5 ms·

It sucks to be frank. It wasn't quite my choice to take an early retirement. Despite what the pundits say, you are your job.

svalorzen 5y ago
> you are your job I'm sorry to say this, but this is one of the saddest things a person can say in my opinion. You can definitely become your job, but I can't see myself ever wanting something like that.
- jan_Inkepa 5y ago
  A teacher impressed on me at a formative age that I wasn't likeable enough that people would ever respect me unless I did good work. I'm definitely reliant on my work (though no particular job) as a core part of my identity, but it's a mutually beneficial relationship overall. Tough love but insightful/fair advice in retrospect.
drclau 5y ago
> you are your job I hope you don’t take it personally, because it’s not intended as such, but this is sad.
- bostonsre 5y ago
  I think there is a lot of truth to it. I would guess for the majority of people here, they deeply identify as tech workers and it is a huge part of their being. Hopefully it isn't everyone's entire life though.
- brigandish 5y ago
  Different people are different.
- fundad 5y ago
  Being laid off and not finding new work so you’re forced to retire which is the opposite of choosing to retire early. And it’s sad, I hope that doesn’t happen to me.
zeepzeep 5y ago
You are allowed to work still...
dempseye 5y ago
What were the circumstances?
- jimmyvalmer 5y ago
  I was fired, but you know how HR will gussy it up with cringey language like "mutual agreement" and what not.
  - throwbigdata 5y ago
    Did you cash out early or were you fired?
    - jimmyvalmer 5y ago
      Good question. I was fired, so I guess my case doesn't apply to OP. I also had enough in the bank that I don't need to follow orders from someone who's never made a mix tape, which is what would happen if I tried to rejoin the workforce. I know, first-world problems.
  - dempseye 5y ago
    Right, and can you not just get another job if you want to continue working?
suifbwish 5y ago
Actually you are what you do. People can quit their job anytime they want to; most just lack the courage and fortitude to attempt living without a solid income and utilize all manner of emotionally based arguments to make them think this is not the true reason they do just that.
- winternett 5y ago
  Some people simply don't have a choice of whether to work or not... The difference is between being home and being homeless. A lot of the posts in here are based on a singular view and it worries me. Only some of us are very fortunate to be in a position where we can simply quit our job or pivot to a new way of life, but the majority of people in the world cannot do that and survive well. We should never forget the need to be able to consider walking in the shoes of others.
saiya-jin 5y ago
Not here, never was and never will be. Its just a job regardless how creative it can be, life is about myriad other things, cool, great, actually important. But to each their own, my perspective is that I don't want to have work-related regrets (ideally no regrets at all) when dying, and me being my job would definitely be #1 or #2 on such a list. I would change it to "you are what you can", which expands possibilities up to the sky (with paragliding, sky is included)
gibbonsrcool 5y ago
Please don’t listen to this. These are the words of someone who allowed work to destroy the part of themselves that had their own hopes and dreams. Only a shell that could take directions was left.
- CapmCrackaWaka 5y ago
  Do you know this person? Because I actually love my job, and I feel like if I retired right now it would suck. I would definitely be bored.
  - gibbonsrcool 5y ago
    This is mind boggling. Bored? You have all your free time to literally do anything you want. You can explore the outdoors. You can learn ANYTHING you want. You could get to know more of the worlds 6 billion people and their cultures. Volunteer, start a new hobby, spend more time with family and friends, work on personal growth, exercise... you have Stockholm syndrome, snap out of it.
    - CapmCrackaWaka 5y ago
      Yeah that all sounds nice until you start to budget it. No way I could keep myself busy with the money I have. I guess this question really depends on if you have the financial means to retire _and keep yourself entertained for the rest of your life_. I don't. > you have Stockholm syndrome, snap out of it Very rude.
      - throwaway123x2 5y ago
        Yeah lol, some people like the structure, other people don't.
    - gota 5y ago
      Not the person you're replying to, and not retired, but I can offer some perspective as someone that does indeed like the job. If I retired I'd be able to learn anything I want - but If I wanted to tackle the challenges I have fun tackling, state-of-the-art and involving some nifty constraints and difficulties... I'd need whole teams around me, and a large infrastructure comparable to a multinational company. That's what I get now - working. If I retired, I could only find it, I think, by getting the same job. If I'm already working there, doing the stuff that I find fun, in a schedule that fits me and keeps me healthy and safe, and already relatively financially secure - to the point where I don't have to bother with focusing on corporate ladder or anything like that - what do I gain by retiring? At least on this aspect (there is obviously a tradeoff) Not to mention I get to do some empowered volunteering from within the company itself. It helps that I actually have respect for the leadership, up to the CEO, as actual human beings. Not reverence - respect. Specially looking at some other companies out there. I have a whole other perspective. But toss me into a meatgrinder job and I agree with you immediately. Finally, I hope you see how your comment on Stockholm syndrome and snapping out of it was mean and ignorant towards the parent poster
jmvoodoo 5y ago
Out of curiosity why don't you go back? I did and am enjoying work on the new terms that the "cash out" allows me.
hprotagonist 5y ago
> you are your job. All i can read this as is “Brooks Was Here”
smitty1e 5y ago
I have plenty of avocation runway to explore. Hoping that the global economy is past the hangover by the end of the decade.
hoomank3 5y ago
I have a quote that I put in my office in a prominent place. It says "Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship." I really believe that and try to make my work a force of good. I feel too much work is a bad thing, but too little unfulfilling work is also not good. Some people feel that if they were sufficiently rich, they will never work. I think one source of this view are the health effects of the sedentary lifestyle associated with tech, and I respect people who say that. It's all to common for people to be overworked in tech, so I understand people who want to exit for that reason too. Still others, don't really enjoy work at all and would exit the workforce if given the opportunity. I respect that view too but it's not for me. Because even if I had unlimited financial; resources I NEED to still work. I believe work, especially the kind that you feel is helping people and results in deep concentration called flow is beneficial for my mental health. If I stopped working and entered a perma-vacation, I would go out of my mind. There are only so many golf courses, and so many days you can wake up late, before I would be bored out of my mind. When I go on vacation, I enjoy it and need it. But after about a week, I start to get bored and to miss work. I need a challenge. There is a nice documentary called Born Rich by Jamie Johnson (one of the heirs to the Johnson & Johnson empire's wealth) in which he films the sons and daughters of billionaires (it's on YouTube). What I found fascinating is the happiest ones seemed to be those that applied themselves by working or in one case applying themselves in academia all the way to a PhD. Even if I stopped my current start-up, I think I would find myself spending a few months catching up on technologies I didn't have the chance to catch up on, and imagine I would just start a new start-up after that.
sidereturn 5y ago
When you are caught in a job you don't much like, time flies, but you are time poor. But may have some money. I have been out of work for a long while, and family uses up lots of time. But I have always suffered with balance, programming entirely consumes me, and I ebb and flow with it. I feel totally disconnected and disenchanted with it and have no money and lots of debt. And have no job security or fallback. Given a good manager and the right position I could happily amble along and be a useful asset. But I am very disillusioned with web work and the industry. And I think web programming is a tremendously wasteful brain drain. However if I had money and time, my perspective would be totally different!
yomly 5y ago
Here are some things I am counting down the days til I have the free time to go deep on: Martial Arts Music Cooking Here are some things I would love to learn more about World History Science Gardening Sailing Camping + foraging Here are some places I've yet to see: Antarctica, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, Tibet, The Pyramids Not to mention spending more quality time with my friends and family. Enjoying more of my parents' finite years together Spending time nurturing my children. I am not my job. My job serves me - it brings me closer to my goals. When that is not true, it's time for a new job.

