Yesterday, in a post pretty much devoid of any real content, I talked about a change to the posts I plan on having here. Well, here's some info about where that's coming from:
I just turned 44 a few weeks ago.
I've been doing software for a number of years now and for the most part, it's really kind of boring at this point. I'd like to say I "make" or "create" or "invent" software, but the reality is that I don't unless I have the time to do personal stuff at home. Instead I spend the majority of my waking hours Monday through Friday maintaining software other people have written. Where I live that's the bulk of the jobs available. There are no Googles or Facebooks that I can apply to where I live. There's no one really pushing the boundaries and innovating. It's pretty much maintain the status quo.
After doing that for so long, I don't know. It gives me reason to step back and wonder . . . Is that really all it comes down to?
Maybe it's a mid-life thing? There are things I would like to have achieved by now, but life kind of got in the way. Now I'm left contemplating What Ifs and coulda-woulda-shouldas.
There's no real regrets. I'm only looking forward. However, I believe there's a good deal of reflection on the past that is going to be involved in improving the future.
So, for a while at least, most of my posts are going to be a look back on things ( hopefully with the injection of some humor from time to time ) as I try to figure what my next move is going to be.
"There are no Googles or Facebooks that I can apply to where I live."
did you actually look around or just assume its like that? how about starting your own? how about getting a job with more responsibility, i.e. lead new projects?
Well, Chris . . . The town I live in has a population of just about 150K. So, if there were any, it would be pretty widely known. Suffice it to say that where I live is not a hotbed of technology start-ups. But, yes, I have looked and I continue to do so on a very regular basis.
About a job with more responsibility . . . I had one about 3 years ago. I was just under the director of our IT department. It was ok, but the organization was very slow at implementing newer technologies for programming staff despite my constant lobbying. I sought new employment. I could go on, but lets leave it at that.
About starting my own . . . I've been working in that direction for a long time and that is part of the reason I am looking at things and trying to move forward. I'm confident that you are aware all the challenges that there are to "starting your own" so I won't mention all of them and the issues I've had to taking that step.
Good questions. I'm sure they'll be beneficial to this process of self examination.