[whileonebegin]

This is a great explanation. It's also called "golden-handcuffs".

In your 30's, I think you need to start thinking about exit-strategy (saving enough to live financially independent), rather than hopping to yet another job.

Then, you can job hop down in salary and do something more fun.

[_3u10]

Effectively you need to become a force multiplier, leverage your high level experience into a role that allows you to add value to 10 to 20 people rather than just yourself. eg. You were a 10X coder, now become a 10X manager.

Also, if you spent your 20s building up contacts it becomes pretty easy to start a business serving the needs of your particular niche in the industry.

Management and starting a company that grows beyond 8 people require pretty much the same leadership skills.

[jabits]

I have no idea what makes you think a 10X developer can just "become" a 10X manager. This tendency of programmers to think they are automatically qualified, let alone interested, in being a manager is baffling to me. They are two mostly unrelated disciplines and in my experience, most programmers are not cut out to be managers.

[kelnos]

Agreed, and also I suspect (or maybe this is just a silly hope) that the best developers in a company can often make more than their manager, even if their manager is great.

Now, moving up to director or VP level or higher (assuming you have the aptitude and desire), is a different story.

[fleitz]

Yes, the best devs will generally make more than their mgr, however, the best mgrs will make far more than the the best devs.

And as you said, the target is really a VP/Director type position, using mgmt as a stepping stone.

It's like how a Sergeant makes more than an Lt in the Army, however, the progression in the officer core quickly outstrips the best an enlisted man can hope for.

The great thing about leadership roles is they're typically very transferable, there's not many orgs that don't need good leaders.

[vonmoltke]

> It's like how a Sergeant makes more than an Lt in the Army, however, the progression in the officer core quickly outstrips the best an enlisted man can hope for.

Not in the U.S. Army. Most junior NCOs make less than even a fresh Academy graduate. The NCOs making more than a junior lieutenant have all been in the service for 10+ years.

[collyw]

Agree completely. I have a team leader and a manger, with junior to intermediate experience in development and zero formal training in management. Frustrating to work for. I guess if we were both to apply for the same job, it would be a case of "well that guy has management experience", and give it to my team leader, despite the fact is is a poor coder, and an even worse manager.