Do what you love
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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You're lucky, there are a lot of people that I know, who aren't happy with their job and a lot of them are devs. I'm happy with my job, eventhough it doesn't pay that well. I get to do what I am good at, in a company that has a great working atmosphere. And besides, I work one day of the week while studying four days. A lot of students aren't that lucky to have a job in the area of their study. WM.
What about weapons of mass-construction?I was also lucky enough to land a job writing software while I'm in school. I've learned so much being "in the field" and I learn more every day. As someone who picked a Computer Science major out of the hat because I liked gaming, I must say that I'm very glad that I have the opportunity to write code that gets used on a day to day basis. I even like it when some of the users call just to gripe about why something doesn't work the way they wanted it to, it gives me a chance to look into doing something new with the application. On top of that I have a boss that is literally the best programmer I've met and is always willing to answer my many questions and give me very tidy snippets of code to replace my rookie ramblings. (-: Signature under Construction :-) Lil Turtle
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
But no one will pay me for it yet. (I still like getting off before 6) A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the Universe, "The fact has not created in me A sense of obligation." -- Stephen Crane
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Ray Kinsella wrote:
pity its not as simple as sitting down a wacking out code anymore...
Tell that to... (oh, I better not say it!) Marc Pensieve Some people believe what the bible says. Literally. At least [with Wikipedia] you have the chance to correct the wiki -- Jörgen Sigvardsson
:laugh::laugh::laugh: - Anders My new photo website[^]
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
I'm doing software QA these days and don't often get a chance to 'get my hands dirty' but yes, I do enjoy my job. A lot of this is due to the environment and good management. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D
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WillemM wrote:
there are a lot of people that I know, who aren't happy with their job and a lot of them are devs
I've heard of them before, but am yet to meet a dev who doesn't like writing code. It boggles my mind, why on Earth would one put up with the hellish torments of debugging if they didn't enjoy the pain (oh baby, debugging hurts so good)? Just for the $$$ ? Man, that's a crazy thing to do. :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Josh Smith wrote:
oh baby, debugging hurts so good
*Elaine quietly tiptoes away* :~ The tigress is here :-D
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People are just notoriously impossible. My first job in high school was at a popular fast-food restaurant. The teens working there wanted a job so they could earn some spending money, but then complained the whole time they were at work saying they would rather be out cruising around. That spirit still exists today. On a similar note, when folks talk about the weather, they are never satisfied. After a long dry spell, they start hopping for rain. The moment it rains, they are hoping it clears off. After its' clear for a while, they start hoping for rain again. The same holds true for cold/hot. If it's one, they want the other. Gripe, gripe, gripe... You know you enjoy your vocation when you enjoy getting up early Monday to go to work.
"Money talks. When my money starts to talk, I get a bill to shut it up." - Frank
"Judge not by the eye but by the heart." - Native American Proverb
I remember a plaque that hung on the wall at my grandfather's house, it read: When its wet we want it hot When its hot we want it wet Whatever it is we want its not Just trying to keep the forces of entropy at bay
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
It's even better if you get to work with the technologies & apps you're interested in, and get paid well, and work with other enthusiastic developers. Oh and did I mention minimal stress. OK now I'm just dreaming :D I doubt most developers have all these boxes ticked, but if you've got a few of them you'd have to be stoked!
"Nothing ever changes by staying the same." - David Brent (BBC's The Office)
~ ScrollingGrid: A cross-browser freeze-header control for the ASP.NET DataGrid
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
It's funny, when people learn I telecommute and write and sell software for a living they say it must be a dream job and are jealous, but the only people who really understand how much work it is are other business owners. It *is* a dream job for me, but I bet a lot of people would hate it if they don't like the business aspect.
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Josh Smith wrote:
oh baby, debugging hurts so good
*Elaine quietly tiptoes away* :~ The tigress is here :-D
Trollslayer wrote:
*Elaine quietly tiptoes away*
:laugh: :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Josh Smith wrote:
We are lucky people, us devs. Count your blessings, my friends!!
I've often thought the same thing. I don't think there is any other profession that I'd be this satisfied with and I'm truly glad I found this niche. Although I don't get to do much coding these days, I find I am at my happiest when I'm immersed with a programming project. The hours just fly by and I actually look forward to going to work.
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Josh Smith wrote:
Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job.
I've had the same reaction telling people what you told your friend. What is it that makes people hate their jobs? The job itself? The people they work with? The people they work for? Maybe it's having to work with CListCtrl. ;P I think a lot of people here on CP do like their jobs though. But again, is it the job, the people, both? Marc Pensieve Some people believe what the bible says. Literally. At least [with Wikipedia] you have the chance to correct the wiki -- Jörgen Sigvardsson
A little of both. When the people are enjoyable I love my job. When they aren't and the process is too thick, and politics are a hassle, then I don't love the job, but still love the work. This statement is false.
