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Jose Gonzalez
Jose Gonzalez

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Stuck? Ask Yourself These Questions.

The journey we call life is full of surprises. On top of that, we decided to add this crazy profession called software development.

Our lives are never boring. There's hardly a dull moment. We have to make decisions and many other decisions will be made for us.

Here's a few examples off top my head:

  • Office politics
  • Job rejections
  • Being fired...err downsized
  • Someone crushing your PR
  • Your "junior" opinion is ignored
  • Boring product
  • Using old tech
  • Job not matching job description
  • etc.

The outcome might lead to anger, resentfulness, unhappiness, regret, guilt or even hate!

It leaves us with a feeling of being stuck. The question I have for you is: why?

Why do we allow ourselves to do this to ourselves?

I believe we don't this on purpose. I believe we do this because we don't know other alternatives.

I invite you to look at these events from a different perspective.

Stuck? Ask Yourself These Questions

  1. Will this matter in 3 hours?
  2. Will this matter in 3 days?
  3. Will this matter in 3 weeks?
  4. Will this matter in 3 months?
  5. Will this matter in 3 years?

You will quickly find out that very few things are really worth your anger, resentfulness, unhappiness, regret, guilt or hate!

Top comments (8)

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simoroshka profile image
Anna Simoroshka

"boring product", "using old tech" - Will this matter in 3 years? - YES.

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ogrotten profile image
ogrotten • Edited

Will it matter to YOU in 3 years.

1) you still get paid.
2) you still get rated for promotion.

So no, it will not matter, to YOU, in 3 years.

But if your ratings for promotion are based on your lack of productivity in the "boring product" that is "using old tech", and you have enumerated the problems to management . . .

In otherwords, if management has taken their problem and made it your problem . . .

Then the answer is clear: it's time to move on.

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simoroshka profile image
Anna Simoroshka • Edited

personally, for me, life and job satisfaction is above promotions. 3 years of doing what I don't like, without any passion or interest, and getting skills that will not matter (and this is not a good thing) isn't good, neither for me, nor for my career.

when I pondered on these questions a couple of years ago, I decided that it matters, and changed my job as soon as possible. Life is too short.

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josegonz321 profile image
Jose Gonzalez • Edited

Great self reflection. Time to reconsider your options.

You can use these questions for anything life throws at you. The list above are the few things that popped into my head :)

Happy journey.

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karltaylor profile image
Karl Taylor

I think the idea here was will you still be at the same job coding the same boring product using the same old tech. - I know I wont :)

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simoroshka profile image
Anna Simoroshka

You know you won't because you are not feeling stuck :)
I meant that if the answer to the long term question of will this thing matter is "yes", then you definitely need to start moving yourself out if the current situation.

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gene profile image
Gene

After being in such a situation, I've learned the art of not giving them a care--as long as we deliver our job. The less I care the more I've become productive. Haha. Funny but it works ;)

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josegonz321 profile image
Jose Gonzalez

Aye same here.

Careful between indifference vs acceptance.