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Discussion on: The Value Of Your Time

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coreyja profile image
Corey Alexander

Full-time non-tech job

I agree with gypsydave5, this might be the things that shocked me the most about your whole post lol, I assumed you were working in a tech job! Your posts didn't ever give me the impression you weren't a professional coder!

I will not be compensated for this time.

I think everyone is this thread has made some amazing points around this, but there was something I wanted to add.

I don't think that just because you aren't being paid means you aren't valuing your time. It can also mean, as maybe applies here, that you are donating your time to this non-profit. It could even be thought of as equivalent to a monetary donation at in the amount of hours_worked * hourly_rate.

Did it change between when you were an amateur and when you went professional?

I 100% get coding in your free time cause you enjoy it, I do that as well. But one thing I've noticed is that it's been hard for me to work on projects that I don't feel like doing on any particular day. I'm very likely to jump between projects frequently as something different interests me. I think this got worse as I got a full time coding job, but I've always hopped around.

After working full time coding I definitely can tell a difference between when I WANT to be working on something and when I HAVE to be working on something, even if they are both for my job. It's just better to work on the things I want to work on.

Would you say yes to this project?

I think my answer would be that it sounds cool and I'd probably work on it, but no timelines and no guarantees. Cause it doesn't seem like they are really in a position to ask for more and then you don't have to feel committed to anything.

So if you aren't gonna get any financial gain out of it, and you don't really have need for this project to be improved for a portfolio or anything. I'd say totally work on it for as long as it interests you! And if/when it doesn't or something interests you more, stop working on this and don't feel bad! You'll learn way more and enjoy it way more if you are working on the things you want to work on rather than things you feel like you are obligated to work on.

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deciduously profile image
Ben Lovy

Your posts didn't ever give me the impression you weren't a professional coder!

Clearly, I'm in the wrong line of work ;)

equivalent to a monetary donation

Somehow, even though this center largely runs on donations, I never framed it like that. This resonates, thanks.

very likely to jump between projects frequently as something different interests me

It's a real problem for me as well, which is why I kind of jump at the opportunity to build a tool other people will use. Much higher chance of ever finishing the damn thing.

no timelines and no guarantees.

I think this is how it's going to shake out. They'll be happy if they ever get something working. I'm going to struggle with "not feeling bad", so I think I'll probably see it through to the end, but I don't feel any specific pressing need to get it done right this second. I'm hoping my new coder friend will slowly take on more and more of the labor as well, as he'll actually be one of the users as well. You're right, though, once it feels like an obligation, it's not nearly as worthwhile.

Thanks so much for your response!