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I normally try to couple my downvotes, which are rare, with some kind of reflection that the other person might benefit from. I’m not sure what to offer here, b

I normally try to couple my downvotes, which are rare, with some kind of reflection that the other person might benefit from. I’m not sure what to offer here, but I’ll try. It’s a weird exceptionalism which celebrates excessive work and all the impact that has on people, and vicariously relate to the rare successes as if they’re your own. Most people won’t ever be a billionaire, and even those who will won’t always be happy with their life. One of the few things almost every person has, as almost equal currency, is time. Almost all of us spend most of it doing work for some external purpose and get to enjoy little of it ourselves. I’m not sure how much joy people get from being successful at business or entrepreneurship, but as a value judgment I’d say that people who live their lives satisfied and healthy without such achievements are probably treating themselves better than if they were chasing an improbable windfall. As for which culture is “better”, I don’t have to comment on which is happier and more satisfied. That much is knowable.

blagie 4y ago
I find I'm happiest and most satisfied when I'm incredibly busy with something truly meaningful. Capitalism does a mediocre job of allocating rewards to those who contribute, and most people I know have make-work: advertising, legal, fin-tech, and just the whole slew of stuff which reallocates wealth. The claim is that it allocates it more efficiently, which is perhaps true, but it's a second-order effect. If I am helping people -- be that for money, or for example, my family -- I get meaning and fulfilment out of it. In those sorts of jobs, I can work 60+ hour weeks and not burn out. I'm in a job I find meaningful right now. It pays half of what I'd make as a SWE optimizing ad clicks, but I'm happy. I don't work 60-hour weeks right now because of family, but I have worked insane work weeks before, and I probably will again at some point.
junofan 4y ago
Parent made a comparison on two specific dimensions, neither of which were happiness and satisfaction. Also building a business is pretty achievable for most people. It’s not chasing a windfall.
- eyelidlessness 4y ago
  I wasn’t expecting a “well, actually, screw happiness and satisfaction” response but here we are.
  - ctvo 4y ago
    > I wasn’t expecting a “well, actually, screw happiness and satisfaction” response but here we are. Starting a successful business, offering an exceptional service or product to customers, seeing your employees fulfilled and happy -- those tend to tick a lot of boxes for people in terms of happiness, meaning, and sanctification. Most successful people know it's that "offering an exceptional service or product" bit that makes you wealthy. Starting a business to be rich as an ends in itself rarely works out.
    - Apocryphon 4y ago
      It would be interesting to see a survey or studies on the happiness levels of founders and/or business owners.
hamiltonians 4y ago
How about being a millionare. That seems pretty good and much more feasible than a billion. Nothing is getting cheaper..i would error on the side of trying to earn and invest more. I think for a lot of people work provides meaning in life, and I dont see this as being a bad thing.

blagie 4y ago

I find I'm happiest and most satisfied when I'm incredibly busy with something truly meaningful. Capitalism does a mediocre job of allocating rewards to those who contribute, and most people I know have make-work: advertising, legal, fin-tech, and just the whole slew of stuff which reallocates wealth. The claim is that it allocates it more efficiently, which is perhaps true, but it's a second-order effect. If I am helping people -- be that for money, or for example, my family -- I get meaning and fulfilment out of it. In those sorts of jobs, I can work 60+ hour weeks and not burn out. I'm in a job I find meaningful right now. It pays half of what I'd make as a SWE optimizing ad clicks, but I'm happy. I don't work 60-hour weeks right now because of family, but I have worked insane work weeks before, and I probably will again at some point.

junofan 4y ago

Parent made a comparison on two specific dimensions, neither of which were happiness and satisfaction. Also building a business is pretty achievable for most people. It’s not chasing a windfall.

eyelidlessness 4y ago
I wasn’t expecting a “well, actually, screw happiness and satisfaction” response but here we are.
- ctvo 4y ago
  > I wasn’t expecting a “well, actually, screw happiness and satisfaction” response but here we are. Starting a successful business, offering an exceptional service or product to customers, seeing your employees fulfilled and happy -- those tend to tick a lot of boxes for people in terms of happiness, meaning, and sanctification. Most successful people know it's that "offering an exceptional service or product" bit that makes you wealthy. Starting a business to be rich as an ends in itself rarely works out.
  - Apocryphon 4y ago
    It would be interesting to see a survey or studies on the happiness levels of founders and/or business owners.

hamiltonians 4y ago

How about being a millionare. That seems pretty good and much more feasible than a billion. Nothing is getting cheaper..i would error on the side of trying to earn and invest more. I think for a lot of people work provides meaning in life, and I dont see this as being a bad thing.