That makes no sense. Plenty of people I know have applied to jobs that were more interesting to them than their current work, even taking paycuts in some cases.
My point was that if it were possible, the vast majority of people would prefer not to work at all and would like to spend their time on entertainment and leisure activities.
I know I use "probably" a lot, but it is what I would do. I could imagine others following the same path. Just my $.02.
Does your boss appreciate all the free work you do for them?
I do wonder if the "vast majority of people" are this way, though. I've read that a lot of people derive great satisfaction from the social interactions they have at work, and that their work gives them meaning; when removed from work via retirement they just can't think of anything else to do with themselves.
Other people have the happy coincidence that they love doing exactly what they can be paid for (e.g. software development). It would be super nice if I could just get paid to go skiing every day, but alas that is not the way the world works.
I like skiing, not teaching people how to ski. I _have_ debated trying to get an instructor job in order to get more time on the slopes. But I've never lived close enough to a ski area to make this feasible. And in truth, I'm in no position to teach anyone how to ski; my skills are at the intermediate level.
Recently I moved pretty close to a ski area. Next season, I do plan to look into work as a ski instructor, teaching raw beginners. It should be interesting to see how this pans out, or whether I can even get a job doing that.
I have tried to get a job at a rock climbing gym in order to get more time climbing. I applied, without mentioning my dislike of customer service.... But I was turned down. I'm suspicious it might be because of my age - not young enough - or because, as a long-time software developer, I have completely the wrong background for it. Hard to say. But there you go, even getting an entry level job requiring minimal skills and paying a low wage isn't so easy.
My interest in programming was pretty high when I got into it. After years of working in jobs with various levels of aggravation and stupidity, my interest has waned to the point where it's hardly a bearable way to make a living. So for me, doing something for money can turn it into a real chore. At some point you just get a visceral nasty feeling when even thinking about this thing that used to excite you.
At this point in my life, I'm going to be extra careful about what I do for a living. I don't want to lose my love of rock climbing, skiing, or travel, by performing contortions to try to make a living out of those things.
There is a world of people who liked programming and ended up burned out and unable to program after CRUD-for-enterprise jobs that would suggest otherwise.
"How would I ever get to program this much or at this level without the job," they ask. They've probably accepted it comes with responsibilities and managers and dealing with clients and clients not knowing what they want.
Then they are fools and or don't have a family. As a developer with around 10 years of professional experience, I've been conned so many times by this when I was young and foolish. "Work here because we have fooseball table, free beer on Fridays, and cool projects." (But please ignore the fact that you are being paid $20,000 below market value.)
That does not make me a fool. I may not have a family but those rules would still apply. As long as I could provide for my family I would take the more exciting job.
There is a lot more to life than money. And that lot more can be done, more fun can be had if there is more money.
Imagine a situation where you have steady source of Income for life. There are better, interesting, challenging and more fun things to do than sitting in a cubicle for 16 hours and slogging till your bones hurt.
What are you are saying is a typical of 'Enjoy the journey, forget the destination' kind of message.
However you can be happy with you misery. That makes you happy, but still that does mean you live in misery.Earning little, making sacrifices and then being happy about it doesn't quite actually mean you are happy, rich and comfortable.
It just means you have come to negotiation with your self that you are ok with that.
I took a pay cut a few years ago to take my current job. What I got in return for that cut was way less stress, a more fulfilling work life, more quality time at home, etc. When people say "There's more to life than money" they are talking about things you literally can't buy.
Don't trivialise other peoples motivations because they aren't your own.
So, even you admit, the money is the first thing that needs to make sense. Once the money motivation is satisfied, other things come into play.
You're right there is: freedom. The most important thing for me in life is freedom. To get this, you need money.
You may be able to take the $50K and just get by, but I would suggest finding an exciting project that pays $100K instead and save the money you don't need for your future. I did just this 5 years ago and it gave me enough runway to start my own business when I lost my job.
"As long as I could provide for my family I would take the more exciting job."
You never know when you will need money. Doctor bills? you lose your job and can't find another one? kid's college education?
Kids are really expensive.
You also only have one life. Your employer is getting the majority of it (and most likely getting rich in the process). You should get paid what you are worth.
Most developers don't do this (I used to be one of them).
Yes, and that includes more being to life than work.
So, why'd would you work your ass off for someone for less, when you could be paid more and have more income/time to pursuit those other "more things in life"?
I imagine that SmallCo pay gives you enough that you did not need to make a real sacrifice.
Basically, it met your minimum requirement for money. If it hadn't, you wouldn't have taken the job.
- Foreign country - Low cost of life - High quality of life - Learning interesting new things - Current position prepare me to execute vague World Domination plan - Heck, freedom!
Once done in my current position I'll even take a break for a couple of months working for free doing computer stuff with migrants.
I certainly made choices on the way but I don't regret not having a car, a house or a family.
How about you are the fool of your own decisions (mortgage loan, family expenses, etc..)?
I'm currently in Switzerland, but I plan to live in Mediterranean countries other than Italy and Spain for some time in the future. I only ever lived in rich European countries, so I would be interested in your experiences.
But if they're still making more than enough to pay their bills and their mortgages, feed their families, build up savings, and have a substantial amount of disposable income remaining then it seems like a perfectly fine decision to me.
Working a job you hate merely so that you have an excess of money to buy things you don't want or need is a foolish and self-defeating choice.