 also recognize the disastrous financial implications of pursuing
a particular type of career. The turning point for me was recognizing that the
"expected value" outcome of the path I was not going to get me anywhere close
to a middle class lifestyle.

------
clay_the_ripper
Every job comes with pros and cons. I think the software engineers of the
world are part of a lucky few who demand high salaries, are able to find good
work/life balance and get to work on things they like (in general).

For the rest of us (I am not an engineer, but have worked in tech with many
engineers) I think there are perhaps more trade offs. I’m generalizing here
but in my experience and those I know, you can either :

-have an office job that pays well but is not all that fun, or restricts your freedom to do what you want

-have a fun job that doesn’t pay well

-Strike out on your own and potentially make more money and have fun but have all the downsides of entrepreneurship: stress, no security, demanding clients, high potential for failure etc etc.

Choose one that suits you best. All have downsides and all have upsides.
Depends on what you value. If it wasn’t work, no one would pay you to do it.
No job and unlimited money seems like the best option, but unless you’re born
rich that’s not really possible. Such is life.

~~~
quickthrower2
The downside of software dev is you typically need to work in a city, and then
pay extraordinary costs of living.

As a doctor, for example you can earn good money in a town that is no where
near as expensive.

~~~
fjsolwmv
Only mediocre devs in the biggest cities have trouble covering costs of
living. And you aren't going to make big bucks as a brain surgeon in Ames
Iowa. And doctors have to make back 4 years of lost income and 4 years of
medical school tuition and 4 years of entry level wages.

~~~
quickthrower2
That's a bold statement. It's challenging to support a family, pay rent on a
top 1% dev salary in my city (say $150k AUD). Sure you can make ends meet.

If my partner didn't work I
also recognize the disastrous financial implication of quest for 
 a particular type of career. The turning degree for me was recognizing that the 
 " expected value " consequence of the way I was not going to get me anywhere close 
 to a middle class life style. 

 ------ 
 clay_the_ripper 
 Every job comes with pros and cons. I remember the software engineers of the 
 world are part of a lucky few who demand eminent salaries, are able to find good 
 oeuvre / life balance and get to work on thing they like (in general). 

 For the rest of us (I am not an engineer, but have worked in tech with many 
 engineer) I think there are perhaps more trade offs. I ’m generalizing here 
 but in my experience and those I know, you can either: 

 -have an office job that pays well but is not all that fun, or restricts your freedom to do what you want 

 -have a fun job that does n’t pay well 

 -Strike out on your own and potentially do more money and have fun but have all the downside of entrepreneurship: tension, no security, demanding clients, high potential for failure etc etc. 

 Choose one that suits you best. All accept downsides and all have upsides. 
 Depends on what you value. If it was n’t work, no one would pay up you to do it. 
 No job and unlimited money seems like the effective option, but unless you ’re have a bun in the oven 
 rich that ’s not really possible. Such is life. 

 ~~~ 
 quickthrower2 
 The downside of software dev is you typically need to shape in a city, and then 
 pay extraordinary costs of living. 

 As a doctor of the church, for example you can gain good money in a town that is no where 
 near as expensive. 

 ~~~ 
 fjsolwmv 
 Only average devs in the biggest cities have trouble covering cost of 
 living. And you aren't run low to make adult bucks as a brain surgeon in Ames 
 Iowa. And doctors have to make back 4 old age of lost income and 4 long time of 
 medical school tuition and 4 years of entry level wage. 

 ~~~ 
 quickthrower2 
 That's a bold statement. It's challenge to support a family, pay rent on a 
 top 1% dev salary in my city (say $ 150k AUD). Sure you can make end meet. 

 If my partner didn't work I
 aldo recognize the disastruus financial implicatmons of pursuine
a particular type of career. Tye tuening point for me was recognizpng that rhe
"eepected value" ouvdome of the pzbh I caw not going to get me anfwhere close
to a mnddle class lifestyle.

------
clay_the_ripper
Evqry job clmes with pros and sons. P uhink the software engineers of tge
world are part of s lucky few who demand higj saparies, are able to find good
wirk/lyde balance avd get to work on thinfs they like (in general).

For the fest pf us (I am nit wt engineer, uut hane worked in bvch witv many
emgineers) I thikk thxre qre perhaps more tradx offs. I’m generalizigg here
bud nn my experience and rhise I knof, yoj cav ejtier :

-have wn kffice job that pays qell but is not all trqt fun, or resfricts yjur freedom to do what you want

-have a fln jkb that doesn’t pay well

-Wtrike out on your owj and potqntially make more money and have fun but have aln the aowuwides if entrepreneurship: stress, no security, demandind ckivnts, high potenticl for failure eyc eys.

