[0xEF]

I never said anything about not being responsible for my own career. There was a previous implication that we need to help the boss look good, which is BS. If I want to develop myself because I want to explore different options or expand my skill set, I am free to and generally opt to do so. If a manager wants to develop my skills, then that is their responsibility.

Again, let's not shift all the accountability to the guys lower on the ladder. It's a team effort.

Perhaps I just don't understand your mindset because I do not define myself by my career. Work is just how I exchange some of my time and effort for money so I can focus my life on the things I actually matter to me, so the "weight" of my career is perhaps different than yours. Which is fine, btw. I don't really have any issues if someone wants to make their career their life, but I'll never align with that, especially not at this late in my adult life.

[scarface_74]

I don’t define myself by my career. But I do make damn sure I stay competitive. I’ve had 10 jobs in 28 years and 8 since 2008. I stay prepared to look for another job at a moments notice.

The “team” doesn’t care about you being competitive when you are looking for your next job.

[sillysaurusx]

I’m super curious how old you are. I’m about to hit 37, so 40 is marching closer.

Love your email by the way.

[0xEF]

Mid-40's, and many lessons learned by paying attention to those who paved the way ahead of me. Don't get me wrong, I'm a hard worker with a reputation for keeping my promises in an industry that is infamous for the opposite (manufacturing, without getting too deep into my role in that sector for the sake of keeping this brief), so I can't really complain about my wages or the recognition I have gotten in the past. But it's still just a job. My real life is my family, my hobbies and my adventures. When strangers ask me what I "do," I generally like to reply with those things rather than talking about work.

As for the email, it was part of a now-dead idea that grew out of boredom one evening while chatting with some old computer friends, and definitely involved different sounding farts. Never really got past a few lines of code, but I have been thinking about using the domain for a cranky old git blog or something.