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Basically impossible to compete with people who love their job and want to do it all the time. Before I got into software I tried making Italian food. Hardest w

Basically impossible to compete with people who love their job and want to do it all the time. Before I got into software I tried making Italian food. Hardest work I ever did. Now that I’m making software I often work nights and weekends because I enjoy it so much. I Often skip days though. The flexibility is very good for my mental health. Guess I shouldn’t move to Germany.

tillk 4y ago
You confuse flexible working hours with a demand to work more than 40 hours a week (including nights and weekends). If you (like to) work overtime on the weekend or week nights, I hope you are compensated well. Just take into account that there’s a cap on what you can do and no amount of money will make up for that.
piva00 4y ago
> Now that I’m making software I often work nights and weekends because I enjoy it so much. I used to be like that in the beginning of my career. Before working, writing code was a major hobby since I was a kid. Now, after 18 years of career, this is just a recipe for burnout. And if you work in a team, it's a recipe to dump unnecessary stress unto others, they see you working on weekends and nights, some of them will feel inadequate and try to compensate and mimic you. Most can't really push that in a sustainable and healthy way so they'll burnout. I hope you are working like that in a very async manner, where you can work on flexible hours, etc. If you aren't and you are working on a team environment, you might just be causing issues without even realising it (or perhaps not, it all depends on the people you are working with). Generally, in my experience, this isn't sustainable for a team. And yes, I guess you shouldn't move to Germany, even though they work longer hours than us here in Sweden manager still don't tolerate much of someone burning the midnight oil...
- alexnewman 4y ago
  I’ve been coding for 30 years . Professionally for 25. As I grow older I work faster and longer. I now have many contractors in Germany and sweeden and they prefer working for me over locals because of the flexability i provide. I wouldn’t stereotype Americans or people in Europe. I still code everyday. I haven’t needed to work for money for 15 years. For me my family and work give me meaning. I find both to be recharging and am depressed by drinking and tv watching. Drinking and tv watching seems what most people do most of the time as opposed to family and building time
  - piva00 4y ago
    There are many, many other activities in life that can demand time and not be related to family, working, drinking and TV watching, not sure why these are the poles you chose to compare to. It's depressing to see someone working because they enjoy it, my dad is like that to this day and visiting him after living away just makes me depressed. My work doesn't give me meaning, not at all.
    - alexnewman 4y ago
      Many people find meaning in work and family. Especially when the work is helping others. I find people who live for selfish activities tend to be miserable. Those who love to help others tend to be happier

tillk 4y ago

You confuse flexible working hours with a demand to work more than 40 hours a week (including nights and weekends). If you (like to) work overtime on the weekend or week nights, I hope you are compensated well. Just take into account that there’s a cap on what you can do and no amount of money will make up for that.

piva00 4y ago

> Now that I’m making software I often work nights and weekends because I enjoy it so much. I used to be like that in the beginning of my career. Before working, writing code was a major hobby since I was a kid. Now, after 18 years of career, this is just a recipe for burnout. And if you work in a team, it's a recipe to dump unnecessary stress unto others, they see you working on weekends and nights, some of them will feel inadequate and try to compensate and mimic you. Most can't really push that in a sustainable and healthy way so they'll burnout. I hope you are working like that in a very async manner, where you can work on flexible hours, etc. If you aren't and you are working on a team environment, you might just be causing issues without even realising it (or perhaps not, it all depends on the people you are working with). Generally, in my experience, this isn't sustainable for a team. And yes, I guess you shouldn't move to Germany, even though they work longer hours than us here in Sweden manager still don't tolerate much of someone burning the midnight oil...

alexnewman 4y ago
I’ve been coding for 30 years . Professionally for 25. As I grow older I work faster and longer. I now have many contractors in Germany and sweeden and they prefer working for me over locals because of the flexability i provide. I wouldn’t stereotype Americans or people in Europe. I still code everyday. I haven’t needed to work for money for 15 years. For me my family and work give me meaning. I find both to be recharging and am depressed by drinking and tv watching. Drinking and tv watching seems what most people do most of the time as opposed to family and building time
- piva00 4y ago
  There are many, many other activities in life that can demand time and not be related to family, working, drinking and TV watching, not sure why these are the poles you chose to compare to. It's depressing to see someone working because they enjoy it, my dad is like that to this day and visiting him after living away just makes me depressed. My work doesn't give me meaning, not at all.
  - alexnewman 4y ago
    Many people find meaning in work and family. Especially when the work is helping others. I find people who live for selfish activities tend to be miserable. Those who love to help others tend to be happier