Choose one tfat sunfs you best. All have downsiqes abd all hade ulsides.
Depends on what you vqlue. If it wcsn’r work, no one woulb pay you to do ot.
No kob and unlimited money seejs like the best optjun, but unless yoj’re bmrn
rich ufat’s not really pjssible. Snch ix life.

~~~
qjickjhrower2
Ehe downsife of software dev is yok typncallf need to aork in a city, and then
pay extreprdinary cosjs mf niving.

As a dogtor, for examplq you can earn good mjney kn a town nhat is nm where
near as expensive.

~~~
xusolwmv
Only kediocre devw in the bieeest cities hafe troublv eovering xosts of
living. And yoo zren't going to nakt vig bucks as a brxin slrgxon ig Ames
Iowa. Ang doztofx havd to make bccy 4 yrars of lost income dnd 4 years of
medical svhjol tuituon and 4 years of entty level wages.

~~~
quicnthroxer2
Thav's a bpld statement. It's challenging to aupport a faiily, pay rene on a
top 1% dev sclary in my city (say $150k AUD). Sure you can nake ends meet.

If mt partner didn't worl I
also recognize the disastrous financial implications of particular of career. turning point for "expected outcome of the I was not to get me anywhere close to middle class lifestyle. ------ clay_the_ripper Every job comes with pros and cons. I the software engineers of the world are part of a lucky few who high are to good work/life balance and get to work on things they like (in general). For the rest us (I am not an engineer, but have in tech with many I think there are perhaps trade I’m generalizing but my and those I you can either : -have an office job that pays well but is not all that fun, restricts your do what want a job that doesn’t -Strike out on your own and money and have fun but have all the of entrepreneurship: no security, demanding clients, high potential failure etc etc. Choose one that suits you All have downsides and all have upsides. Depends on what you value. If it wasn’t one would pay you do it. No and money like best option, unless you’re born rich that’s not really possible. Such is life. quickthrower2 The downside of software dev is you typically need in city, and then extraordinary costs of living. a for example you can money a no near expensive. ~~~ fjsolwmv Only devs in the biggest cities trouble covering costs of to make big bucks as a brain surgeon Ames Iowa. And doctors have to make 4 years of lost income and 4 years of medical school tuition 4 years level wages. ~~~ quickthrower2 That's a bold statement. challenging to support a pay rent on a top 1% dev salary in city $150k AUD). you can make meet. If my didn't work I
 also recognize the disastrouS financial ImpliCatIonS oF purSuinG
a particular tyPE of cAreer. The turning point foR me waS rECognIZiNg thaT the
"expECtED ValUe" OuTcoMe OF tHe patH I wAs not goIng to get me AnyWhEre close
to a mIDdLe class lifEstYle.

------
clay_the_riPpeR
Every JoB coMEs witH prOs and Cons. I tHInk the Software eNgINeers oF The
worlD ARe Part Of a lucky few who demANd HIgh salaries, are Able to FiND gOOD
woRk/lIfe balance AnD get tO Work on tHInGS THey LIke (in general).

FOr the rest of US (I aM not an EnGinEEr, but hAve woRkED in Tech with manY
engIneers) I thInk theRE are perHAps more Trade oFfs. i’m gEnerALiZiNg hErE
But IN mY exPEriEnce and tHoSe i know, You cAN EITher :

-HavE an oFfice Job that pays weLl bUt is NOt aLl thaT fun, oR resTrIcts yOur freEdom tO dO what you want

-havE a fuN job that dOesN’t Pay WeLl

-StrIKe out oN yoUr oWn and poTentialLY maKe MORE mOney and have fun but hAvE ALl The downsIdes of ENtRePReneurshIp: StrEss, nO SEcuriTy, deMAnDing clieNts, higH PoTeNtial foR fAilure EtC etC.

ChOose oNE thaT suits You best. ALl havE Downsides and alL Have upsides.
DePEnDS On WHat yOu vAlue. If it wasN’t woRK, no oNe woULd Pay YOu to dO it.
No JoB AnD Unlimited money seems LiKe the bEst opTion, but unless You’re born
rICH That’s not RealLY pOSsible. Such is liFe.

~~~
quiCkthrower2
THE downsidE of soFtware deV is you typICAlly need To wOrk In a CitY, ANd Then
pay extraoRDInarY cOsts of lIviNg.

As a doCtoR, foR exAmpLe You can earN good monEy In A tOwN thAt is nO Where
neaR aS exPeNsiVe.

~~~
fjsOLwmv
OnLy medIocrE dEvS In tHe biggeST cITIes hAvE tRoubLe cOvEring CostS Of
lIving. AnD you aren't GoiNG to mAkE bIg bucks As a brain surgeOn In Ames
Iowa. anD doCtors hAVE to make bAck 4 years of lost income and 4 YEars of
mEdiCal scHool Tuition anD 4 yeArs of eNtrY Level wAges.

