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"The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads." â€" Jeff Hammerbacher http://buswk.co/eCdfFp We can rewrite Jeff's quote like this: "The best programmers of my generation are working on solutions to problems that do not matter." The crux of it is you are better than your job. You have a greater potential than your job is realizing. You can do more than you think. You are worth more than your job is paying you. You can make the world a better place. You don't have to be limited to building mobile/geo-based/social/ad-driven/gamification-influence/fully-buzzword-compliant bullshit to get people to buy things they don't need while giving up more privacy to corporations and becoming less happy in the process. You're better than that. Quit your job. Build your dreams. Change the world. Srsly. Help us caption & translate this video! http://amara.org/v/FGkr/
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In the talk titled "Quit Your Job. Srsly," Shane Becker at LA RubyConf 2012 encourages attendees to reconsider their employment situations and the potential they possess. Becker asserts that many individuals are capable of achieving much more than their current jobs allow, emphasizing that professionals, especially programmers, often waste their talents on tasks that lack significance. He opens with a personal introduction and mentions his involvement in upcoming conferences, setting the stage for an engaging discussion on individual potential and the software industry. The main theme of Becker's talk revolves around the idea that programmers are undervalued and that many are contributing to projects that do not meaningfully benefit society. He prompts the audience to reflect on their desires, asking probing questions like "If you were guaranteed not to fail, what would you do?" and "What is stopping you?" Becker makes several key points to support his message: - **Potential and Capability:** He believes that everyone in the room has untapped skills and creativity. - **Value of Skills:** Programmers possess valuable skills and should not underestimate their worth in the job market. - **Cultural Impact:** Software has become integral to every aspect of modern life, and those who create it hold significant cultural and societal power. - **A Call to Action:** Becker encourages attendees to quit their jobs if they are unfulfilled, clarifying that it’s not just metaphorically but genuinely considering leaving jobs that do not ignite passion or creativity. - **Options Beyond Traditional Employment:** He suggests various alternatives, such as starting a consultancy, creating something meaningful, or simply taking the time to explore personal projects. Throughout the talk, Becker references historical figures in computing like Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper, highlighting how their groundbreaking contributions transformed society. He connects these historical achievements to modern programming's potential for societal change, pushing the audience to think beyond their current roles. In conclusion, Becker imparts a message of empowerment, urging the audience to recognize their capabilities and prioritize meaningful work over mere employment. He emphasizes the importance of using their skills for greater impact rather than for projects driven only by profit, encapsulating the idea with Horace Mann's quote, "Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity." Keeping the focus on personal fulfillment and societal contributions, Becker's talk serves as a rallying cry for programmers to pursue their true passions and make a meaningful difference in the world.
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