> You get ten years to build a career. Max. After that, it’s just a job.

Why is that a problem? As jobs go, software engineering is pretty great; one could do a lot worse.

Never understood the obsession some people have with "upward mobility". Where do they think they are going? Do they think life is some kind of competition? How stressful that must be.

It sounds like this author never really wanted to be an engineer for the sake of doing engineering, and actually wants to be an entrepreneur instead. That's fine, of course, if that's what one is into - but it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with engineering as a profession.

> If you’re not the boss by the time you turn 50, you’re *#@%ed.

I'm just about there, and if this is what being "*#@%ed" feels like, I'll take it! My job offers good pay, reasonable hours, not too much stress, interesting work, coworkers who are both smart and kind, and a beautiful view of the mountains. What's to complain about?

I tried being the boss, years ago, and I never want to do that again. It's much better to let other people worry about all the tedious money problems I don't actually care about, while I get to spend my time solving interesting puzzles and making things go.

Ooof, imagine being pained by only making $200k/year. Most people will top out at half of that, and then only for a few years before they “retire”.

This industry truly is out of touch.

totally unrelated response that I wrote https://sheepcode.substack.com/p/im-glad-to-be-a-33-years-ol...