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> My job funds the rest of my life. That's it. Why should I get attached to a job? Unrelated to the WFH vs. Office topic (WFH works for me, but I am an open so

by sho_hn 6y ago

> My job funds the rest of my life. That's it. Why should I get attached to a job? Unrelated to the WFH vs. Office topic (WFH works for me, but I am an open source lifer and used to distributed community - and got amazing friendships out of it), but: This is a mindset I never understood or could relate to. Doesn't it make you depressed that you need to spend 8+ hours of your life on something you don't really care about? It's time you don't get back, ever. For me the #1 req for a job is that I care and think it's worth doing, because it's part of my life. I'm not attacking your values there, I'm just wondering how you can be OK with the time loss. I think it also reads on having a healthy relationship with the employer as an employee - do your best not to waste my time.

SenHeng 6y ago
I'm a consultant/contractor and sometimes do remote. Even when I was an employee, I've never been able to identify with the company's mission and goals or whatever it is that thing is that everyone else experiences. In fact, I found it extremely cringey whenever I had to take part in any company sponsored socialisation events though I'm willing to concede that it's simply the introvert in me feeling that way. Despite that I'm still able to enjoy my job because my focus is on doing good work to the best of my abilities. I get along with my colleagues and have made real friends with some of them even. I believe it's best for people to learn to separate their employer from their identity.
solipsism 6y ago
Doesn't it make you depressed that you need to spend 8+ hours of your life on something you don't really care about? It's time you don't get back, ever. For me the #1 req for a job is that I care and think it's worth doing, because it's part of my life. The fact that you can't work at a place unless you get some shot of dopamine associated with the perception of "this is worth it" doesn't mean everyone has that particular hang-up. Ultimately, what do you get out of "this is worth it"? You don't get anything. Or, rather, the important thing you get is a paycheck, just like everyone else. You'll answer, "I get the satisfaction that..." That dopamine addiction isn't any more meaningful than a cigarette hit. When our ancestors were out hunting mammoths I imagine there was one who said to the others, "I hate this shit. Don't you think we should be spending time doing something we like?" And his friend said "Meh. It's not bad, and I like to eat."
alistairSH 6y ago
I don't dislike my job. I get to solve interesting problems, work with great people, and our particular niche within the broader software industry has more redeeming qualities than most. I just don't feel particularly attached to it. If I was RIFed tomorrow, I'd be anxious about finding a new job, but wouldn't feel any great sense of loss. FWIW, my career started in 1999, so I barely got my feet wet before the dot-bomb implosion (followed my 9/11, acquisition by a PE group, then 2008, then ownership change to another PE group, etc). It's blatantly obvious that C-level, BOD, etc only have the interests of their employees in mind while that happens to align with their own self-interest. I'm just a cog in the machine. I'm ok with that - I'm a well paid cog and it lets me do things like travel the world, buy expensive toys, and live on a golf course. Yeah, I hate the loss of time, but haven't found a good alternative. I don't want my hobbies to become work - I think I'd just end up hating them.

by sho_hn 6y ago

SenHeng 6y ago

I'm a consultant/contractor and sometimes do remote. Even when I was an employee, I've never been able to identify with the company's mission and goals or whatever it is that thing is that everyone else experiences. In fact, I found it extremely cringey whenever I had to take part in any company sponsored socialisation events though I'm willing to concede that it's simply the introvert in me feeling that way. Despite that I'm still able to enjoy my job because my focus is on doing good work to the best of my abilities. I get along with my colleagues and have made real friends with some of them even. I believe it's best for people to learn to separate their employer from their identity.

solipsism 6y ago

Doesn't it make you depressed that you need to spend 8+ hours of your life on something you don't really care about? It's time you don't get back, ever. For me the #1 req for a job is that I care and think it's worth doing, because it's part of my life. The fact that you can't work at a place unless you get some shot of dopamine associated with the perception of "this is worth it" doesn't mean everyone has that particular hang-up. Ultimately, what do you get out of "this is worth it"? You don't get anything. Or, rather, the important thing you get is a paycheck, just like everyone else. You'll answer, "I get the satisfaction that..." That dopamine addiction isn't any more meaningful than a cigarette hit. When our ancestors were out hunting mammoths I imagine there was one who said to the others, "I hate this shit. Don't you think we should be spending time doing something we like?" And his friend said "Meh. It's not bad, and I like to eat."

alistairSH 6y ago

I don't dislike my job. I get to solve interesting problems, work with great people, and our particular niche within the broader software industry has more redeeming qualities than most. I just don't feel particularly attached to it. If I was RIFed tomorrow, I'd be anxious about finding a new job, but wouldn't feel any great sense of loss. FWIW, my career started in 1999, so I barely got my feet wet before the dot-bomb implosion (followed my 9/11, acquisition by a PE group, then 2008, then ownership change to another PE group, etc). It's blatantly obvious that C-level, BOD, etc only have the interests of their employees in mind while that happens to align with their own self-interest. I'm just a cog in the machine. I'm ok with that - I'm a well paid cog and it lets me do things like travel the world, buy expensive toys, and live on a golf course. Yeah, I hate the loss of time, but haven't found a good alternative. I don't want my hobbies to become work - I think I'd just end up hating them.