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> But I’m certainly not anymore. Can you explain why, and what you would do differently?

by throw14082020 6y ago

mordymoop 6y ago
Back then I was 25, had far fewer health problems and more natural energy and mental focus, no kids, no girlfriend, no real hobbies, nothing to do on evenings or weekends, world-class expertise in my narrow domain, and a driving obsession with the project I was working on. None of these things are true right now. Even if I could find a project I could be similarly obsessed about, I am no longer young, and I have many other priorities and commitments, both on my time and my mental energy. I could not and genuinely don't want to go back to the Diet Coke fueled 14 hour workdays of my 20s. Being 10x at something is not inherently desirable. It's more just the recognition of the fact that productivity varies.
- high_byte 6y ago
  I couldn't agree more. I think the key point is - 10x is not an identity. it's a state. one which can be depleted, and respectively also filled. btw, the most productive engineers I've met were parents. it's not a prerequisite, but it is a force that drives you to become much more organized and efficient. (or perish)
- __turbobrew__ 6y ago
  > Being 10x at something is not inherently desirable Especially since 10x engineers never get 10x compensation. In my experience your compensation is very loosely — if at all — correlated with your productivity. You are better off just switching jobs every 1-2 years and putting in 0.1x effort if you are optimizing for compensation.
- throw14082020 6y ago
  I guess then my challenge in my 20s is to get out of the proverbial rat race. I am not paid that much since I am junior, but can put a lot more effort in learning for my company but also for myself (which can be different than what my company needs/wants). My superficial knowledge already seems more comprehensive than my colleagues (I cover/ am very interested in the whole stack, from backend, machine learning, infra, mobile), its quite hard to compare on a deeper level. I'm afraid full time jobs don't provide the right incentives to employees/ me, and over time my drive runs out, since everyone around me seems to work the ~8±1 hours/day.

> But I’m certainly not anymore. Can you explain why, and what you would do differently?

Back then I was 25, had far fewer health problems and more natural energy and mental focus, no kids, no girlfriend, no real hobbies, nothing to do on evenings or weekends, world-class expertise in my narrow domain, and a driving obsession with the project I was working on. None of these things are true right now. Even if I could find a project I could be similarly obsessed about, I am no longer young, and I have many other priorities and commitments, both on my time and my mental energy. I could not and genuinely don't want to go back to the Diet Coke fueled 14 hour workdays of my 20s. Being 10x at something is not inherently desirable. It's more just the recognition of the fact that productivity varies.

high_byte 6y ago
I couldn't agree more. I think the key point is - 10x is not an identity. it's a state. one which can be depleted, and respectively also filled. btw, the most productive engineers I've met were parents. it's not a prerequisite, but it is a force that drives you to become much more organized and efficient. (or perish)
__turbobrew__ 6y ago
> Being 10x at something is not inherently desirable Especially since 10x engineers never get 10x compensation. In my experience your compensation is very loosely — if at all — correlated with your productivity. You are better off just switching jobs every 1-2 years and putting in 0.1x effort if you are optimizing for compensation.
throw14082020 6y ago
I guess then my challenge in my 20s is to get out of the proverbial rat race. I am not paid that much since I am junior, but can put a lot more effort in learning for my company but also for myself (which can be different than what my company needs/wants). My superficial knowledge already seems more comprehensive than my colleagues (I cover/ am very interested in the whole stack, from backend, machine learning, infra, mobile), its quite hard to compare on a deeper level. I'm afraid full time jobs don't provide the right incentives to employees/ me, and over time my drive runs out, since everyone around me seems to work the ~8±1 hours/day.