> This is one of the top things that make engineers grumpy: constantly shifting priorities.
Author hits the nail on the head. I was on a team that shifted priorities just about every week - and not really the team but really management. Every decision was "reactive" to something someone said - that "someone" who doesn't really know that much, doesn't have that much power, etc., but management is convinced they'll look good if they can satisfy this one person or group of people, regardless of whether the outcome provides any true value.
The manager was a great guy, but he over-indexed in the wrong things and spent too much effort optimizing purely for "optics".
I realized I didn't see value in my output (nor my team's). I wasn't enjoying my work, and I really wasn't learning anything I really care for. The things I was learning had more to do with work politics and optics.
So I left.
And I took a vacation.
:D
Life is short. If you're going to work 60+ hours a week, at least find something that helps you grow in some way and/or that you find fulfilling. Unfortunately not everyone has that luxury, but if you do, only you can improve your situation.
Author hits the nail on the head. I was on a team that shifted priorities just about every week - and not really the team but really management. Every decision was "reactive" to something someone said - that "someone" who doesn't really know that much, doesn't have that much power, etc., but management is convinced they'll look good if they can satisfy this one person or group of people, regardless of whether the outcome provides any true value.
The manager was a great guy, but he over-indexed in the wrong things and spent too much effort optimizing purely for "optics".
I realized I didn't see value in my output (nor my team's). I wasn't enjoying my work, and I really wasn't learning anything I really care for. The things I was learning had more to do with work politics and optics.
So I left.
And I took a vacation.
:D
Life is short. If you're going to work 60+ hours a week, at least find something that helps you grow in some way and/or that you find fulfilling. Unfortunately not everyone has that luxury, but if you do, only you can improve your situation.