How to feel engaged at work: a software engineer's guide

[M.W.]

I think you misconstrued my post. I said I don't have respect for people who always try to get away with the minimum amount of effort. I did not make an argument that they are immoral or unethical. I said I don't surround myself with those who goof around nor with those who are unethical or immoral.

You are right about my narrow mindset. My job is not to be a people pleaser nor to feel emotional about everyone else's life story. Some people abhor the lifestyle I embarked on. That's their right, but I could not care less. I surrounded myself with like minded people and that paid huge dividends.

I think you could use a bit more humility to go with your "top ethical and moral values". Lots of good, moral people out there who just do 40h/week or the minimum that they have to... to say that you have not the slightest respect for them makes you sound conceited, narrow minded, out of touch.

There are other admirable virtues in life besides striving to be a top performer at work. Have you ever considered that if everyone behaved like a clone of yourself, you wouldn't be anything special, and thus wouldn't have a high income and be able to retire early like you are so proud of? Ironic.

 

[M.W.]

That is what you are supposed to do, you are on the clock of your employer and DON'T get paid to complete certain tasks. Unless of course that modus operandi is stipulated in your contract. In that case you complete quality work and are done. In all other cases an employee is expected to work the full work hours as set out contractually. It's in my book selfish and in the long term actually damaging to only do one's own work and then fuck off or to work so slowly to fill the entire time with the tasks bestowed even though the work could have been done in a fraction of the time. It pays to invest in others, help out, bring up those under oneself and aid to help others succeed even when it does not seem to be beneficial to one's own bottom line. This is the stuff that gets one promoted and put into managerial positions and into elevated pay grades. I would have never and have never ever promoted someone under me who was a slow ass in order to not have more tasks assigned. I looked for highly driven and efficient and effective individuals who look not just after their own needs but see the bigger picture and innovate and helps others, next to them, succeed.

If you don't like the employer-employee relationship I recommend you try working freelance.

This is the dystopian reality of productivity culture. Its mandate is never "You figured out how to do your tasks more efficiently, so you get to spend less time working." It is always: "You figured out how to do your tasks more efficiency, so you must now do more tasks."

 

[TheDawn]

I think you misconstrued my post. I said I don't have respect for people who always try to get away with the minimum amount of effort. I did not make an argument that they are immoral or unethical. I said I don't surround myself with those who goof around nor with those who are unethical or immoral.

You are right about my narrow mindset. My job is not to be a people pleaser nor to feel emotional about everyone else's life story. Some people abhor the lifestyle I embarked on. That's their right, but I could not care less. I surrounded myself with like minded people and that paid huge dividends.

So you don't have respect for people who spend 4 hours to complete the amount of work with the quality of the work that's 10X of somebody who spent 8 hours to do the same amount of the work? Quality is what counts not quantity or the time spent doing it when it comes to working, you know that?

The guy automated all of his tasks within the first 8 months of his employment and achieve the same quality of work as all preceding him otherwise why didn't anybody say anything in his SIX YEARS of employment? He did not "goof around" like what you wrote. If I were them, I would've promoted him to headstart an Automation department for him to automate everything in my company so I can fire all those other idiots and charge half of the price of products to beat out my competition.

 

[M.W.]

So, if that person spent the same amount of time (8 hrs) they would be even further ahead. Perhaps check out strategic consulting and I banking or legal professions, that's the norm there and why they get so highly paid

That guy you referred to did goof around the rest of the time. That's an absolutely shitty attitude to work. If he is so ambitious to automate or get work done at a fraction of the time it takes others then he should either take on additional responsibilities to advance, seek a different work environment. All else fits the category of low ambitious fuck who just tried to make his life easier. So, no, I have zero respect for such kind of people.

So you don't have respect for people who spend 4 hours to complete the amount of work with the quality of the work that's 10X of somebody who spent 8 hours to do the same amount of the work? Quality is what counts not quantity or the time spent doing it when it comes to working, you know that?

The guy automated all of his tasks within the first 8 months of his employment and achieve the same quality of work as all preceding him otherwise why didn't anybody say anything in his SIX YEARS of employment? He did not "goof around" like what you wrote. If I were them, I would've promoted him to headstart an Automation department for him to automate everything in my company so I can fire all those other idiots and charge half of the price of products to beat out my competition.

 

[TheDawn]

So, if that person spent the same amount of time (8 hrs) they would be even further ahead. Perhaps check out strategic consulting and I banking or legal professions, that's the norm there and why they get so highly paid

That guy you referred to did goof around the rest of the time. That's an absolutely shitty attitude to work. If he is so ambitious to automate or get work done at a fraction of the time it takes others then he should either take on additional responsibilities to advance, seek a different work environment. All else fits the category of low ambitious fuck who just tried to make his life easier. So, no, I have zero respect for such kind of people.

He was hired to do a job. He did it. End of story. Like I said, unless his job description or contract terms specifies that his job has to be done by manual labour, there is nothing preventing him from automating his tasks and finishing them in a fraction of the time. He is an employee. It's not his job or obligation to seek out more responsibilities or additional tasks to advance, nor to himself or to the company. What you propose is idealistic unrealistic idiosyncrasy. It's up to the company that hired him to figure out ways to best utilize his talent and skills to his maximum potential. That's why there is a study called "human resources management". It's a study dedicated to how to manage human resources. Obviously this company failed miserablly at managing its human resources and decided to punish the employee for their inadequacy, typical of modern-day entitlement. I f*** up, and I make you pay for it.

 

[M.W.]

It's your prerogative to think so, and I choose to differ. I rather surround myself with more ambitious people and work in environments where people strive and not try to get by with the minimum amount of effort.

He was hired to do a job. He did it. End of story. Like I said, unless his job description or contract terms specifies that his job has to be done by manual labour, there is nothing preventing him from automating his tasks and finishing them in a fraction of the time. He is an employee. It's not his job or obligation to seek out more responsibilities or additional tasks to advance, nor to himself or to the company. What you propose is idealistic unrealistic idiosyncrasy. It's up to the company that hired him to figure out ways to best utilize his talent and skills to his maximum potential. That's why there is a study called "human resources management". It's a study dedicated to how to manage human resources. Obviously this company failed miserablly at managing its human resources and decided to punish the employee for their inadequacy, typical of modern-day entitlement. I f*** up, and I make you pay for it.

 

[maxinger]

oops! I read too fast as :

How to feel enraged at work: a software engineer's guide

 

[2rosy]

So you don't have respect for people who spend 4 hours to complete the amount of work with the quality of the work that's 10X of somebody who spent 8 hours to do the same amount of the work? Quality is what counts not quantity or the time spent doing it when it comes to working, you know that?

the 10X person is still being paid less when normalized for productivity. should be billing 40/hrs/day

 

[Aquarians]

oops! I read too fast as :

How to feel enraged at work: a software engineer's guide

 

[samwilson]

Thanks for this interesting and useful information!