in your job. There’s always a cost.
- pierre_d528 8y ago
  So much truth in here... Specially for the "just funded" startups : they loose their souls fast when the investors start to get impatient. It's a trap in so many cases.
- Kratisto 8y ago
  So do you work remote to live in a low cost of living area? Just curious how many big salary opportunities are in low cost of living areas.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - toomuchtodo 8y ago
    I work remote because I demand flexibility. I live within 20 minutes of one of my org's offices, but prefer the ability to work from where ever I want. I just happen to enjoy the low cost of living locale I live in.
Illniyar 8y ago
yes, but startups aren't really very good at optimizing for other things. The stressful nature of startups are usually bad for happiness. Startups are really good at providing two things - a sense of being able to affect change and working on something novel/new (assuming you actually go with a startup that does something new)
- drb91 8y ago
  I’ve been reliably surprised with how many startup employees enjoy some level of stressful problem solving. Maybe it overlaps with being a workaholic to some degree?
driverdan 8y ago
Very few YC startups allow remote work and a large percentage are in expensive areas like the bay.
- CodeCube 8y ago
  This is such a massive point right here ... there is so much talent, either already in "far flung" parts of the country; or currently in a place like SF, but who long to move "back home" for any number of reasons. Having startups be more remote-friendly by default would be a huge boon for everyone involved.
  - brianwawok 8y ago
    Sounds like you should found a remote friendly startup! Plenty of money floating around. Find another remote friendly guy and go to town! Seems how most remote friendly places have started...
    - minor3rd 8y ago
      I found a loophole to all this madness. I joined a company that was not remote-friendly, moved a couple hours away after about a year, and told them I'd be happy to continue working for them remotely. They obliged :)
      - brianwawok 8y ago
        Having been on both sides of this, this is usually career suicide. Not to say you get fired, but you miss too much. You miss watercooler talk. You miss the invite to a new project. You get sent maintenance and bug work. If you want to work a 9-3 and coast, sure. If you want to do cool stuff and move up the chain? Being remote in a local company is totally suicide.
    - MoBattah 8y ago
      Pick me!
  - 8y ago
sidlls 8y ago
Those other optimizations select for financially independent individuals and young, single individuals coming from an affluent background. It's an oblique way to maintain an "old boys'" network and discriminate by age.

by drb91 8y ago

toomuchtodo 8y ago

Happiness doesn’t provide good health care to my wife and kids, or help me retire years earlier (I get to save >$100k/year because we live in a low cost of living area). I suggest a hobby if you want to be happy, as well as time with your family and loved ones. Be careful about those who offer you emotional fulfillment or purpose in your job. There’s always a cost.

pierre_d528 8y ago
So much truth in here... Specially for the "just funded" startups : they loose their souls fast when the investors start to get impatient. It's a trap in so many cases.
Kratisto 8y ago
So do you work remote to live in a low cost of living area? Just curious how many big salary opportunities are in low cost of living areas.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- toomuchtodo 8y ago
  I work remote because I demand flexibility. I live within 20 minutes of one of my org's offices, but prefer the ability to work from where ever I want. I just happen to enjoy the low cost of living locale I live in.

Illniyar 8y ago

yes, but startups aren't really very good at optimizing for other things. The stressful nature of startups are usually bad for happiness. Startups are really good at providing two things - a sense of being able to affect change and working on something novel/new (assuming you actually go with a startup that does something new)

drb91 8y ago
I’ve been reliably surprised with how many startup employees enjoy some level of stressful problem solving. Maybe it overlaps with being a workaholic to some degree?

driverdan 8y ago

Very few YC startups allow remote work and a large percentage are in expensive areas like the bay.

CodeCube 8y ago
This is such a massive point right here ... there is so much talent, either already in "far flung" parts of the country; or currently in a place like SF, but who long to move "back home" for any number of reasons. Having startups be more remote-friendly by default would be a huge boon for everyone involved.
- brianwawok 8y ago
  Sounds like you should found a remote friendly startup! Plenty of money floating around. Find another remote friendly guy and go to town! Seems how most remote friendly places have started...
  - minor3rd 8y ago
    I found a loophole to all this madness. I joined a company that was not remote-friendly, moved a couple hours away after about a year, and told them I'd be happy to continue working for them remotely. They obliged :)
    - brianwawok 8y ago
      Having been on both sides of this, this is usually career suicide. Not to say you get fired, but you miss too much. You miss watercooler talk. You miss the invite to a new project. You get sent maintenance and bug work. If you want to work a 9-3 and coast, sure. If you want to do cool stuff and move up the chain? Being remote in a local company is totally suicide.
  - MoBattah 8y ago
    Pick me!
- 8y ago

sidlls 8y ago

Those other optimizations select for financially independent individuals and young, single individuals coming from an affluent background. It's an oblique way to maintain an "old boys'" network and discriminate by age.