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>Even my programming has taken a toll even though I do it every day. I find myself abstaining from studying advanced topics in programming and computer science,

>Even my programming has taken a toll even though I do it every day. I find myself abstaining from studying advanced topics in programming and computer science, and instead sticking to this comfort zone of what I know. I contemplate blaming this last issue on the fact that Silicon Valley is quietly cutthroat; you need to be the best at what you do in order to land jobs at e.g. Google. If I stay in my comfort zone, I am able to keep small unimportant details of a particular language, tool, or implementation in L1 brain cache, which proves useful during interviews. The way I deal with this is getting the most highly paying job I can and then having three months off where I do what I please. I've just finished a contract with an Evil Inc that's paid me enough that I can buy a lab to do synthetic biology in. While waiting for the machines to arrive I'm doing some really fun C.S. stuff I have not done before. When the money runs out I will go back to doing what I was doing before. This is the 4th time I've taken time off. It hasn't hurt my career progression at all.

vageli 7y ago
From your post it sounds like you do consulting or freelancing. If I may, how long do these engagements typically last? I've flirted with the idea of short periods off in between jobs (FTE though) but have typically kept up ~2 year engagements.
- buzzkillington 7y ago
  I'm somewhere between consulting and contracting. Ideally between 6 months and 1 year. My last gig lasted 18 months which was too long, I've also had 8 week stints but those drain you with all the hustling you need to do between jobs. My partner and I own our own company and optimizing taxes is the main reason why we can afford buying $50k in equipment. That we have similar interests also helps.
turk73 7y ago
How old are you? I will caution you that such strategies only favor the young, under 40. Over 40 watch out. I have said in other discussions, over 50, better have another whole plan in place.

vageli 7y ago

From your post it sounds like you do consulting or freelancing. If I may, how long do these engagements typically last? I've flirted with the idea of short periods off in between jobs (FTE though) but have typically kept up ~2 year engagements.

buzzkillington 7y ago
I'm somewhere between consulting and contracting. Ideally between 6 months and 1 year. My last gig lasted 18 months which was too long, I've also had 8 week stints but those drain you with all the hustling you need to do between jobs. My partner and I own our own company and optimizing taxes is the main reason why we can afford buying $50k in equipment. That we have similar interests also helps.

turk73 7y ago

How old are you? I will caution you that such strategies only favor the young, under 40. Over 40 watch out. I have said in other discussions, over 50, better have another whole plan in place.