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The real trick is doing something you enjoy to make that money, and then doing a bit of work during your 'retirement' since you enjoy it. So, I would suggest y

by mrtron 19y ago

The real trick is doing something you enjoy to make that money, and then doing a bit of work during your 'retirement' since you enjoy it. So, I would suggest you only need 100k in your scenario if you plan on working on and off with some contracting/consulting. If you are adequately motivated you could do that in 3-5 years on your average salary. I think I fall into the category of people who can't just cruise in a 'normal' job. I just get too bored and can't deal with wasting the majority of my time just putting in time. Long story short, I was only a year out of university when I figured that out and left my easy job with great pay and leading a team of 5 to go into the startup game. So while I can identify with some of the concepts in this article - I really don't tackle the issue with the same approach.

randallsquared 19y ago
"The real trick is doing something you enjoy to make that money" Well, one problem with that is that taking something you enjoy doing for itself and depending on it for your paycheck may cause you to enjoy it less. Possibly a lot less. There's a reason for the phrase "turned it into work". I started playing around with Linux as a hobby, and the same with Python. After I was making a living doing system administration and programming in Python, I found those activities far less attractive. Fortunately, I was able to find fun in things like Common Lisp, but writing actual production software in CL turned that into work, too. In order for something to be fun, it has to be optional, basically. I'm sure there are people for whom this isn't true; if that's you, count yourself lucky. :)
- mrtron 19y ago
  Unfortunately that isn't me - but there are some ways around it. I enjoy tinkering, prototyping, breaking new ground like your average geek. So I try to stick to that as much as possible. There are some times that I am forced to do some things that turn into work - but I try to minimize it. Hopefully if my longer term plans come to fruition I can avoid it entirely :)

by mrtron 19y ago

randallsquared 19y ago

"The real trick is doing something you enjoy to make that money" Well, one problem with that is that taking something you enjoy doing for itself and depending on it for your paycheck may cause you to enjoy it less. Possibly a lot less. There's a reason for the phrase "turned it into work". I started playing around with Linux as a hobby, and the same with Python. After I was making a living doing system administration and programming in Python, I found those activities far less attractive. Fortunately, I was able to find fun in things like Common Lisp, but writing actual production software in CL turned that into work, too. In order for something to be fun, it has to be optional, basically. I'm sure there are people for whom this isn't true; if that's you, count yourself lucky. :)

mrtron 19y ago
Unfortunately that isn't me - but there are some ways around it. I enjoy tinkering, prototyping, breaking new ground like your average geek. So I try to stick to that as much as possible. There are some times that I am forced to do some things that turn into work - but I try to minimize it. Hopefully if my longer term plans come to fruition I can avoid it entirely :)