Re: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?

[Rick Reumann <r...@reumann.net>]

Does anyone else ever wake up going "Man, I feel overwhelmed. Too much
too learn, not enough time." I started this computer stuff rather late
in life and find it very difficult trying to pick out what to try
concentrate my learning in. Bottom line is I have to put food on the
table for the family so I have to concentrate in skill sets that are
valuable (and not just fun:). I started this computer stuff rather late
in life (4 years ago and I'm 33 now) and constantly wonder "What should
I concentrate on learning next?" When you spend too much time learning
one area you fall behind in another. That's what I find so amazing about
some of these job applications- is they put down tons of skill sets and,
sure there might be a few that truly 'know' all of the skill sets
listed, but rarely have I come across that many people that can honestly
say they are proficient in all of them. Then it's also the Catch-22 of
if you diverse too much you end up being "ok" at a lot of stuff but not
really "good" at any one skill. It seems like in this market it's best
to just concentrate on being very good at a few skill sets vs trying to
learn everything, but I could be totally wrong there. All and all it's
just very frustrating:) Ehhh I'm just venting... just ignore me. Wish I
could just start over and be a farmer in some little rural ho-dunk town
where my greatest concerns would be whether God was going to provide
enough rain for the crops. 

-- 
Rick

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org

RE: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?

[Andrew Hill <an...@gridnode.com>]

Yep. I understand what you mean.
Ive often wondered if there is any job out there like that, but I have not
been able to think of one :-(

I certainly understand the "know what you need to do" wish! One often spends
more time working out what to do than one does doing it... <sigh/>

master: We need some enhancements to the product. When can you have it ready
by?
slave:  If you tell me what you need I can give you an estimate.
master: We havent decided yet, but I need an estimate now.
slave:  Okay.... ummm hows "two weeks" sound.
master: Too long. Sales promised it would be ready today.
slave:  So , uhh, I guess it could be ready by end of today?
master: I need it by lunchtime.
slave:  So exactly what is it you need by lunchtime?
master: Why dont you just do it and Ill tell you if you got it right
afterwards - but make sure you dont get it wrong. This is vital to us
getting the bigCo account. Everyone is counting on you!



-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Reumann [mailto:r@reumann.net]
Sent: Monday, 31 March 2003 13:37
To: Struts Users Mailing List
Subject: Re: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?


On Mon, Mar 31,'03 (12:56 PM GMT+0800), Andrew wrote:

> My old man was a farm labourer. Its no walk in the park,

Well, I certainly didn't mean to imply that it would be and of course I
really wasn't serious about wanting to be a farmer (I'm way too lazy
for that job:). I just meant it from the standpoint that sometimes I'm
envious of those positions where you "know what you need to do and you
just do it and if you do it well you can be successful." - idealistic I
know especially in today's complex world. I was thinking more back to
the days when maybe one was a quality cobbler or a quality blacksmith
and you did your job well and you managed to get by ok. I assume back
then they had their problems as well I'm sure. It just appears life was
simpler - not necessarily easier by any means- just simpler. Of course
everything is relative, and to the people back then life probably seemed
anything but 'simple.'

--
Rick

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org


---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org

Re: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?

[Rick Reumann <r...@reumann.net>]

On Mon, Mar 31,'03 (12:56 PM GMT+0800), Andrew wrote: 
  
> My old man was a farm labourer. Its no walk in the park, 

Well, I certainly didn't mean to imply that it would be and of course I
really wasn't serious about wanting to be a farmer (I'm way too lazy
for that job:). I just meant it from the standpoint that sometimes I'm
envious of those positions where you "know what you need to do and you
just do it and if you do it well you can be successful." - idealistic I
know especially in today's complex world. I was thinking more back to
the days when maybe one was a quality cobbler or a quality blacksmith
and you did your job well and you managed to get by ok. I assume back
then they had their problems as well I'm sure. It just appears life was
simpler - not necessarily easier by any means- just simpler. Of course
everything is relative, and to the people back then life probably seemed
anything but 'simple.' 

-- 
Rick

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org

Re: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?

