What do I do if I am not content shoveling shit? I'm exceptionally bright, like many others in the field. When I chose it I did not expect it to be like this. The disrespect, the monotonous work, the hyper analytical and socially oblivious coworkers. The complete lack of promotion opportunities. I'd quit to start an unrelated business, but the financials just don't work out. I'd rather be working the fields.
It doesn't have to be like that. I'm not saying everyone is going to find their dream job, but it is definitely possible. If you're in love with software development, as I am, there are just so many different sub-fields and niches with so many different kinds of work.
There's scientific computing, embedded work, game development, tool development, industrial stuff, robotics, UAVs, software work in any number of tech-heavy industries that might themselves be interesting - just to speak of things I personally might find of interest. There's even Web development and enterprise software. And a zillion other kinds. All of which will have their own differing mix of problem type and day-to-day work and just "look and feel".
My current work means solving complex issues with a high degree of autonomy, new projects arriving at a comfortable pace, never the same thing twice (but enough similarity in projects not to be starting from zero all the time), a decent pace of new technologies to learn but without pointless hamsterwheeling, and so forth. We have genuinely good folks on the team with a good mix of experience levels, and great management who view their job as clearing obstacles from our path so we can do our thing. In short, I love where I'm at and what I do. Which has not always been the case in my career.
For a different person, my life at work would probably be an agonizing slog into burnout, or maybe just pure sheer boredom. I dunno. But the point is there are just so many different work situations available out there - many of them nothing like the ones you hear about on tech sites - and it's possible to find a different work situation that's a lot closer to what you need to thrive.
You can choose a life of enjoyment or you can choose a life of making money and being annoyed all the time. Pick one. If you can accept it’ll often be annoying it gets a lot easier. You can job hop to make more money and get more experiences but it’s all the same BS anywhere you go. Even if you create your own company and hire people then the same sort of stuff happens too. Can’t really escape it.
"When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly." — MA
(NB. dude was Emperor of Rome and couldn't really escape it)
You can't really just choose a life of enjoyment unless you have the financial means to support yourself in some realistic way. Most fun and enjoyable work is poorly paid because there is an army of people out there who will do it for free/as a hobby/for the clout.