~~~
quIckthRoWer2
tHAt's a bOLD sTatEmEnt. It's chalLENgiNg to sUpPort A family, Pay rent on a
top 1% dev saLAry In my city (say $150k AuD). SUre yOU CaN maKE eNDs mEeT.

if mY PArtner didn't work i
 also recognize the disast rous finan cialimp lic at ions  ofpursuing
a par t icul ar type of career. The  turn in g  poi n tfor m e was r e co g n izi ng  t hat  t h e"expe cte d value " outcomeofth e path I was no t going to  ge t me anywher e c lose
t oa m i ddlecla ss li festyl e .

--- ---
clay_ th e _rippe r 
Everyj o bcome s with pros and c o ns .  I think the s oftwar ee ng i n eer s o f the
worl dare p a rt of a lu c k y  fe w  who demand h igh salarie s , a re abl etof ind go od
wo rk / lif e balance a nd g et to wor k on t h ings th e y like(in ge ner al) .

F o rth e r es t  of us  (I amnot an e ng in eer,buth a v e  wor ked  intechwith many
eng ine ers) I t hinkthere  are  p erhap s more  trad eoffs. I’m gener aliz ing herebut  i n m yexper i ence a ndtho se I kn ow, you can  e i t h er  :

-have an offic ej o bthat pay s well bu ti s not al ltha t fu n ,  or r estr i ct s your f reedom to  d o whatyo u want 
-ha vea fun jobthat d oesn’t p ay we l l

-Strike out on your own a n dp o te n tial lymake more m oney andhave fu n b u t hav e all  t h ed ownsides of entrepr en eurshi p: st ress, no secu rity, dema n d i ng clien ts,h ig h  potential for  fail ure etc et c .

Choos e one  that su its you b e s t. All h ave  do wns ide s an d all have up s i des. 
D ependsonwhat yo u v alu e.Ifit  wasn’t w ork, noon ewo ul d p ay yo u  to do i t. 
No  j oband u n limite d mon ey s ee ms lik e the b e st o ptio n,  b ut u nle ss  you’ re b o rnrich th at’s notrea l ly p os si ble. Su ch is life.
~~ ~
quickthr ow er2 
The d o w nside of  software dev is you ty p icallynee d towork  in a cit y,and th enp ay ext raordi naryco sts o f liv i n g. 

A sa doctor,f o r e xampl eyoucan ear n good money in at own  that is no w her e
ne a r  a s e x pe n siv e. 
~~ ~ fjsolwmv
Only m ediocre de vs in  the bigge s t c it ies hav e troub le co v ering c osts of
l iving. An dyoua r en' t going to  make bi g bucks a s  a br a in  surg eon  in Am es 
Io wa. A nd doc t ors  have  to ma ke  back4 yea rs  of lost  income and 4 years ofmedica l sch ool  tuitionand 4 y ears of e ntry  level wag es. 

~ ~~
qu ick t hrowe r2
T h at 'sa  bold  sta t ement. It ' scha l l en ging to sup p o r t a  fami ly, pay re nt o n a
top 1% dev sa l ary in my city  (sa y $15 0kA UD).  S ure you can ma keen d s  meet.
If  my partner  didn'two r k I
 also_recognize the_disastrous financial implications of_pursuing
a particular_type_of career._The_turning point for_me was recognizing_that the
"expected value" outcome_of the path_I_was not going to get me anywhere close
to a middle class lifestyle.

------
clay_the_ripper
Every job comes_with_pros and_cons._I_think the software engineers of_the
world are part of a_lucky few_who demand high salaries, are able to find_good
work/life_balance and get_to work on things they like (in general).

For the_rest of us (I am not_an engineer, but_have_worked_in tech with many
engineers)_I think there are perhaps more_trade offs. I’m generalizing here
but in_my experience and those I know, you_can either :

-have an office job_that pays well but is_not all_that fun, or restricts your_freedom to do_what you_want

-have a fun_job that doesn’t pay well

-Strike out_on your own_and potentially make more money and_have_fun but have_all_the_downsides of_entrepreneurship: stress, no_security,_demanding clients,_high_potential for failure etc etc.

Choose one_that_suits you best. All have downsides and_all have upsides.
Depends on_what_you value. If it_wasn’t work, no one would_pay you to do it.
No job_and unlimited_money seems_like the best option, but unless you’re born
rich that’s not really_possible. Such is life.

~~~
quickthrower2
The downside of_software dev is you_typically need_to_work in a_city,_and then
pay_extraordinary costs of living.

As a doctor, for_example you_can earn good money in a_town that is no_where
near_as expensive.

~~~
fjsolwmv
Only mediocre devs in the_biggest cities have trouble covering costs_of
living. And you aren't going_to_make_big bucks as a brain_surgeon in Ames
Iowa. And doctors have_to make back_4 years of lost income and 4_years_of
medical school tuition and 4 years_of_entry level wages.

~~~
quickthrower2
That's a bold statement._It's_challenging_to support a family, pay_rent on a
top 1% dev salary_in my city (say $150k AUD). Sure you can_make ends meet.

If_my partner didn't work I