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But I am dedicating my time and my life to mastering a skill. That skill is Rock Climbing. To do so, I have also needed to find a way to live at a world class

But I am dedicating my time and my life to mastering a skill. That skill is Rock Climbing. To do so, I have also needed to find a way to live at a world class bouldering area and to spend 4 full days per week training and climbing, which means not having a full time job. Building a software business is a means to that end. Keep in mind, also, that if one begins programming at age six and does it every day for 40 odd years, one tends to achieve mastery of programming as well. Even if one figures out a way to not need to do it full time for the last half dozen of those years.

keiferski 7y ago
> But I am dedicating my time and my life to mastering a skill. That skill is Rock Climbing. I'm not certain that rock climbing qualifies as a craft, as you aren't creating anything. Nonetheless, that distinction isn't important, and I certainly do think there is merit in the idea that a starting a business is a good way to earn income in order focus energy on something more important. However, that isn't the viewpoint that you expressed in your initial comment; it is the opposite ("lounge on the beach, travel the world...") > Keep in mind, also, that if one begins programming at age six and does it every day for 40 odd years, one tends to achieve mastery of programming as well. How are you defining mastery? As the ability to make a respectable income with low effort required? That seems a fairly low bar. I'm not entirely sure that programming is best thought of as a craft, but assuming that it is: someone programming every day for 8 hours a day for 40 years would surely have a greater mastery than someone who only does it part-time.
- jasonkester 7y ago
  someone programming every day for 8 hours a day for 40 years would surely have a greater mastery than someone who only does it part-time. I think you hit it there. We're not disagreeing. I'd just add to your point that one might still retain that mastery gained over 40 years of practice if one dialed things back for the next five years to focus on something else.
- wolco 7y ago
  If the four hours are spent coding and the rest of the day thoughts around those structures are experienced and expanded on then mastery is possible. 8 hours a day with meetings, emails, phone calls and shoulder taps mastery is almost impossible.

keiferski 7y ago

> But I am dedicating my time and my life to mastering a skill. That skill is Rock Climbing. I'm not certain that rock climbing qualifies as a craft, as you aren't creating anything. Nonetheless, that distinction isn't important, and I certainly do think there is merit in the idea that a starting a business is a good way to earn income in order focus energy on something more important. However, that isn't the viewpoint that you expressed in your initial comment; it is the opposite ("lounge on the beach, travel the world...") > Keep in mind, also, that if one begins programming at age six and does it every day for 40 odd years, one tends to achieve mastery of programming as well. How are you defining mastery? As the ability to make a respectable income with low effort required? That seems a fairly low bar. I'm not entirely sure that programming is best thought of as a craft, but assuming that it is: someone programming every day for 8 hours a day for 40 years would surely have a greater mastery than someone who only does it part-time.

jasonkester 7y ago
someone programming every day for 8 hours a day for 40 years would surely have a greater mastery than someone who only does it part-time. I think you hit it there. We're not disagreeing. I'd just add to your point that one might still retain that mastery gained over 40 years of practice if one dialed things back for the next five years to focus on something else.
wolco 7y ago
If the four hours are spent coding and the rest of the day thoughts around those structures are experienced and expanded on then mastery is possible. 8 hours a day with meetings, emails, phone calls and shoulder taps mastery is almost impossible.