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

I took a semester off to live with some ski bums in Colorado. Them: "Why do you work so hard?" Me: "So I can get rich" (young and stupid response) Them: "Well, what are you going to do when you are rich?" Me: "Ski all the time" Them: "Dude, you don't have to be rich to ski all the time. We freaking clean toilets, but I ski 100+ days a year".

That conversation changed my life. I realized that getting rich was a stupid goal, because everything I wanted to get by being rich I could get without being rich. There are broke people traveling the world, skiing everyday, surfing everyday, etc.

I also realized that although a random day skiing is undoubtedly more fun than a random day working, I would be unsatisfied by just doing that all the time.

I think the ideal is a job you believe in with good work/life balance. 3 day weekends every weekend. Even working 40 hours a week with a short commute and quick access to a mountain or an ocean is great.

Meanwhile, working 80 hours a week for really any amount of money isn't worth it.




Loved this- and it is right in line with the skier- I am reminded of a Pearl Jam lyric- "if he only knew now what he knew then."




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

Search: