Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

I think the key takeaways that I take from it are (of course, I wrote it, so ymmv):

If the system doesn't work for you, it doesn't mean you're not capable.

Follow your passions, not external dictates.

Try to get as many different perspectives on life as you can.

Coding is making credentialing and "proving" you can do something much easier.

As for luck, I have a bad habit of framing things as lucky, and to some extent they are, but there was also hard work behind them.

You have an interesting story, thanks for sharing it.




Let me offer some (hopefully constructive) counterpoints:

> If the system doesn't work for you, it doesn't mean you're not capable.

Sure, but working with the system is a useful capability. Don't be lazy and dismiss it as worthless just because you can't (or don't want to) figure it out. I've made this mistake and regretted it.

> Follow your passions, not external dictates.

Following your passions is great, but doesn't always work out. Life is often about finding a balance between something you really like doing and something that society values enough to pay you for doing it.

> Try to get as many different perspectives on life as you can.

Yes, of course, but the challenge is weighing these perspectives appropriately. Everybody's perspective is right from some particular viewpoint, the trouble is figuring out what that viewpoint is, whether it applies to you.

> Coding is making credentialing and "proving" you can do something much easier.

Completely agree.

> As for luck, I have a bad habit of framing things as lucky, and to some extent they are, but there was also hard work behind them.

Sure, you always need some hard work and talent to succeed but it's often not sufficient, and luck is sometimes the necessary component that makes the difference.

ed: One last meta point that occurred to me was that you became successful when you took charge of your career. When you were just doing what others told you, you seemed both unhappy and underperforming. The lesson I would take is that we all need to take responsibility for our happiness and success. Sometimes this means introspecting and figuring out what we ought to be doing and not just drifting around listening to what we're told by society, our peers or parents.


I'm not knocking on your achievements, my point is more as a warning to many of the younger more impressionable readers of HN. They may read into this as an alternate path when in reality it will likely lead many astray.

Following passion is great, it's not great career advice.

P.S. I'm glad that you're comfortable enough in your career to share these insecurities. It sounds like that is a big milestone for you. Congrats on that.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2025 batch! Applications are open till Aug 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: