I enjoyed college and was fortunate enough to enjoy a good white collar career. But if I could do it all over again, I would have learned how to become a licensed electrician, plumber, etc.
No but I definitely enjoy learning those trades now as a homeowner, but every time I do a major project on my house I’m reminded why I don’t want a job like that. I’m sore for days and usually have a new cut or something on my hands.
Good answer. For me I try to do stuff around the house and I usually make it worse costing me more money in the end when a professional comes to fix it.
I treat it like any other technology issue and google the “right” way to do things, not just what some streamer does. I think it’s generally resulted in good quality work, but at a massive cost in time.
Actually, now that I’m finally getting a little ahead financially, I find myself unwilling to spend that time. Recently I’m more likely to pay someone to get the job done fast and right, with no hassle on my part. I have no idea how most people can afford that though
I should’ve waited to go to college, when I went my mental health was terrible and I was only there because I was told I had to or I’d be a failure. I failed miserably because I had no motivation, years later I have found my passions, I wouldn’t do trade school, but I wish I had known what I know now about myself
I went the military route. No regrets, but I’d don’t think I’d recommend it these days lol
Yes. As somebody in their mid thirties, blessed by corporate America, I’d give it all up for a simpler life in a heartbeat. the rat race is exhausting and corporate America doesn’t care about me. I’ll never produce something that brings me value as a human being. I’ll probably die knowing some stakeholders are pretty happy…
I have a friend who had to move back to Japan due to family health issues, but ended up taking over a family tea farm. he is just living a simple, hard working life and is able to provide for himself and his family. if this opportunity came knocking, I’d take it in a heartbeat.
I could just take the major risk and leave it all behind, but the capitalist world has made instability so damn terrifying that I’m petrified of doing something that can possibly lead to further instability. all those in college now, don’t let your peers going on nice vacations or buying nice things make you think that’s what happiness is. it’s not. find something and someone you love and it’ll all be easy going from there. if it’s corporate America, more power to ya, but think about it first.
Ugh, I’m in the exact same situation, I can feel your pain. Seems to be a common theme.
I actually bumped into a guy at the local pet store, and after a short chat he told me he was a developer at a big company and just couldn’t take it anymore. He quit and became a manager for the local pet store. He says he loves it. I’m envious lol.
No, I think I’m in a good spot: I’ve made a pretty good income to support my family and still enjoy developing - actually, I’m DevOps now, so more like many small projects building the “glue” that automates everything together, and I can mostly define them myself
My regrets include:
- not taking better care of myself financially and socially - I have way too little set aside and no one left to spend personal time with
- maybe I shouldn’t have taken that last promotion: it’s not as fun, nor am I as good at “influence”, project planning, design docs