svalorzen 5y ago

> you are your job I'm sorry to say this, but this is one of the saddest things a person can say in my opinion. You can definitely become your job, but I can't see myself ever wanting something like that.

jan_Inkepa 5y ago
A teacher impressed on me at a formative age that I wasn't likeable enough that people would ever respect me unless I did good work. I'm definitely reliant on my work (though no particular job) as a core part of my identity, but it's a mutually beneficial relationship overall. Tough love but insightful/fair advice in retrospect.

drclau 5y ago

> you are your job I hope you don’t take it personally, because it’s not intended as such, but this is sad.

bostonsre 5y ago
I think there is a lot of truth to it. I would guess for the majority of people here, they deeply identify as tech workers and it is a huge part of their being. Hopefully it isn't everyone's entire life though.
brigandish 5y ago
Different people are different.
fundad 5y ago
Being laid off and not finding new work so you’re forced to retire which is the opposite of choosing to retire early. And it’s sad, I hope that doesn’t happen to me.

zeepzeep 5y ago

You are allowed to work still...

dempseye 5y ago

What were the circumstances?

jimmyvalmer 5y ago
I was fired, but you know how HR will gussy it up with cringey language like "mutual agreement" and what not.
- throwbigdata 5y ago
  Did you cash out early or were you fired?
  - jimmyvalmer 5y ago
    Good question. I was fired, so I guess my case doesn't apply to OP. I also had enough in the bank that I don't need to follow orders from someone who's never made a mix tape, which is what would happen if I tried to rejoin the workforce. I know, first-world problems.
- dempseye 5y ago
  Right, and can you not just get another job if you want to continue working?

suifbwish 5y ago

Actually you are what you do. People can quit their job anytime they want to; most just lack the courage and fortitude to attempt living without a solid income and utilize all manner of emotionally based arguments to make them think this is not the true reason they do just that.

winternett 5y ago
Some people simply don't have a choice of whether to work or not... The difference is between being home and being homeless. A lot of the posts in here are based on a singular view and it worries me. Only some of us are very fortunate to be in a position where we can simply quit our job or pivot to a new way of life, but the majority of people in the world cannot do that and survive well. We should never forget the need to be able to consider walking in the shoes of others.

saiya-jin 5y ago

Not here, never was and never will be. Its just a job regardless how creative it can be, life is about myriad other things, cool, great, actually important. But to each their own, my perspective is that I don't want to have work-related regrets (ideally no regrets at all) when dying, and me being my job would definitely be #1 or #2 on such a list. I would change it to "you are what you can", which expands possibilities up to the sky (with paragliding, sky is included)

gibbonsrcool 5y ago

Please don’t listen to this. These are the words of someone who allowed work to destroy the part of themselves that had their own hopes and dreams. Only a shell that could take directions was left.

