## Metadata - Author:: [[kalzumeus.com|Kalzumeus]] - Full Title:: Don't Call Yourself a Programmer, and Other Career Advice - Category:: #🗞️Articles - URL:: https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ - Finished date:: [[2022-12-25]] ## Highlights - Software often solves business problems despite being *soul-crushingly boring* and of *minimal technical complexity* ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzp5mg394924ents0ms09gv)) - He’s now an angel investor (a polite synonym for “rich”). ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzp96x07dafwj5wsxwnmevg)) - A good engineer has a track record of — repeat after me — increasing revenue or decreasing costs ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzp9zqb6f5k2pqvt3afyxgp)) - Co-workers and bosses are not usually your friends ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzpd58vnkwnry2h7p9gzaqe)) - Note: Partly agree, but this is way more rational than reality is - The dominant quality which gets you jobs is the ability to *give people the perception that you will create value*. This is not necessarily coextensive with ability to create value. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrtfzmhjc4c69c1xmqmbgx)) - Conversely, people routinely assume that I am among the best programmers they know entirely because a) there exists observable evidence that I can program and b) I write and speak really, really well. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrv6ts1tsgppka80bb5b15)) - People are people. Social grooming is a really important skill. People will often back suggestions by friends because they are friends, even when other suggestions might actually be better ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrx8ks9tk0epjdsvdmrnnq)) - People routinely favor people who they think are like them over people they think are not like them ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrxk2hq71kx6f34fhj7mks)) - **At the end of the day, your life happiness will not be dominated by your career.** Either talk to older people or trust the social scientists who have: family, faith, hobbies, etc etc generally swamp career achievements and money in terms of things which actually produce happiness. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrzs8zf65zd53q640m382g))  ## Metadata - Author: [[kalzumeus.com|Kalzumeus]] - Full Title:: Don't Call Yourself a Programmer, and Other Career Advice - Category:: #🗞️Articles - URL:: https://www.kalzumeus.com/2011/10/28/dont-call-yourself-a-programmer/ - Finished date:: [[2023-01-25]] ## Highlights - Software often solves business problems despite being *soul-crushingly boring* and of *minimal technical complexity* ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzp5mg394924ents0ms09gv)) - He’s now an angel investor (a polite synonym for “rich”). ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzp96x07dafwj5wsxwnmevg)) - A good engineer has a track record of — repeat after me — increasing revenue or decreasing costs ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzp9zqb6f5k2pqvt3afyxgp)) - Co-workers and bosses are not usually your friends ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzpd58vnkwnry2h7p9gzaqe)) - Note: Partly agree, but this is way more rational than reality is - The dominant quality which gets you jobs is the ability to *give people the perception that you will create value*. This is not necessarily coextensive with ability to create value. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrtfzmhjc4c69c1xmqmbgx)) - Conversely, people routinely assume that I am among the best programmers they know entirely because a) there exists observable evidence that I can program and b) I write and speak really, really well. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrv6ts1tsgppka80bb5b15)) - People are people. Social grooming is a really important skill. People will often back suggestions by friends because they are friends, even when other suggestions might actually be better ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrx8ks9tk0epjdsvdmrnnq)) - People routinely favor people who they think are like them over people they think are not like them ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrxk2hq71kx6f34fhj7mks)) - **At the end of the day, your life happiness will not be dominated by your career.** Either talk to older people or trust the social scientists who have: family, faith, hobbies, etc etc generally swamp career achievements and money in terms of things which actually produce happiness. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01gmzrzs8zf65zd53q640m382g))