I keep hearing stories (both here on Blind and elsewhere) about people who were really successful and did a lot of grind - focusing on work at expense of wlb, crazy hours, etc. I'd like to hear stories about successful people who didn't grind. I didn't grind, but I'm not sure I'm successful. Got easy degree (no grinding in college), then got into FANG. Now 15 yoe in FANG, never worked late hours, didn't work a single weekend, traveled a lot, and had time to check stuff online and meet people for coffee at work. WFH usually means play videogames with an eye at work chat if someone needs me. Some weeks I probably worked 10 hours. Now E5 at Facebook, 550k TC, and I find it easy to do enough impact for meets all rating. I find it difficult to get promoted to E6 though - it seems it would require getting quite outside the comfort zone and actually work longer hours. I often regret never learning to grind, since many of my grinding friends went much higher (couple became senior directors, one became VP, with TC well above 2M). Your stories?
Grinding is overrated. I worked my ass off at a start up for like half of what I’m making now. And here I’m pretty much chilling with occasionally hustling to meet deadlines.
What does success mean to you? A 2M salary? A stay at home job? International trips? What experiences? What is it that you surely want to have finished before you die? Philosophical, but I always feel if I can find an answer for this, I don't have to think of what others did and I didn't. No comparison required. My life, my success story and my wish :)
One other fact. The amount of time required for different people to do the same work is obviously different. Instead of measuring number of hours of work, one should measure the outcomes. Maybe you do produce good outcomes even when you are playing video games on the side
The more video games I play instead of working the better our code base gets over time
Thats awesome! Sometimes the stuff outside of work is more important. Since you’re at 15 YOE now, how long did it take you to progress to each level? Did you push your manager on getting you promotions or did you just wait for it to naturally happen?
Around 2 years from 3 to 4, and then another 2.5 years from 4 to 5. 3 to 4 just happened, but 4 to 5 had to push and figure out how to work smarter
How long have you been E5?
It’s all about how you define success. High TC? Social status? Plenty of free time? One could argue you have all 3. Sure, there are people making more money in the world, but that will always be the case.
Thats great. Also with 15 yoe at fang, op could be already loaded with stocks. Therefore promotion seems more trivial than it is for new hires.
I'd rather not make $2m if it means my life is work. $400k is plenty for me If you work 10 hours and make $500k I'd say you've won life. Teach me everything.
You are successful
You are the definition of grinding and you don't know it. I didn't grind and didn't get into FANG until recently. Missed out on a lot of the TC. I'm sure I'm not alone 😂
I hate you 😀