[justinpaulson]

I think more developers should "have a spine" by telling their employers that they refuse to work more than 40 hours a week. That's where the industry needs to grow a spine. You started off on the right track with this line "I hope it includes the people you helped, the children you raised, the spouse you loved dearly," and I was rooting for this article. But then you completely derailed and made the whole article about developers being spineless by not taking on more work at a greater risk. Maybe you will make something great at work and maybe it will out last your life, but most likely, it will not. Do what you enjoy all the time and try to give happiness to others whenever you can. If you don't want to take a job because it is too risky, then don't. But the real problem with spineless developers are those that take on 60-80-100 hour weeks when they really don't want to because they are too spineless to say no.