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But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. It's less greedy than maximizing money/status, but it's on the same line of pursuit.

But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. It's less greedy than maximizing money/status, but it's on the same line of pursuit. The parent's point is that there are more aspects in life than work that you can improve on (eating healthier would be one of them). And as long as your work can sustain your life, you are free to choose to work on something else. Of course, you can choose to focus even more on working, too, if you please.

Ma8ee 6y ago
The value of staying competitive is also to be employable even after you have turned 50.
cheschire 6y ago
Well, there's something to be said about staying competitive if you're in a job you're concerned about losing. Having the ability to get laid off and pick up another job within a few weeks does bring with it a certain amount of safety that complacency might not bring.
kavalg 6y ago
I perceive staying competitive as being paid fairly for your work (within some reasonable margin). If you are becoming less and less useful to the company/industry, but your salary is getting higher over the years, your risk of being laid off increases significantly. However, I can't help but mention that if you nurture certain political skills and you are already have some management responsibilities, you can stay "forever" in some big corp even though you are not very useful...
robocat 6y ago
> But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. Perhaps you are projecting your own beliefs? Plenty of people choose careers for other reasons e.g. that give them personal satisfaction, or a career that revolves around their belief system. The article still applies even if their career goals are neither status nor money.
shawnz 6y ago
It could also mean working less hard for the same amount of money/status.
klyrs 6y ago
> But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. My hair is increasingly gray, and I'm a person who has always been motivated by challenge, and never by money. The notion of poverty is somewhat terrifying to me, because I'm keenly aware of my motivations. "Find a job" is not a satisfying challenge. I'm nowhere near retirement -- by which I mean, if my income tracks with inflation, I'll be able to comfortably retire about 5 years before I expect to die of cancer. I can't trust my company. I can't trust them to stay afloat. I can't trust them to retain me if their funding droops again. I live very economically; my biggest luxury expenditures are food and I could easily cut those. I really don't give a shit about money, but I have a kid and that's a big expense. So unemployment is scary. Staying competitive brings peace of mind, and it's a game that I can challenge myself with; that I get satisfaction from.
twblalock 6y ago
> But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. It's less greedy than maximizing money/status, but it's on the same line of pursuit. No, the point is to be able to get another job if you lose your current one.
- cellis 6y ago
  And the point of a job?

Ma8ee 6y ago

The value of staying competitive is also to be employable even after you have turned 50.

cheschire 6y ago

Well, there's something to be said about staying competitive if you're in a job you're concerned about losing. Having the ability to get laid off and pick up another job within a few weeks does bring with it a certain amount of safety that complacency might not bring.

kavalg 6y ago

I perceive staying competitive as being paid fairly for your work (within some reasonable margin). If you are becoming less and less useful to the company/industry, but your salary is getting higher over the years, your risk of being laid off increases significantly. However, I can't help but mention that if you nurture certain political skills and you are already have some management responsibilities, you can stay "forever" in some big corp even though you are not very useful...

robocat 6y ago

> But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. Perhaps you are projecting your own beliefs? Plenty of people choose careers for other reasons e.g. that give them personal satisfaction, or a career that revolves around their belief system. The article still applies even if their career goals are neither status nor money.

shawnz 6y ago

It could also mean working less hard for the same amount of money/status.

klyrs 6y ago

> But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. My hair is increasingly gray, and I'm a person who has always been motivated by challenge, and never by money. The notion of poverty is somewhat terrifying to me, because I'm keenly aware of my motivations. "Find a job" is not a satisfying challenge. I'm nowhere near retirement -- by which I mean, if my income tracks with inflation, I'll be able to comfortably retire about 5 years before I expect to die of cancer. I can't trust my company. I can't trust them to stay afloat. I can't trust them to retain me if their funding droops again. I live very economically; my biggest luxury expenditures are food and I could easily cut those. I really don't give a shit about money, but I have a kid and that's a big expense. So unemployment is scary. Staying competitive brings peace of mind, and it's a game that I can challenge myself with; that I get satisfaction from.

twblalock 6y ago

> But the value of "staying competitive" is to better earn money and status. It's less greedy than maximizing money/status, but it's on the same line of pursuit. No, the point is to be able to get another job if you lose your current one.

cellis 6y ago
And the point of a job?