Most developers will not launch a startup and make a bunch of money, so if you are young and wish to mitigate the risks of a downward career trajectory, here ar

Most developers will not launch a startup and make a bunch of money, so if you are young and wish to mitigate the risks of a downward career trajectory, here are a few suggestions off the top of my head: 1) Learn a domain, one with staying power. 2) Stay in shape. For me, this means limiting how much I eat. I find that consuming a minimal amount of carbs/sugars totally eliminates the ups and downs in energy levels throughout the day, and makes me feel as ready to go at 4PM as I do at 9AM. 3) Enjoy yourself. There are thousands of domains for programmers. Find one where you like the culture and work. 4) Consider moving away from the coasts. The concentration of competent developers is much lower in the interior of the country. (Just 100 miles can make a big difference). 5) Don't go into management, unless you really enjoy it. And if you do become a manager, hack management.