Achieving a work-life balance and high earnings can be challenging in the tech industry. How do high-performing developers manage to work less and earn more, and what's your perspective on this approach?
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Top comments (10)
This reminds me of the "work smarter, not harder" phrase... which makes me wanna respond with another cliche — "easier said, than done."
That sounds more terse than I actually feel though. Truth is, it is pretty tough to work smarter, not harder... and it's also tough to work less and earn more. But, it can be achievable!
Here are some tactics that I think help:
I think it’s possible. Our labor always produces more value than we are paid in wages, and that’s where profit comes from.
If we were to engage in large scale work action, I think we could get a greater share of the value we produce, but I think we’re a ways off.
The amount of solidarity and cohesion necessary for this sort of change would be substantial.
As someone who went from rank-and-file senior developer to lead developer and then on to team lead... It kinda just happened. These days, my workload is fairly minimal, but my responsibility is massive. But it's also arguably a waste of my skillset, because I'm barely getting any actual software development work done myself.
So, yes, I'm definitely working less, but I'd hesitate to call that a good thing. And oh god all the meetings...
That is why I refused to go into management positions. I just can't with all the meetings, I can't.
It is achievable up to a certain point.
A few things happen when you achieve seniority at a workplace:
A) You can complete tasks faster than you did years ago. You are more efficient and therefore can complete complicated tasks with relative ease, which reduces your overall work load (if you’re smart about it).
B) On the other hand, you get invited to more useless meetings, your input is required more often, yours and other team members rely on your expertise, which can slow you down significantly and bloat your day.
With some luck, and some workplace survival skills you can achieve a sweet spot where you still work on interesting topics hands-on (aka “the brain itch”) but your schedule is free and dynamic enough to avoid burning out.
May the odds be ever in your favor.
That's the dream tho.
The key is to work less and create more value.
However, it seems that those who can do this generally enjoy working and work a lot.
Possible but it takes time, determination, courage, and money (to invest).
IMO, "Work less, earn more" won't go with the normal employee contracts. Somehow, in the long run, you can definitely work less but earn more? I don't think so. Not to mention that you're not 100% safe, layoff can happen anytime.
As a Software Engineer, start your own side hustle projects, e.g.:
Failure definitely there along the way, don't lose hope and determination. Keep pushing for ideas and implementing them.
Use 1-2 hours of your day to pursue your ideal apps. Who knows if it become your next startup?
I have some projects up and running for 4+ years and making good. I'm not stopping just yet, still developing another one.
You can also check out Tony Dinh blog for his journey.
Is a dream, for example: study less and will have to success in the exam.
Probably you fail and retake the subject. Not exist alternative in the life, the easy life is for the lazy.
I think it's possible. But it all depends on what you do, and your professionalism.
And actually, it's the dream I want to achieve one day