After reflecting on the content I've put out to help people in the software industry, I've realized I still needed help working through anger issues. 🤦♂️
I mostly avoided social media for the past 5-8 years, and when I started putting my ideas out, I was slowly lured into outrage culture without realizing it.
I've been on many failed projects.
And I've had personal problems with my family and identity.
I made this video to apologize for my anger and how I've come across as "knowing everything" sometimes. 🙏
And to help you understand what I'm doing to recover.
I'm committing from here on out to be more discerning with how I share my opinions and advice.
Maybe by understanding my struggles, you can find peace if you've also struggled with anger or resentment in your career.
Software developers have the potential to make a lot of money, and even though I had most of my financial and material needs met, I was really empty inside.
After suffering from a bout of chronic insomnia two years ago, I began going back to church and started my YouTube channel.
In addition, I've started writing songs again to provide myself with a better creative outlet than software.
It can be really frustrating to work at companies when they put you in a box and don't allow you to do your best work. I was looking for the opportunity for creativity in the wrong places in my life!
Thank you for being so supportive over my journey to find a way to turn my career struggles into guidance for you. ❤️
I just wanted to share my wins and mistakes to provide an honest view of the software development industry - I never thought so many of you struggle with the same issues!
Click below for the entire 51 minute video on YouTube 👇
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Top comments (12)
Thanks Jayme for doing this. I really admire your mission in humanizing tech culture.
I always felt I'm not a "geek" in the way that's similar to the norm in Silicon Valley. I flew over the US to California to join a small startup company because I'd believed in it and the founding members. It is now worth much more and had lost its way, killed my creativity and the the conviction I've had, and ended up letting me go in the most horrible way.
It is very easy for a for-profit tech company to forget the people and the culture and just focus on the numbers and features because the first don't yield right away. Most go for the easy way out.
Thanks for the kind words of encouragement, and sharing such a personal story! It makes me sad how often I hear this. I hope you have found some support to help you get through that. I get career coaching clients coming to me after heartbreaks often. I don’t think we take it seriously enough sometimes that when employers do this to us it’s inexcusable and traumatic. “Sucking it up” doesn’t work when it’s something we really care about! Hang in there!!!
I've been lucky to have my family backing me up, and I'm now working on building my own idea while. It is true that the incident had left a trauma, but more it had opened up a new outlook on employment and stability. Altogether with the COVID-19 lock down, it had given me a break from the constant rat race and reflect on what's best for me as a person.
I was so wrong to have fixated on my programming chop as my strength. Strength isn't what someone does well to get paid in a day job. Strength is character, and many employers, including mine, do not understand how to maximize their people's strengths, and punish them for failing in skills that might otherwise be improvable.
Great insights. Yes, I came to the conclusion a few years back that employers, for all their good intentions, just don’t invest in growing skills for developers outside the technology. They might say they do, but it’s often lip service. Good to hear you’ve figured this out, many don’t! We can learn valuable career skills outside of just the technology, but we need to seek them outside of our industry. At least that’s been my experience.
Jayme,
I applaud your honesty and courage in sharing the story of your struggles and triumphs. You are not alone in this fight as I, too, continue to battle anger, anxiety and depression.
Stay strong and keep doing you!
Hey thanks Mikey that means a lot. I’d really like to see more companies create safer environments for diversity and sharing ideas.
No matter how badly I want that, I guess it really does start with me. How can I expect anyone else to be more calm and open minded if I’m not better at it myself!
Appreciate your feedback and support. 👍
Software developers make a lot of money
no
You’re right in some markets. I probably should have said “software developers have the potential to make a lot of money, and often do”. I've updated the description, thanks.
Hopefully if you’re currently underpaid you can find a better opportunity, or relocate to a more profitable region of the world.
I'm joking actually, but in my region, many programmers are underpaid. But most of us take it easy😁
Ha! Yeah, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve stuck my foot in my mouth by making too general of a statement. Appreciate your correction. 👍
Stay strong jayme 💪
Thank you sir. Right back at you!