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I gradually dropped out a few years ago. I worked my way up in tech, wearing many different hats, for about 20 years, to a three-page resume and being able to f

I gradually dropped out a few years ago. I worked my way up in tech, wearing many different hats, for about 20 years, to a three-page resume and being able to find a six-figure job at the drop of a hat. But the trade-off was not getting enough sleep, and feeling like my life's energy was being directed to making the world worse, not better. My work amounted to improving the efficiency of profit-making of the business, and getting a small piece of it to keep. I worked in finance supporting applications to facilitate MBS. I worked in advertising agencies to facilitate the sales of harmful products like petroleum and sugar water. All in all, my conscience was not clean. Then there was the stress of arbitrary deadlines. And the constant disappointment of shipping something written haphazardly and then retired after a couple of years, replaced by another pile of crap. It was a great learning experience. I think of it as university, where you also do a whole bunch of useless and pointless busywork in order to learn the skills. But eventually, it was time to go and move on. I live primarily fregan lifestyle now, meaning I avoid using money as much as possible, for both ethical and practical reasons. I am generally able to sleep as much as I want, meditate as much as I want, and refactor my code as much as I want. I am almost never in a rush, and I feel much calmer and happier.

aprdm 5y ago
Was there any industries that you cared about and could apply tech to? That's usually a good way to go about it, instead of chasing money/profits. For example: Clean energy, a non profit, etc.
- forgotmypw17 5y ago
  I worked for a non-profit, and it was largely the same, minus the chasing profits part. The salary was lower, and perhaps the negative impact was smaller, but I did not feel a positive impact at all. It still felt like I was largely feeding and validating the same processes. I don't know about others, but I just don't feel like I am designed for living the same schedule day in, day out, week in, week out, year in, year out, until I look back on it and wonder, where did all the time go? And you know what, that feeling has gone away for me. I don't remember the last time I felt that "time is slipping away" feeling. In fact, I often feel the opposite: Things which happened just a day or two ago feel like several weeks have passed, and time has stretched out.
  - aprdm 5y ago
    Interesting. I work in an area that I really enjoy (movies) as I consume the end product, and feels like I'm doing something to improve people's life. Of course there's many issues with the industry and whatnot, but still feels like my contributions are net positive to the world. I'm OK with living on the same schedule and with routine, my work hours and days are super flexible so it isn't something that has been an issue.
GongOfFour 5y ago
Do you own your home?
GoodJokes 5y ago
Really weird humblebrag with no value.

aprdm 5y ago

Was there any industries that you cared about and could apply tech to? That's usually a good way to go about it, instead of chasing money/profits. For example: Clean energy, a non profit, etc.

forgotmypw17 5y ago
I worked for a non-profit, and it was largely the same, minus the chasing profits part. The salary was lower, and perhaps the negative impact was smaller, but I did not feel a positive impact at all. It still felt like I was largely feeding and validating the same processes. I don't know about others, but I just don't feel like I am designed for living the same schedule day in, day out, week in, week out, year in, year out, until I look back on it and wonder, where did all the time go? And you know what, that feeling has gone away for me. I don't remember the last time I felt that "time is slipping away" feeling. In fact, I often feel the opposite: Things which happened just a day or two ago feel like several weeks have passed, and time has stretched out.
- aprdm 5y ago
  Interesting. I work in an area that I really enjoy (movies) as I consume the end product, and feels like I'm doing something to improve people's life. Of course there's many issues with the industry and whatnot, but still feels like my contributions are net positive to the world. I'm OK with living on the same schedule and with routine, my work hours and days are super flexible so it isn't something that has been an issue.

GongOfFour 5y ago

Do you own your home?

GoodJokes 5y ago

Really weird humblebrag with no value.