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What Jonathan Coulton Learned From The Technology Industry (geekwire.com)
In a new article on GeekWire, Jonathan Coulton explains why he left a comfortable software development job in 2005 to launch a career as an online singer-songwriter. But he also describes the things he learned from the tech industry.
"These guys were doing this thing they wanted to do, this thing they felt competent doing. They didn't chase after things, and they worked hard, but it was a business they created because they enjoyed it. They tried to minimize the things they didn't want to do. It wasn't about getting rich; it was about getting satisfied...
"I wanted to a set a good example to my children. I wanted to be the person I wanted to be, someone willing to take chances -- a person who didn't live with enormous regrets..." Within the first year, he had not replaced his software salary, but had enough success to cover his babysitter and to keep food on the table.
When he was younger -- in the pre-internet days -- "It was very unclear how to become a musician," Coulton explains. But somehow rolling his own career path eventually led to a life which includes everything from guest appearances on radio shows to an annual cruise with his fans (this year featuring Aimee Mann, Wil Wheaton, and Redshirts author John Scalzi).
"I wanted to a set a good example to my children. I wanted to be the person I wanted to be, someone willing to take chances -- a person who didn't live with enormous regrets..." Within the first year, he had not replaced his software salary, but had enough success to cover his babysitter and to keep food on the table.
When he was younger -- in the pre-internet days -- "It was very unclear how to become a musician," Coulton explains. But somehow rolling his own career path eventually led to a life which includes everything from guest appearances on radio shows to an annual cruise with his fans (this year featuring Aimee Mann, Wil Wheaton, and Redshirts author John Scalzi).
Yes, he quit his job and found success in another field, good for him. However, most who leave lucrative positions do NOT improve their financial position by following their dreams.
A better, more realilistic article would be someone leaving the software industry, failing, but finding happiness in the pursuit anyway.
Life is like D&D.
If you work hard add + 3
If you have passion add + 2
If you have advanced education + 1
If you have gotton education in that area + 1
Are you willing to make additional sacrifices to your life (you will get a chance to reroll after each sacrifice)
Now roll the dice. 10 or higher you succeed. 18 or higher you are successful, natural 20 Critical success you roll a natural 1 you automatically fail badly.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
I like that analogy a lot. There's a careful balance between inculcating into my children that hard work, study, etc. is necessary, but also letting them know that it's not a guarantee. You also need some luck, but less of it, the harder you work. Hopefully it means that they won't feel betrayed in areas where they "do all the right things" but don't get the appropriate reward.
Or as I've told them:
Most of my success has depended on luck, but it's amazing how the harder I worked at something, the luckier I was.