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> Honestly I feel more inspired to drive Uber than ever do another tech challenge or deal with another incompetent manager. It's not the first time I am hearin

> Honestly I feel more inspired to drive Uber than ever do another tech challenge or deal with another incompetent manager. It's not the first time I am hearing this. "Driving Uber" could be plumbing, farming, woodworking, but gist the same. Here's the truth: six months of driving Uber ought to long you for the tech job back. Hell, I imagine even a few weeks is enough. The back pain, being on the road all the time, and having to work even when "you're not in the mood" is enough to make you realize that there's no better money than IT money. This isn't to disagree with your complaints, but other jobs are arguably even worse—much, much worse. In fact, the best jobs are to be found in the IT world. You just have to try enough. You can try joining a small company that gives you more autonomy over your work. Or you can try joining NGO, if having a direct impact is your priority. Or you can take a sabbatical to recharge. Focus on outdoorsy activities or hobbies that have made you happy in the past. The root of the complaints is human tendency to think that there's a glimmering better world that's just waiting for you. There's none! This is life, and this is it.

morphicpro 4y ago
Thanks for the honesty. While I can also agree with you I'm also still look for something that is fulfilling. I made a bad example of that to be disrespectful of the current state I'm in. that not really fair of me. But its also fair to say its not been healthy either. I'm sure again I'm not saying anything exclusive to tech per say.
- shubhamjain 4y ago
  That's awesome! It's completely normal to be dissatisfied. But what you're facing, you're likely to face in other industries also. I, too, thought that I had a deep dislike for tech. But when I got a better job, I realized how fulfilling programming can be when your core focus is on actually coding, not navigating the bureaucracy and how far you can grow when you're constantly challenged. Your post does indicate you like programming to an extent. So maybe autonomy is something you can try to fix.
pcthrowaway 4y ago
I hear people saying this, but there are lots of people like myself who worked in the service industry, and as professional drivers for a long time before getting into tech (I was a delivery driver long before Uber was a thing though). Every job is stressful, but I often miss the other jobs I did (and would go back in a heartbeat if I could even net the equivalent of 45K USD). They're stressful in a different way, but at the end of the day you leave and your time until your next shift is your own in a way that I haven't experienced in a few years. > The back pain, being on the road all the time, and having to work even when "you're not in the mood" is enough to make you realize that there's no better money than IT money. I'm not sure how you figure the back pain from driving an Uber is worse than sitting at a desk all day long. And I love being on the road, listening to podcasts etc (obviously if I was driving passengers I might not be able to, but then again, I think a headset would be fine)
- csomar 4y ago
  Tech is depression and brain-breakdown inducing. Driving an Uber is tiring, boring and neck-breaking. But it's not going to make you mentally insane. Of course, this depends on the road conditions and the traffic of the city you are driving in.
  - badpun 4y ago
    On the other hand, one month of tech is probably equivalent to 6 months of ubering? May be less or more, depending on the actual job. So, instead of driving uber for 6 months, just do a tech job for a month and then heal and recharge for five. Of course, this has to be amortized over time, but that's what I've basically been doing for the past 20 years.
    - badpun 4y ago
      Also, the good gigs are never in the super-optimized meat-grinders, such as Uber or McDonalds or Amazon warehouse. The good gigs are in places like the local city museum that almost on one visits, or being a personal driver for the mayor. So, basically, in places which don't care about efficiency that much. Of course, they're not trivial to find, and require some social capital (knowing the right person) to get.

morphicpro 4y ago

Thanks for the honesty. While I can also agree with you I'm also still look for something that is fulfilling. I made a bad example of that to be disrespectful of the current state I'm in. that not really fair of me. But its also fair to say its not been healthy either. I'm sure again I'm not saying anything exclusive to tech per say.

shubhamjain 4y ago
That's awesome! It's completely normal to be dissatisfied. But what you're facing, you're likely to face in other industries also. I, too, thought that I had a deep dislike for tech. But when I got a better job, I realized how fulfilling programming can be when your core focus is on actually coding, not navigating the bureaucracy and how far you can grow when you're constantly challenged. Your post does indicate you like programming to an extent. So maybe autonomy is something you can try to fix.

pcthrowaway 4y ago

I hear people saying this, but there are lots of people like myself who worked in the service industry, and as professional drivers for a long time before getting into tech (I was a delivery driver long before Uber was a thing though). Every job is stressful, but I often miss the other jobs I did (and would go back in a heartbeat if I could even net the equivalent of 45K USD). They're stressful in a different way, but at the end of the day you leave and your time until your next shift is your own in a way that I haven't experienced in a few years. > The back pain, being on the road all the time, and having to work even when "you're not in the mood" is enough to make you realize that there's no better money than IT money. I'm not sure how you figure the back pain from driving an Uber is worse than sitting at a desk all day long. And I love being on the road, listening to podcasts etc (obviously if I was driving passengers I might not be able to, but then again, I think a headset would be fine)

csomar 4y ago
Tech is depression and brain-breakdown inducing. Driving an Uber is tiring, boring and neck-breaking. But it's not going to make you mentally insane. Of course, this depends on the road conditions and the traffic of the city you are driving in.
- badpun 4y ago
  On the other hand, one month of tech is probably equivalent to 6 months of ubering? May be less or more, depending on the actual job. So, instead of driving uber for 6 months, just do a tech job for a month and then heal and recharge for five. Of course, this has to be amortized over time, but that's what I've basically been doing for the past 20 years.
  - badpun 4y ago
    Also, the good gigs are never in the super-optimized meat-grinders, such as Uber or McDonalds or Amazon warehouse. The good gigs are in places like the local city museum that almost on one visits, or being a personal driver for the mayor. So, basically, in places which don't care about efficiency that much. Of course, they're not trivial to find, and require some social capital (knowing the right person) to get.