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
In my opinion there couldnt be a better job then programing :) Of course others would argue with me...but most programers would agree. I think its because it is a job that makes you use most of your skills all at the same time, and then produces a product that can be used by others. Every time a major piece of code is finished, we walk away with a feeling of acomplishment. I think most jobs that people like having do the same thing. Like being a doctor, a scientist, a mechanic, etc. We want to do SOMETHING that will give us a sence of accomplishment and will help others at the same time. P.S. PROGRAMING IS GR-EAT...as Tony the Tiger would say ;) Pablo www.aes4you.com
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I had a conversation yesterday with a long-time buddy of mine. We hadn't spoken for a few years, and it was great to catch up with him. Eventually the conversation lead to what we do for work these days. I told him that I write software, love it, and get paid handsomely for it. He was dumbfounded. Told me that I'm the only person he knows who actually likes his job. I was dumbfounded! We are lucky people, us devs. :-D Count your blessings, my friends!! :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
I'm so in love with what I do. I'd do it for free as a hobby and still love it. In fact I do charity work for free (I think everyone should.) and it brings me more joy than anything. Great post man!!! You've only been here a while or you just came back but I'm really starting to like your style. Come to Boise let me know. I'll buy you lunch... Did you know I'm a manager?:laugh: A big fat 5 for you.
When I'm joking people take me seriously.
When I'm serious they think I'm joking.
I'm left to conclude my life must be a complete joke. :sigh: :laugh: :cool: -
Josh Smith wrote:
Thanks for giving me something to meditate on, Marc.
:) Not to push your girlfriend's buttons, but "being needed" is an often unconscious ingredient to "falling in love". ;) Marc Pensieve
Some people believe what the bible says. Literally. At least [with Wikipedia] you have the chance to correct the wiki -- Jörgen Sigvardsson
People are just notoriously impossible. --DavidCrow
In my case, it usually means I've hooked with a dysfunctional, co-dependent :-D who is going to feel threatened and abandoned when I go to work everyday and won't understand that I need to finish a feature or bug fix before I come home or I'll be thinking about it all night.
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I remember a plaque that hung on the wall at my grandfather's house, it read: When its wet we want it hot When its hot we want it wet Whatever it is we want its not Just trying to keep the forces of entropy at bay
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I was also lucky enough to land a job writing software while I'm in school. I've learned so much being "in the field" and I learn more every day. As someone who picked a Computer Science major out of the hat because I liked gaming, I must say that I'm very glad that I have the opportunity to write code that gets used on a day to day basis. I even like it when some of the users call just to gripe about why something doesn't work the way they wanted it to, it gives me a chance to look into doing something new with the application. On top of that I have a boss that is literally the best programmer I've met and is always willing to answer my many questions and give me very tidy snippets of code to replace my rookie ramblings. (-: Signature under Construction :-) Lil Turtle
That sounds familiar. I got a part-time job as a programmer when I was a sophomore in college. There were plenty of times that I was doing more advanced things at work than I was doing in school. The two (school and work) complemented each other pretty well. School gave me a breadth of knowledge, while work gave me depth of experience.
Lil Turtle wrote:
I have a boss that is literally the best programmer I've met
Ironically enough, my current boss is the same guy who I worked for in college 25 years ago. At that time, he was one of the best programmers around. His knowledge of current technologies is a little lagging, but he's still the best debugger I've ever met.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
I'm doing software QA these days and don't often get a chance to 'get my hands dirty' but yes, I do enjoy my job. A lot of this is due to the environment and good management. Elaine :rose: The tigress is here :-D
Have you been doing QA very long? I'm interested in your perspective, and anything your management does to improve the appeal. One of the problems we've had where I work is, if we get a technically savvy software type doing QA, they eventually get tired of testing and want to be writing software instead. It seems that the requirements for the job are to find someone who is a good programmer, but likes testing even better. That's a rare combination, and difficult to find. The end result is our QA group is good at testing, but they're not sufficiently good at software to be truly effective.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
It's funny, when people learn I telecommute and write and sell software for a living they say it must be a dream job and are jealous, but the only people who really understand how much work it is are other business owners. It *is* a dream job for me, but I bet a lot of people would hate it if they don't like the business aspect.
John Cardinal wrote:
a lot of people would hate it if they don't like the business aspect
Which is why I'm not a consultant, other than on a very limited basis. It's not that I dislike the business aspects, I just don't think I'd be very good at them. Marketing, sales, cold contacts, and negotiation all require a certain professional detachment and unemotional approach to things that is difficult for me.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
Marc Clifton wrote:
It often results in superficial emotional highs by both parties.
I assume you are right about this, but I do not understand it yet. Thanks for giving me something to meditate on, Marc. :josh: My WPF Blog[^]
Josh Smith wrote:
It often results in superficial emotional highs by both parties.
The difference lies in whether your satisfaction, fulfillment, happiness, etc. is under your control, or not (and note - partially not under your control is effectively not under your control at all). When your happiness is only dependent on you doing what you know is the right thing to do nobody can take it away from you :-D. When it is dependent on the boss being happy - then you're a bad hair day waiting to happen :((. Chris Use what talents you possess; The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best. (William Blake)