I've run a small side business for a while a few years back. It's a very different feeling / energy than office work (even if tech). I found I could be fairly burned out at work-work and energized on side business. Frequently change is sufficient to revitalize - It's like sometimes in exercise or run or endevour, you just need to switch muscles. So I can fully understand how a tech worker may get excited to setup google ads for themselves and be excited even though technically they're doing extra work.
(we may be misunderstanding what's the cynical part btw - that they are enjoying these activities, or that they're taking place, or something else?)
Are you skeptical because it seems too good to be true that he might actually enjoy it? Honestly, i think I understand what he’s saying. I started doing some barback work - basically keeping the bar moving - after being in tech for a decade. It’s way more fun. The bartender I’ve worked with also used to work in tech. And honestly, the money can be good, too. Turns out you don’t need to spend as much just to get yourself unburnt out.
> Are you skeptical because it seems too good to be true that he might actually enjoy it?
No, I think it's based on the following:
-I suspect he doesn't "need" this job to survive. Well off people who can afford to change careers (by choice) love to tell you how to build a new business/career when there's no real pressure.
-I am tired of hearing about "Google Ads" overnight successes (to be fair he didn't claim exactly this) I help small biz with Google Ads frequently and it's ... hard. Maybe I just suck?
-I'm skeptical of his first customers: a professional athlete, Porsche owner etc. I realize these are typically the people who can afford detailing but still there are ~1,696 NFL players in a country of 330 million+ - what are the odds?
- Lastly instead of quitting, and detailing cars quietly he wrote a Tweet thread very similar to other motivational/self-promotion posts that seem very inauthentic and hollow. Shedding light on mental health challenges is good! But I could have done without the "here's how I started a new biz and succeeded in 2 weeks angle.
Look guys, I'm busy and slightly overwhelmed so maybe just ignore my grumpiness. Thanks for listening.
Edit: Related to my personality: How I Built This with Guy Raz on NPR also frequently sends me into a flying rage. Every story goes like this: "So I was in NYC and I was "broke", and then my friend from Stanford called "randomly" and asked me to lunch with the top VC in the country".
lolll I feel you. It's really hard to tell the difference between the Guy Raz kinda story you describe, and stories where someone really did find a better life for themselves where things really are better. They all just sound like hagiography. And often, the story has the role of persuading the person telling it that they made a good call, because... change is scary.
Anyway, I think you're right or at least fair to be skeptical. Chances are, there's more to the story than this. Just like there's probably gonna be a point where being a barback or a bartender is going to be frustrating and dumb for me. But if there's a single lesson I really do believe in, and which this guy's thread echoed to me, it's that you'd be surprised what kinda job you actually enjoy and can survive in. It doesn't just have to be tech work. It might not be in an office at all.
Along with upvoting I just wanted to say thank you. Your comment was kind (given my raging), thoughtful and informative (hagiography is now in MY lexicon!)
Edit (sorry can't help myself)
I used to IM chat daily with a buddy of mine also in tech. One particularly bad day I told him I wanted to quit and "bag groceries" instead.
He replied that what he loves about tech freelancing is that when things get really bad he can always take 5 minutes, look up some porn and then go back to work. He's a funny guy and it was intended as a throw-away joke, but his statement really stuck with me. While I do envision a future outside of tech for me I'm also VERY thankful for my current work environment and lifestyle. And before you ask, I work with my wife so... no porn breaks for me!
Maybe (definitely) I'm cynical but these two tweets turned me off:
"I started running google ads and I’ve had some good success in the short two weeks"
"I have detailed a car belonging to an Active Denver Bronco, and I’ve detailed a Mercedes, Volvo, and a Porsche."
Maybe I'm burned out?