My motivation to go to work is no longer to get a better pay instead it is to let my team grow and me keep solving challenges. One year back it was just to get to next level. I don't see any of my peers in that mode. For me, one more promo is not going to change my life or choices I make, unless I change my job and double it up, but again money is not the driving factor I see at this point. Don't think I am a rockstar but I consitently get target+ (3-5)% bonus. 39 male with a middle school kid. 360k ctc (spouse combined). 220k in 401k. 300k in stocks.
Ask the 35+ Fat FIRE group
Sounds like you’re in a great position in life
If you're happy be happy. Why ask blind to generate doubt?
Good, you don’t have “friends” to keep up with 😁
Care to explain? Are you suggesting the salary competition amongst so called "friends"?
You’re average of 5 of your closest friends. You have no one (at higher positions) to compare against so you don’t feel the need/urge to chase the next promo, or next big thing. Check the below post. They were happy until friends started to get into higher positions.
What level. It looks like senior? Isn't it too early for such thoughts?
I am starting to feel this way, and trailing you in income and stocks. probably I’ll feel the same one day and be in the same position. I feel like THIS is the dream. we have meaningful work, decent savings. My personal projects are fun and all but nothing can replace working on the same goal with other people. I hope it’s not a phase, I enjoy this rhythm - enjoying life as it is now, still making progress on a good retirement but without the anxiety.
There is probably not much difference in the lifestyle of the VP engineering and CEO of Google. One is getting $10m and the other $200m tc. What matters after a certain point (when there is enough money to satisfy your needs/desires) is recognition. If we uniformly sample a group of 100 people from different backgrounds, most likely 95 of them recognize the CEO and his achievements but less than 10 have ever heard the name of VP engineering.
Are you a manager? If you are an IC which level? Are you in Seattle?
IC, yes in Seattle.
Go play cricket
Weird flex but I hear ya.