I am with you. I have a great job, a big enough salary, flexible schedule, yet I want to do something that is truly mine and that I am 100% in charge. It is unique to me, but this is what makes it a passion for me.
Everyone should have the gut to express their personal view of success.
Honestly, my realistic dream is to own a house in an area I like with a dog(s) and family. Ideally working 2/3days a week optionally remotely with all major expenses paid off.
I want to have the time and money to be able to follow my interests. And if I have to still work a bit to get that, then fine.
I'm a passionate learner and sharer. I always try to give back to the developer community. I create mobile and Web applications by day. Not Batman by night, in case you wondered :)
A *very* seasoned software engineer, I wrote my first basic game, a lunar landing game, in Basic in 1969. Currently I am doing web development in Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, Elm.
To summarize, I'm a writer, programmer, cook, interviewer, poet, musician, masseur, coach, speaker, and more. I've got a million projects on the go at all times. I traded stability for chaos, and I love it, except for the financial part now.
That is so freaking cool -- sounds like a dream to be able to combine all of your interests! I'm sure you'll figure out the income part -- you are so talented at so much!
Software dev at Netflix | DC techie | Conference speaker | egghead Instructor | TC39 Educators Committee | Girls Who Code Facilitator | Board game geek | @laurieontech on twitter
I want to be a person who is present for the ones that I love. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. There are so many elements to that goal: health, financial stability, work-life balance, etc.
I also want to be who I am suppose to be. Though my description of "who I suppose to be" is different from what people expect of me.
I want to be close to my family, friends and who I see important.
To point to a semi-fictional archetype I would be happy to aspire to:
Brad Pitt's character in The Big Short.
This is probably odd because it is really a sad story full of sad people and Pitt's character may be the most honestly sad of all (sad in terms of emotions).
Hopefully I can accomplish this while staying happy and optimistic, but that character really understood how the world worked, he lived in a beautiful mountainous location and was there for mentees when they needed him (even if he was a bit grumpy along the way).
When designing my situation, I think about that character. I can tell I am going in that direction and I hope I can continue to achieve the good parts of that situation.
Along these lines, I really appreciated this post:
We humans must find a certain contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves in, but in terms of situations to position one's self to be in. This is my line of thinking. 🙂
When I was around 12-13 I always imagined myself at 25 with my own apartment, at the pool with a margarita. I'm 26 and I don't have any of that ; ----;
But I still want to grow up into that image, but with the added bonus that the pool and apartment are in my personal island. B3
Versatile software engineer with a background in .NET consulting and CMS development. Working on regaining my embedded development skills to get more involved with IoT opportunities.
I'm about to turn 28 and am in same position...no house, credit is a dumpster fire (but have a subprime auto loan on a badass sports car!) and I'm watching all my friends get married and settle down with kids and I am nowhere near any of that...I just keep hoping one of my random startup ideas finally pans out and I can sell out and live a more stable life...maybe next year
Equal parts higher-ed IT, web dev and support; with a dash of freelance consulting thrown in for good measure. (Oct/19: Seeking change of pace. Not afraid to take a step back in order to move ahead!)
I want to enjoy a more balanced life and have more saying in what i put my time and energy into. That means, being part of a team that creates and sustains something actually useful and having my free time and enjoying life more.
I'm a passionate learner and sharer. I always try to give back to the developer community. I create mobile and Web applications by day. Not Batman by night, in case you wondered :)
Top comments (77)
I want to be working for passion, not for survival.
I am with you. I have a great job, a big enough salary, flexible schedule, yet I want to do something that is truly mine and that I am 100% in charge. It is unique to me, but this is what makes it a passion for me.
Everyone should have the gut to express their personal view of success.
Honestly, my realistic dream is to own a house in an area I like with a dog(s) and family. Ideally working 2/3days a week optionally remotely with all major expenses paid off.
I want to have the time and money to be able to follow my interests. And if I have to still work a bit to get that, then fine.
This resonates too deeply
I want to be educating people on the topics I care most about.
this this this this this
We need so many people thinking this way around the World on every topic that affects future generations.
Amen.
don't wait, begin now
That’s the plan! Writing articles; making videos; released my first course early this year :D
I want to be what I am now...
...but perhaps making enough money to survive. :)
To summarize, I'm a writer, programmer, cook, interviewer, poet, musician, masseur, coach, speaker, and more. I've got a million projects on the go at all times. I traded stability for chaos, and I love it, except for the financial part now.
I don't mix with grown up careers well. :)
That is so freaking cool -- sounds like a dream to be able to combine all of your interests! I'm sure you'll figure out the income part -- you are so talented at so much!
Really
How can one be all this things
You try to juggle. Many things will fall and break. But you keep adding more. Eventually some things will stay in the air.
I want to be a person who is present for the ones that I love. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. There are so many elements to that goal: health, financial stability, work-life balance, etc.
I also want to be who I am suppose to be. Though my description of "who I suppose to be" is different from what people expect of me.
I want to be close to my family, friends and who I see important.
I can relate to that very much. And it’s not easy to balance the factors, I feel.
To point to a semi-fictional archetype I would be happy to aspire to:
Brad Pitt's character in The Big Short.
This is probably odd because it is really a sad story full of sad people and Pitt's character may be the most honestly sad of all (sad in terms of emotions).
Hopefully I can accomplish this while staying happy and optimistic, but that character really understood how the world worked, he lived in a beautiful mountainous location and was there for mentees when they needed him (even if he was a bit grumpy along the way).
When designing my situation, I think about that character. I can tell I am going in that direction and I hope I can continue to achieve the good parts of that situation.
Along these lines, I really appreciated this post:
How to write code and snowboard every day
Theodore Bendixson ・ Dec 8 '18 ・ 7 min read
We humans must find a certain contentment in whatever situation we find ourselves in, but in terms of situations to position one's self to be in. This is my line of thinking. 🙂
Loved that article, really thoughtful... Thanks Ben!
Would you mind sharing the results of the last six months of your experience after commenting on the article?
When I was around 12-13 I always imagined myself at 25 with my own apartment, at the pool with a margarita. I'm 26 and I don't have any of that ; ----;
But I still want to grow up into that image, but with the added bonus that the pool and apartment are in my personal island. B3
I'm about to turn 28 and am in same position...no house, credit is a dumpster fire (but have a subprime auto loan on a badass sports car!) and I'm watching all my friends get married and settle down with kids and I am nowhere near any of that...I just keep hoping one of my random startup ideas finally pans out and I can sell out and live a more stable life...maybe next year
I just wanna simply sit somewhere watching my family having fun
What did I want to be (before the harsh realities of life)?
...A meteorologist. (Damn you university calculus for crushing the dream!)
Today, what do I want to be when I "grow up" (aka retire)?
I'd like to buy a mini-excavator and dig holes for pocket money! :)
I want to enjoy a more balanced life and have more saying in what i put my time and energy into. That means, being part of a team that creates and sustains something actually useful and having my free time and enjoying life more.
I love this idea, maybe call it 'caffeine commit'