Ideas for Late Career Reinvigoration?

Question

Throwaway. I'm a mid 40's developer (non-manager) who's worked at a gamut of companies (big cos, startups, self employment/contract, "fun" but low-paying gigs), in many problem domains, but mainly FAANG for the most of the last ~15 years. Close to being able to retire, but not quite there yet. I'm bored. I've done a bit of everything at this point, and it's starting to feel tedious. I don't care about title/level anymore. With various market meltdowns, the golden handcuffs are feeling less binding, and I'm feeling a bit more free to make choices career-wise, since at this point I'm fortunate in that I only really need to cross the finish line so to speak. I have no desire to leave software development - I'm not going to become a woodworker or teacher. After I retire I will still code as one of my main hobbies. But everywhere I look, it all seems very "been there, done that." I've reinvented myself several times over my career (domain-wise) and I think I'm quite malleable in that regard, but the intrinsic motivation is waning after decades of enthusiasm. What have other folks my age done when this sort of ennui hits?

themodelplumber · Accepted Answer

One common factor in your description of what you've done already is lots of big-picture thinking and big-picture change focus.
I'm an outlier-coach here in that I see this as an opportunity for more little-picture thinking, where that applies. In results I've seen, it's a very useful model worth testing.
So even if it sounds crazy, for the time being you'd start by:
- Lowering your time scales to minutes, hours. Kind of like the beginning of the film About a Boy, where the main character describes his life.
- Lowering your product/experience focus to individual product-/experience- level differentiations
- Lowering your stimulant focus level to common sensory inputs rather than big-picture stimulant undertakings
Result examples:
- What sounds good for lunch today? I had a ham sandwich from the store yesterday, boring af. What sounds really good today is some fresh lemonade and a monte cristo made with bakery bread. Followed by maybe a new type of chocolate I haven't tried yet.
- What sounds good pre- and post-nap today? To eat, to read, to watch?
- What would be a really funny thing to do with my career today, that only takes 10 minutes?
Big-picture result: The little picture factors eventually start to re-calibrate your big-picture values over time, making you more aware of your comfort levels, and eventually they make their way into your big-picture interests.
Once this propagation cycle is more complete, you get a more tightly-calibrated feel for what you want your future to look like in the big picture. So this is not ignoring the big picture at all.
But this is really really difficult for a lot of big-picture folks to start on, since our culture is currently mainly focused on / obsessed with career-change starting with big-picture first, and we are taught that the little picture is kind of naughty, and that we already know way too much about the little picture and what that's like.
Just another crazy idea though. Lots of methods to try from here & good luck with whatever path you take.

readenough · Answer

"I've done a bit of everything at this point" I wonder what everything includes. Does it include industrial process control, factory automation, manufacturing execution systems, mathematical modelling of gravitational lenses, hacking (improving) automotive engines, hospital records systems? I find that looking outside of my comfort zone helps me find new opportunities elsewhere and also helps me see my current work in more interesting ways.

lszyba1 · Answer

How about some advising for startups or others. I find joining twitter, and resisting to follow the common time-consuming topics, allows me to start from 0 and slowly build topics I'm interested in. I find/follow 1 interesting person at a time (yes=yes, maybe = no, no = no), explore their posts, and get something out of it. On some topics I feel like I want to learn more, on some I find that it was a good idea, but no longer interesting(unfollow). Few months in, I find that my interests are changing by following my inner interests. Reading comments of people with similar interest helps. There are certain things I seem to enjoy that deepens my understanding. I find the core developer calling pulls me back. I listen to Tim Ferris where he interviews top performers, and I learn from them. I read books they recommend. All in all, I feel the shift. Singup for http://wwwhww.news or get nirvanahq app and start writing,(about any topic that comes to mind really)(get it out of the brain, so subconscious happiness machine can start flowing again). I bet writing this question on HN tomorrow will trigger some interesting thoughts.

indoorskier · Answer

I quit and am pursuing my own interests with the nest egg I’ve built up over the years (am also mid 40s). It’s been incredibly invigorating to finally be able to think for myself again, and have time to explore.
Just my experience, don’t underestimate how much working a job limits you and your creativity.
Unfortunately this will get me further from the line rather than closer (unless I somehow strike gold) but I figure the only thing I can’t make again is time.

newusertoday · Answer

Do you like helping people? being there done that is great place to help the people who are there but have NOT done that. Maybe you can mentor others share your knowledge with others via blog/youtube etc. help out the community in general.PS: I am looking for a someone experienced in web development for guidance in case you decide to take this route.