CapmCrackaWaka 5y ago
Do you know this person? Because I actually love my job, and I feel like if I retired right now it would suck. I would definitely be bored.
- gibbonsrcool 5y ago
  This is mind boggling. Bored? You have all your free time to literally do anything you want. You can explore the outdoors. You can learn ANYTHING you want. You could get to know more of the worlds 6 billion people and their cultures. Volunteer, start a new hobby, spend more time with family and friends, work on personal growth, exercise... you have Stockholm syndrome, snap out of it.
  - CapmCrackaWaka 5y ago
    Yeah that all sounds nice until you start to budget it. No way I could keep myself busy with the money I have. I guess this question really depends on if you have the financial means to retire _and keep yourself entertained for the rest of your life_. I don't. > you have Stockholm syndrome, snap out of it Very rude.
    - throwaway123x2 5y ago
      Yeah lol, some people like the structure, other people don't.
  - gota 5y ago
    Not the person you're replying to, and not retired, but I can offer some perspective as someone that does indeed like the job. If I retired I'd be able to learn anything I want - but If I wanted to tackle the challenges I have fun tackling, state-of-the-art and involving some nifty constraints and difficulties... I'd need whole teams around me, and a large infrastructure comparable to a multinational company. That's what I get now - working. If I retired, I could only find it, I think, by getting the same job. If I'm already working there, doing the stuff that I find fun, in a schedule that fits me and keeps me healthy and safe, and already relatively financially secure - to the point where I don't have to bother with focusing on corporate ladder or anything like that - what do I gain by retiring? At least on this aspect (there is obviously a tradeoff) Not to mention I get to do some empowered volunteering from within the company itself. It helps that I actually have respect for the leadership, up to the CEO, as actual human beings. Not reverence - respect. Specially looking at some other companies out there. I have a whole other perspective. But toss me into a meatgrinder job and I agree with you immediately. Finally, I hope you see how your comment on Stockholm syndrome and snapping out of it was mean and ignorant towards the parent poster

jmvoodoo 5y ago

Out of curiosity why don't you go back? I did and am enjoying work on the new terms that the "cash out" allows me.

hprotagonist 5y ago

> you are your job. All i can read this as is “Brooks Was Here”

smitty1e 5y ago

I have plenty of avocation runway to explore. Hoping that the global economy is past the hangover by the end of the decade.

hoomank3 5y ago

I have a quote that I put in my office in a prominent place. It says "Work done in the spirit of service is the highest form of worship." I really believe that and try to make my work a force of good. I feel too much work is a bad thing, but too little unfulfilling work is also not good. Some people feel that if they were sufficiently rich, they will never work. I think one source of this view are the health effects of the sedentary lifestyle associated with tech, and I respect people who say that. It's all to common for people to be overworked in tech, so I understand people who want to exit for that reason too. Still others, don't really enjoy work at all and would exit the workforce if given the opportunity. I respect that view too but it's not for me. Because even if I had unlimited financial; resources I NEED to still work. I believe work, especially the kind that you feel is helping people and results in deep concentration called flow is beneficial for my mental health. If I stopped working and entered a perma-vacation, I would go out of my mind. There are only so many golf courses, and so many days you can wake up late, before I would be bored out of my mind. When I go on vacation, I enjoy it and need it. But after about a week, I start to get bored and to miss work. I need a challenge. There is a nice documentary called Born Rich by Jamie Johnson (one of the heirs to the Johnson & Johnson empire's wealth) in which he films the sons and daughters of billionaires (it's on YouTube). What I found fascinating is the happiest ones seemed to be those that applied themselves by working or in one case applying themselves in academia all the way to a PhD. Even if I stopped my current start-up, I think I would find myself spending a few months catching up on technologies I didn't have the chance to catch up on, and imagine I would just start a new start-up after that.

sidereturn 5y ago

When you are caught in a job you don't much like, time flies, but you are time poor. But may have some money. I have been out of work for a long while, and family uses up lots of time. But I have always suffered with balance, programming entirely consumes me, and I ebb and flow with it. I feel totally disconnected and disenchanted with it and have no money and lots of debt. And have no job security or fallback. Given a good manager and the right position I could happily amble along and be a useful asset. But I am very disillusioned with web work and the industry. And I think web programming is a tremendously wasteful brain drain. However if I had money and time, my perspective would be totally different!

yomly 5y ago

Here are some things I am counting down the days til I have the free time to go deep on: Martial Arts Music Cooking Here are some things I would love to learn more about World History Science Gardening Sailing Camping + foraging Here are some places I've yet to see: Antarctica, Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat, Tibet, The Pyramids Not to mention spending more quality time with my friends and family. Enjoying more of my parents' finite years together Spending time nurturing my children. I am not my job. My job serves me - it brings me closer to my goals. When that is not true, it's time for a new job.