Another Amen from me, brother.

I spend far too long working 16-24 hour days 7 days a week in the mistaken belief that my efforts could save a company doomed to the dot-com graveyard. 20-20 hindsight tells me there was nothing I could to do; all I was doing was giving up too much of my all-important family time. Now that I'm employed again, I've found a nice position where the lower salary is more than made up by the fact that I've yet to even be asked to stay past 5pm.

Slightly more on topic, I believe it's best to strive for a good mix of Programmer B and Student A. When I approach a project for work, I first try and find someone who's already done something similar and grab what I can use from it. But I also try to keep in mind that if I can understand how something works (as opposed to just knowing it does in a particular circumstance) I am a better asset for my employers and I am more marketable when it's time to revise the resume and hit the jobsearch trenches again. So I'll occasionally take some problem home and research it after the family has gone to bed, as much for my own personal/professional development as for the sake of my job.

And gods, don't get me started on the sales "team"... ;)

In reply to Re: Heroics vs. Consistancy (was: Initiative....) by rattusillegitimus
in thread Initiative or otherwise? by BrowserUk

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