4 ms·

> If you dont have your own profitable startup in the next 5-10 years I lived in the south SF Bay area for 20 years, and left 15 years ago. The culture was pr

> If you dont have your own profitable startup in the next 5-10 years I lived in the south SF Bay area for 20 years, and left 15 years ago. The culture was pretty insular then, but boy, that comment just drives how how much it worse it has gotten. The thought that everybody needs to create a startup, much less a profitable one, seems laughable. It is also a surer way to economic loss than toughing it out as a worker bee. I'm in my mid 50s and still happily employed as a drone. Every opportunity to move "up" into management I've rejected. I'm experienced, work well with others, and work hard; my career is doing fine and feel no job insecurity. There are plenty of other people at work who are as old or older than me who are highly respected. If you work some place where age is a disqualifier, it is a red flag.

madengr 8y ago
Sounds similar to me, slugging it out at the same, boring company in flyover country. That has allowed me to build up >$1M in retirement savings in mid 40’s. Classic tortoise vs. the hare.
- aswanson 8y ago
  Nice work. Most of us, even those in technical fields, usually graduate financially illiterate and 30 seems 1000 years away. We usually catch up, just later.
  - madengr 8y ago
    It can’t be stressed enough to put in early. Fortunately I maxed my 401k contributions for several years when young and single. Had to cut back to 8% with small kids and stay-at-home mom, but then back to max with dual income. Best thing you can do for kids is open up an IRA when 16 for their first job, and put in $3k year while employee as teenagers. See what it turns into 50 years later.
mark-r 8y ago
Enjoy it while you can. At some point a beancounter will look at you and decide your salary is too high or your healthcare costs are upsetting the average, and you'll find yourself on a layoff list. I have a friend who has the same qualities you describe: experienced, works well with others, and works hard; he hasn't had a job in 2 years after his layoff at age 59. As for startups, I'd suggest buying a lottery ticket - it has similar odds but involves much less work.
- mistermann 8y ago
  > Enjoy it while you can. At some point a beancounter will look at you and decide your salary is too high or your healthcare costs are upsetting the average, and you'll find yourself on a layoff list. An instinctive retort to this would be "it doesn't matter, I produce value", but what one must understand is, value often doesn't matter, at all. As they say, perception is reality. Cut your costs, pay down debt, save what's left over. All money flows to the top, and at an increasing rate.

madengr 8y ago

Sounds similar to me, slugging it out at the same, boring company in flyover country. That has allowed me to build up >$1M in retirement savings in mid 40’s. Classic tortoise vs. the hare.

aswanson 8y ago
Nice work. Most of us, even those in technical fields, usually graduate financially illiterate and 30 seems 1000 years away. We usually catch up, just later.
- madengr 8y ago
  It can’t be stressed enough to put in early. Fortunately I maxed my 401k contributions for several years when young and single. Had to cut back to 8% with small kids and stay-at-home mom, but then back to max with dual income. Best thing you can do for kids is open up an IRA when 16 for their first job, and put in $3k year while employee as teenagers. See what it turns into 50 years later.

mark-r 8y ago

Enjoy it while you can. At some point a beancounter will look at you and decide your salary is too high or your healthcare costs are upsetting the average, and you'll find yourself on a layoff list. I have a friend who has the same qualities you describe: experienced, works well with others, and works hard; he hasn't had a job in 2 years after his layoff at age 59. As for startups, I'd suggest buying a lottery ticket - it has similar odds but involves much less work.

mistermann 8y ago
> Enjoy it while you can. At some point a beancounter will look at you and decide your salary is too high or your healthcare costs are upsetting the average, and you'll find yourself on a layoff list. An instinctive retort to this would be "it doesn't matter, I produce value", but what one must understand is, value often doesn't matter, at all. As they say, perception is reality. Cut your costs, pay down debt, save what's left over. All money flows to the top, and at an increasing rate.