3 ms·

I relate to this. I don't know what it is either, but over the course of my 25-year career it's become impossible to summon that "will" within me. My brain ju

by saulpw 2y ago

I relate to this. I don't know what it is either, but over the course of my 25-year career it's become impossible to summon that "will" within me. My brain just constantly asks "and what are we doing this for again?" which is anathema to sustained effort. I wonder if it's simple age; maybe this is just the energy of youth that evaporated. Or maybe it's becoming jaded; seeing how people will encourage their employees to burn it hard, for a modest reward that (in my experience anyway) often does not even materialize.

zemvpferreira 2y ago
Former founder now small-time entrepreneur and this resonates with me. I know what I’m capable of when I turn on the switch but I also know the sacrifices it entails. Not willing to go into that mode so someone else can profit in my behalf.
ip26 2y ago
The energy of youth seems impossible to separate from the optimism. I suspect you could find enormous stamina in older folks for a goal that can rekindle their optimism.
- throwaway657656 2y ago
  It's not enough to have personal optimism you need a community/culture of optimists. ~10 years ago that was there in a big way for tech. It was peak YC prestige. HBO's Silicon Valley brought the start-up struggles/drama into the mainstream. Most people who worked hard were rewarded. Large in-person tech meetups provided a venue to share your success story. The tech industry now feels bloated, mundane, low-value/rent-seeking, or as a net-negative for society. It isn't fun to share your success since it comes off as boasting instead of inspiring. How I miss 2014. I was productive, optimistic, and energetic in a way I can barely comprehend now.
  - riehwvfbk 2y ago
    But the industry hasn't really changed, just the window dressing did. Was SV peddling addictive user-as-product products then? Of course. Did most employees never really have a chance of getting rich? Yeah. Was the area boring suburbia with old dilapidated buildings? Yes, same as today.

by saulpw 2y ago

zemvpferreira 2y ago

Former founder now small-time entrepreneur and this resonates with me. I know what I’m capable of when I turn on the switch but I also know the sacrifices it entails. Not willing to go into that mode so someone else can profit in my behalf.

ip26 2y ago

The energy of youth seems impossible to separate from the optimism. I suspect you could find enormous stamina in older folks for a goal that can rekindle their optimism.

throwaway657656 2y ago
It's not enough to have personal optimism you need a community/culture of optimists. ~10 years ago that was there in a big way for tech. It was peak YC prestige. HBO's Silicon Valley brought the start-up struggles/drama into the mainstream. Most people who worked hard were rewarded. Large in-person tech meetups provided a venue to share your success story. The tech industry now feels bloated, mundane, low-value/rent-seeking, or as a net-negative for society. It isn't fun to share your success since it comes off as boasting instead of inspiring. How I miss 2014. I was productive, optimistic, and energetic in a way I can barely comprehend now.
- riehwvfbk 2y ago
  But the industry hasn't really changed, just the window dressing did. Was SV peddling addictive user-as-product products then? Of course. Did most employees never really have a chance of getting rich? Yeah. Was the area boring suburbia with old dilapidated buildings? Yes, same as today.