3 ms·

That timescale… got me thinking. In my case it was closer to: 0-25: dicking around, with some incidental learning 25-35: learning how one gets screwed in bus

by jwr 2y ago

That timescale… got me thinking. In my case it was closer to: 0-25: dicking around, with some incidental learning 25-35: learning how one gets screwed in business deals (by getting screwed in business deals) 35-40: dicking around pretending to work and thinking this is called "startups" 40-50: actually doing stuff, working on meaningful things that people pay for and making a good living off that I am looking forward to the future :-)

y1n0 2y ago
You’ve peaked. The rest is just the same story in reverse.
- j45 2y ago
  Or you can never stop peaking and growing in different ways :)
- jwr 2y ago
  That is certainly possible, I don't know yet. But what I have noticed is that it is only past 40 that I started doing things that matter, and I learned to recognize things that do not need doing or that should not be done. This goes across the spectrum: from knowing what to do (and more importantly what NOT to spend time on) to build a business that earns money, to avoiding jumping onto the latest and greatest JavaScript framework. Incidentally, one amusing side effect is that I tend to disagree with >90% of HN commenters and often regret posting my comments, because I get downvoted or criticized into oblivion. I might of course be wrong. But then again, when I look at the depressing comments even in this discussion, or at comments from people worrying about their job, securing income, etc, and compare this to my situation, which I've ended up in by following my own compass — I stop worrying, take a deep breath and continue to do my thing :-)
bitwize 2y ago
I'm 47. 50+ is looking a lot like "struggling to run the red queen's race to keep my wife and furbabies safe, sheltered, and provided for, while watching the eventual deterioration of my body into uselessness and decrepitude begin, and watching ageism diminish my opportunities in the field". Affordable rejuvenation therapy in the next couple of decades is pretty much my only hope. Maybe then I could claw back another decade or two of vigorous life with my wife with greater wisdom than I had the first time around.
- scarface_74 2y ago
  I’m 50 now and have plans to run a 5K in at around 30 minutes by the end of the year. I haven’t run a 5K in over 15 years. Even though I have worked out continuously since I was 12. But from my current training, I don’t see any reason that isn’t achievable. No part of my body is giving me warning signs and the training isn’t any harder than it was 15 years ago. As far as “ageism”, I changed jobs at 40, 42, 44, 46, 49 and last year at 50 and neither time did it take me more than 3 weeks to get a job. I got my first only and hopefully last job at a “FAANG” at 46. None of those were management jobs and I’m now a “staff software engineer” at a third party cloud consulting company. I’m well aware that my body will decline over the next 20 years. But no need to give up prematurely
  - BytesAndGears 2y ago
    I listen to a podcast called Crushing Iron. One of the two hosts realized he was in poor shape and his friends were starting to decay. I think he was about 50 when he had that realization. He decided not to let it happen to him, so he got into triathlon. Now, he’s doing Ironman races every year for the last ~10 years, and he started at around 50 (maybe 49 or 48, don’t remember). Other host was an alcoholic who bounced back into a very healthy life. Both are inspirational, but I think the other applies to you more. Point is, you can do it! You don’t have to do a whole Ironman, obviously lol, but making choices to be healthy like you are is an amazing step. And it’s absolutely possible to start at 50. If you want motivation, the Crushing Iron podcast has some great episodes (and some kinda boring ones). Check out this one, “Out alone in the dark”.. I like their episodes from a couple years ago (and older) the most. Also 667 and 685 are a couple I had saved recently as good ones. Out alone in the dark: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000653674906 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... #667 Play like a kid: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000604180895 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... #685 stop waiting for life: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000613270643 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... Couple bonus episodes I love: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000542867672 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000550475207 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo...

by jwr 2y ago

y1n0 2y ago

You’ve peaked. The rest is just the same story in reverse.

j45 2y ago
Or you can never stop peaking and growing in different ways :)
jwr 2y ago
That is certainly possible, I don't know yet. But what I have noticed is that it is only past 40 that I started doing things that matter, and I learned to recognize things that do not need doing or that should not be done. This goes across the spectrum: from knowing what to do (and more importantly what NOT to spend time on) to build a business that earns money, to avoiding jumping onto the latest and greatest JavaScript framework. Incidentally, one amusing side effect is that I tend to disagree with >90% of HN commenters and often regret posting my comments, because I get downvoted or criticized into oblivion. I might of course be wrong. But then again, when I look at the depressing comments even in this discussion, or at comments from people worrying about their job, securing income, etc, and compare this to my situation, which I've ended up in by following my own compass — I stop worrying, take a deep breath and continue to do my thing :-)

bitwize 2y ago

I'm 47. 50+ is looking a lot like "struggling to run the red queen's race to keep my wife and furbabies safe, sheltered, and provided for, while watching the eventual deterioration of my body into uselessness and decrepitude begin, and watching ageism diminish my opportunities in the field". Affordable rejuvenation therapy in the next couple of decades is pretty much my only hope. Maybe then I could claw back another decade or two of vigorous life with my wife with greater wisdom than I had the first time around.

scarface_74 2y ago
I’m 50 now and have plans to run a 5K in at around 30 minutes by the end of the year. I haven’t run a 5K in over 15 years. Even though I have worked out continuously since I was 12. But from my current training, I don’t see any reason that isn’t achievable. No part of my body is giving me warning signs and the training isn’t any harder than it was 15 years ago. As far as “ageism”, I changed jobs at 40, 42, 44, 46, 49 and last year at 50 and neither time did it take me more than 3 weeks to get a job. I got my first only and hopefully last job at a “FAANG” at 46. None of those were management jobs and I’m now a “staff software engineer” at a third party cloud consulting company. I’m well aware that my body will decline over the next 20 years. But no need to give up prematurely
- BytesAndGears 2y ago
  I listen to a podcast called Crushing Iron. One of the two hosts realized he was in poor shape and his friends were starting to decay. I think he was about 50 when he had that realization. He decided not to let it happen to him, so he got into triathlon. Now, he’s doing Ironman races every year for the last ~10 years, and he started at around 50 (maybe 49 or 48, don’t remember). Other host was an alcoholic who bounced back into a very healthy life. Both are inspirational, but I think the other applies to you more. Point is, you can do it! You don’t have to do a whole Ironman, obviously lol, but making choices to be healthy like you are is an amazing step. And it’s absolutely possible to start at 50. If you want motivation, the Crushing Iron podcast has some great episodes (and some kinda boring ones). Check out this one, “Out alone in the dark”.. I like their episodes from a couple years ago (and older) the most. Also 667 and 685 are a couple I had saved recently as good ones. Out alone in the dark: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000653674906 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... #667 Play like a kid: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000604180895 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... #685 stop waiting for life: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000613270643 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... Couple bonus episodes I love: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000542867672 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo... https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlon-podcast/id1176278502?i=1000550475207 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crushing-iron-triathlo...