Comments on: A Burnt Out Programmer

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Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:42:13 +0000

[...] A burnt out programmer. [...]

By: Parnell Springmeyer

Parnell Springmeyer — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:52:57 +0000

Excellent post, well written and packed with valuable thought.

I am already feeling the grind take a toll – I’ve only been in the industry for two years. My current exit plan is to move out of my apartment once the lease is up and live out of a tent by night and work at the library during the day on the things that I feel inspired about in software engineering/programming. I have enough passive income to support that lifestyle and it would free me to play and experiment.

I had the fortune of traveling around the world before the start of my career – which is the key reason why living out of a tent is not at all a difficult or scary prospect for me.

Again, great post

P.S Concerning ’seeing patterns’ everywhere, check out this resource, it should appeal to your intellect: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiral_Dynamics based upon the vMemes, Ide say you hit the yellow-systemic meme.

By: sharks

sharks — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:56:55 +0000

> Wherever I saw, I saw patterns. They arranged
> themselves into problems, which I’d try and solve.

… and that’s how I decided to become a Traveling Salesman.

—–sharks

By: SDC

SDC — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 01:26:47 +0000

I had the experience of seeing patterns in everything, only in my case psylocibin was involved.

By: Ross

Ross — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:17:43 +0000

A lot of people can probably identify with the first half of the story, probably not so many traveled the path detailed in the second bit.

Personally, I know that my time spent at my own version of ‘Company A’ definitely made me into a moody prick as well..

By: Justin Kim

Justin Kim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:00:34 +0000

Best of luck for your adventure. Leaving the 9-5 grind, the first thing I felt was that I was a human being again. I could make decisions about what I would do, where I would go, who I would meet, and so on and so forth. The enormous freedom was a bliss.

Finding precisely what you want in that freedom will make it very special.

By: Justin Kim

Justin Kim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:56:28 +0000

Funny you should say that.

I did take up other part time jobs while I was travelling, and an IT job in other cultures (Korea) as well… but that’s going to be another post all together.

I did: teaching English, being a helping hand in an orphanage and washing dishes in a restaurant. I liked all the jobs I had, but doing these things certainly helped me realising what I liked about programming.

By: Justin Kim

Justin Kim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:52:43 +0000

Certainly true. I know that being able to pack up and go travelling is a rare privilege, and I know that I have been extremely lucky.

Good to know that we share the same experience. Hope everything goes well in your world.

By: mfukar

mfukar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:47:25 +0000

I have had the same experience. Granted, I took no amazingly beautiful trips around the world – which is a shame – but still, realizing things that make you who you are is just priceless.

By: Justin Kim

Justin Kim — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:46:40 +0000

Kapiti coast indeed is a nice place to be. Hope your product goes well.

‘Keeps you from becoming a jerk’ is something that I can relate to. I cannot believe how unpleasant to other people I used to be. Thanks for the insight.