we all have this arbitrary goal of not working. but it's like fool's gold. it's not no work that we're after, it's to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
I always remind myself that work is not the problem, not doing something you enjoy is the problem.
great article - really reminded me of what's important
This all really resonates with me. While I've learned to set strong boundaries between work and personal life, I'm still thinking a lot about what it might look like to own 100% of my time (or at least more than 30%). I'm wondering if there could be a middle ground that would work best for me or maybe it also depends on what life stage I'm in. Looking forward to more of your insights!
I believe Kevin Dahlstrom (https://x.com/Camp4) once said that he doesn't look at % ownership of time as an either/or, but more of a progression up.
It's hard when you're early in your career to own much... you need to make a living, etc. And on the other hand (as I've found in my experience/interviews), there is no 100%. No matter how high you go, there's always something owning us (side note: that's a good thing).
Rather than go for the enchilada, it's more realistic to accumulate more ownership over time, and let it compound day-by-day until you reach your point of "enough."
Ah this is so relatable! I wanted to take a sabbatical after my layoff but I also really enjoy the perks of a salary and health insurance and don’t want to dip into my runway funds after working so hard to build them up. I think it is important to strive to own more of our time. I’ve been enjoying building my Substack and getting back into writing for pleasure after many years.
Love this piece. Hope more people come to view corporate work in this way, and make more informed cost/benefit analysis regarding their “time loans.” I’ve just wrapped up a full year away from full time work and am job searching—you’re right, it’s tough! But so worth it for the time spent with my community, experiences, and as cliche as it sounds, the life lessons. Glad to find a voice that feels the same way.
This really resonates with me. I’m just about to end my 2 months off and starting a new job. I’m nervous and anxious about starting fresh and leaving behind all my free time. I’m hopeful the boundaries I’ve learned will stick around.
we all have this arbitrary goal of not working. but it's like fool's gold. it's not no work that we're after, it's to contribute to society in a meaningful way.
I always remind myself that work is not the problem, not doing something you enjoy is the problem.
great article - really reminded me of what's important
You are a good writer and your experiences are very relevant. I look forward to reading more of your posts!
You're a software engineer ?
This all really resonates with me. While I've learned to set strong boundaries between work and personal life, I'm still thinking a lot about what it might look like to own 100% of my time (or at least more than 30%). I'm wondering if there could be a middle ground that would work best for me or maybe it also depends on what life stage I'm in. Looking forward to more of your insights!
Thanks for sharing
I believe Kevin Dahlstrom (https://x.com/Camp4) once said that he doesn't look at % ownership of time as an either/or, but more of a progression up.
It's hard when you're early in your career to own much... you need to make a living, etc. And on the other hand (as I've found in my experience/interviews), there is no 100%. No matter how high you go, there's always something owning us (side note: that's a good thing).
Rather than go for the enchilada, it's more realistic to accumulate more ownership over time, and let it compound day-by-day until you reach your point of "enough."
Ah this is so relatable! I wanted to take a sabbatical after my layoff but I also really enjoy the perks of a salary and health insurance and don’t want to dip into my runway funds after working so hard to build them up. I think it is important to strive to own more of our time. I’ve been enjoying building my Substack and getting back into writing for pleasure after many years.
Love this piece. Hope more people come to view corporate work in this way, and make more informed cost/benefit analysis regarding their “time loans.” I’ve just wrapped up a full year away from full time work and am job searching—you’re right, it’s tough! But so worth it for the time spent with my community, experiences, and as cliche as it sounds, the life lessons. Glad to find a voice that feels the same way.
That's exactly what I was going for - so glad this found the right audience!
Woah. I dream of owning 100% of my time. This is such a good perspective from someone who's been on both sides.
This really resonates with me. I’m just about to end my 2 months off and starting a new job. I’m nervous and anxious about starting fresh and leaving behind all my free time. I’m hopeful the boundaries I’ve learned will stick around.
It's a hard transition back, but I'm so glad you found something. The job market is no joke right now.