3 ms·

"Getting your foot in the door" cost me a large part of my career. I did something I didn't really have my heart set on at a large financial services company a

by Yhippa 14y ago

"Getting your foot in the door" cost me a large part of my career. I did something I didn't really have my heart set on at a large financial services company and the OP is right: it's hard to work on the craft you love at night while doing your day job. I wish I'd have picked up on this years ago but that's life.

danielzarick 14y ago
This is exactly why I wrote the post. It was 100% a personal decision, but I hope that other people might relate and find a little courage if they are feeling the same way. Thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it.
rayiner 14y ago
Careers are long, and you don't look that old. ;)
- dasil003 14y ago
  Another reason to get out of SV: people won't think you're over the hill at 35.
JonLim 14y ago
> it's hard to work on the craft you love at night while doing your day job I was going to comment on this. As someone going through it now (working for money in the morning, and working on craft in the nights,) it seems that many of my peers who do the same thing are burning out because they charge on until 2-3am, and get up for work at 6-7am. You aren't going anywhere faster because you work yourself to death. A solid 3-4 hours at night, some great sleep, and I'm good to go. I just expect the payoff (of working on the craft) to come much, much slower than if it were my full time gig. It works for me, and I take plenty of breaks from working at night because girlfriend, friends, and family would all leave if I didn't. I just take it slow and steady.
- polyfractal 14y ago
  I'm in the same boat. It's a love-hate relationship. If I've had a particularly rough day or just don't feel like working, it's nice to just say "screw it" and drink a beer, play with the dog and talk to my girlfriend. I don't feel particularly bad because there is always tomorrow. If you take the long timeline perspective, it doesn't really matter much if you slack a little today. On the other hand, it's easy to become complacent and lose motivation to keep toiling away. Maintaining a steady regimen of working, even just a little, each night seems to be the best way to not lose interest. Otherwise it's easy to continually say to yourself "well, I'll work on it tomorrow" for the hundredth time in a row.

by Yhippa 14y ago

danielzarick 14y ago

This is exactly why I wrote the post. It was 100% a personal decision, but I hope that other people might relate and find a little courage if they are feeling the same way. Thanks for your comment. I really appreciate it.

rayiner 14y ago

Careers are long, and you don't look that old. ;)

dasil003 14y ago
Another reason to get out of SV: people won't think you're over the hill at 35.

JonLim 14y ago

> it's hard to work on the craft you love at night while doing your day job I was going to comment on this. As someone going through it now (working for money in the morning, and working on craft in the nights,) it seems that many of my peers who do the same thing are burning out because they charge on until 2-3am, and get up for work at 6-7am. You aren't going anywhere faster because you work yourself to death. A solid 3-4 hours at night, some great sleep, and I'm good to go. I just expect the payoff (of working on the craft) to come much, much slower than if it were my full time gig. It works for me, and I take plenty of breaks from working at night because girlfriend, friends, and family would all leave if I didn't. I just take it slow and steady.

polyfractal 14y ago
I'm in the same boat. It's a love-hate relationship. If I've had a particularly rough day or just don't feel like working, it's nice to just say "screw it" and drink a beer, play with the dog and talk to my girlfriend. I don't feel particularly bad because there is always tomorrow. If you take the long timeline perspective, it doesn't really matter much if you slack a little today. On the other hand, it's easy to become complacent and lose motivation to keep toiling away. Maintaining a steady regimen of working, even just a little, each night seems to be the best way to not lose interest. Otherwise it's easy to continually say to yourself "well, I'll work on it tomorrow" for the hundredth time in a row.