| > my father advised me that in my career I should stay "close to the money" I got the same advice from my father, but it meant something different. I was told if I went into computer science or any engineering, I'd always be a servant to management and my job would be outsourced to India. I would be easily replaceable. Best to be "close to the money" instead... that was management. Also, to make "real money", I'd have to move up from engineering to management and wouldn't be programming anyway. So I went to business school. Might as well optimize and skip the engineering step and go straight into managment. And to be even closer to the money: finance degree. 15+ years later, while finance has been fine, I just really like programming. I have a real aptitude for it. Had to teach myself to code, started side hustle online business (finance is still day job). I might get the same salary as a FAANG software engineer (without the skyrocketing stock), but I always wonder what if I did comp sci instead. Then, on HN I see comments like yours. Many here hate management, or in your case, moved up to the top of IT management and still seem unsatisfied. Now, I figure grass is greener on there side... Management says they are treated like a cost center and engineering is "closer to the money" as in profit center. Engineers, even in the profit center, gripe at those MBAs who are "closer to the money" as in directing the business plan, budget and timelines. In my next life, I'll just do what I enjoy and am good at. |