> And beyond that, the career trajectory for a mediocre IC with no degree is looking... bleak. I know a number of software developers who are sustaining. They

> And beyond that, the career trajectory for a mediocre IC with no degree is looking... bleak. I know a number of software developers who are sustaining. They aren't going up the ranks or down the tubes. They are happily sustaining. They do good work and are content. As we are sold that we always need an upward trajectory... it doesn't work out that way. As you get older you find there is no more up. The purpose of always going up runs out of steam. > It seems like you either hit the startup equity lotto, or burn out by 40. Is this a SV or startup mentality? Most successful startups have an average founders age at founding of like 45. It's not the young in age who are more likely to found successful startups. If you burn out by 40 it may mean you have an unsustainable lifestyle.