[Becky Norum <bn...@coe.neu.edu>]

On Sun, 2003-03-30 at 23:44, Rick Reumann wrote:
> Does anyone else ever wake up going "Man, I feel overwhelmed. Too much
> too learn, not enough time." I started this computer stuff rather late
> in life and find it very difficult trying to pick out what to try
> concentrate my learning in. Bottom line is I have to put food on the
> table for the family so I have to concentrate in skill sets that are
> valuable (and not just fun:). I started this computer stuff rather late
> in life (4 years ago and I'm 33 now) and constantly wonder "What should
> I concentrate on learning next?" When you spend too much time learning
> one area you fall behind in another. That's what I find so amazing about
> some of these job applications- is they put down tons of skill sets and,
> sure there might be a few that truly 'know' all of the skill sets
> listed, but rarely have I come across that many people that can honestly
> say they are proficient in all of them. Then it's also the Catch-22 of
> if you diverse too much you end up being "ok" at a lot of stuff but not
> really "good" at any one skill. It seems like in this market it's best
> to just concentrate on being very good at a few skill sets vs trying to
> learn everything, but I could be totally wrong there. All and all it's
> just very frustrating:) Ehhh I'm just venting... just ignore me. Wish I
> could just start over and be a farmer in some little rural ho-dunk town
> where my greatest concerns would be whether God was going to provide
> enough rain for the crops. 

Rick,

I often feel the way you do.  I didn't get into programming until I was
24.  (28 now..). Although I don't have children of my own, I also
greatly value my time with my nephew, family and friends, and won't give
that up to cram more knowledge into my head.  It's also important to me
to spend time exercising and pursuing non-computer hobbies.

I've accepted that I can't compete with the 16-year old hacker who lives
for his/her computer.  Heck, my little (23-yo) brother has started being
the one I ask about many things, not the other way around.  ;)

You've got to keep your strengths in mind in order to stay positive. 
What were you doing those years before you started working with
computers?  I studied Biochemistry and worked a diverse range of jobs. 
What are your interests outside of computers?  If you end up doing
consulting, relating to clients is very important.  

A close friend of mine a year older than you works as a specialized O/S
customer support professional.  She started programming, etc. when she
was 29.  She took a position that allows her to use her technical degree
yet emphasizes her "people" skills.  Consistently, she receives very
positive feedback from Fortune 500 companies, feedback that some of her
more "techie" coworkers do not, because they don't share her ability to
talk to individuals less technically savvy than themselves.

I guess all I'm saying is that you're not alone, and don't get
discouraged.  I can speak only for myself, but I have a lot of those
moments.  =)

-- 
Becky Norum
Database Administrator
Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems (CenSSIS)
Northeastern University
http://www.censsis.neu.edu



---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org

RE: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?

[Andrew Hill <an...@gridnode.com>]

<snip>
Wish I
could just start over and be a farmer in some little rural ho-dunk town
where my greatest concerns would be whether God was going to provide
enough rain for the crops.
</snip>

My old man was a farm labourer. Its no walk in the park, and (in Australia
at least) God has been decidedly stingy with the old h20 for a couple of
years in a row now and there are a lot of farmers who probably wish they
took up IT - it sure beats the heck out of having to trudge around in dusty
46 degree heat shooting all the starving flyblown sheep you paid a fortune
for but cant afford to feed or water anymore...

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Reumann [mailto:r@reumann.net]
Sent: Monday, 31 March 2003 12:45
To: Struts Users Mailing List
Subject: Re: [OT] overwhelmed [was] Re: Does a degree matter?


Does anyone else ever wake up going "Man, I feel overwhelmed. Too much
too learn, not enough time." I started this computer stuff rather late
in life and find it very difficult trying to pick out what to try
concentrate my learning in. Bottom line is I have to put food on the
table for the family so I have to concentrate in skill sets that are
valuable (and not just fun:). I started this computer stuff rather late
in life (4 years ago and I'm 33 now) and constantly wonder "What should
I concentrate on learning next?" When you spend too much time learning
one area you fall behind in another. That's what I find so amazing about
some of these job applications- is they put down tons of skill sets and,
sure there might be a few that truly 'know' all of the skill sets
listed, but rarely have I come across that many people that can honestly
say they are proficient in all of them. Then it's also the Catch-22 of
if you diverse too much you end up being "ok" at a lot of stuff but not
really "good" at any one skill. It seems like in this market it's best
to just concentrate on being very good at a few skill sets vs trying to
learn everything, but I could be totally wrong there. All and all it's
just very frustrating:) Ehhh I'm just venting... just ignore me. Wish I
could just start over and be a farmer in some little rural ho-dunk town
where my greatest concerns would be whether God was going to provide
enough rain for the crops.

--
Rick

---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org


---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: struts-user-unsubscribe@jakarta.apache.org
For additional commands, e-mail: struts-user-help@jakarta.apache.org