I went from being homeless, to a retail job, to a software engineer job within 3 years. I used to sleep under a desk many nights due to 80+ hour weeks as I obsessively tried to hold unreasonable deadlines working on all manner of tech projects alone. Imposter syndrome was real until I saw a contract showing clients were being billed at about 10x the poverty line wages I was making.
Eventually I realized they were just exploiting my poor self esteem and found the courage to quit, and found a job that paid double for half the hours.
Today I am constantly coaching people to do the same.
Great to hear that you got into such a position, wishing you the best. Never experienced anything even close to what you have gone through (besides a brief stint of excessively long hours), but have come to realize that there is a lot of value in openly sharing with people what they can be worth when they are potentially exploited or making less than their peers for similar (or greater efforts). As you've said, it's unfortunately often about self-esteem and confidence, with people not realizing what value they have and compensation they should receive.
There can be no wealth without ownership, and no fair wages without collective bargaining and effective unions. Most corporations are exploitation factories.
> Also, with a 90-minute commute each way, in 2023, he apparently started sleeping in his car, showering at the factory and microwaving his dinners on days that he was working.
If you are going to be that desperate, at least buy a van so that you can sleep properly..
> 5:00am I usually check my emails while on my autopilot commute to work (1hr 30min drive)
You say that like it is easy to do when living paycheck to paycheck.
I have had to choose between buying a bigger vehicle and buying food and saving to get out of my situation.
Slept in a $200 Craigslist junker for a very cold winter once, but I saved enough to buy a reliable truck which granted a lot more employment opportunities.
I have multiple times been picked up by Uber drivers in Teslas. I also am good friends with a Tesla owner he got as an inheritance in spite of living paycheck to paycheck.
Also a lot of people see cars as investments in a status symbol that will allow them access to more opportunities and respect in life. A van makes you look like someone that lives in a van.
The guy I was replying to was making a total non sequitur, and I replied pointing out that his comment didn’t make sense wrt the discussion. And now you’ve replied to this… why? I legitimately don’t even understand why you posted that.
Sorry, I interpreted your comment as a oblique way of saying his purchase of a Tesla was a financially irresponsible choice vs say, buying a van or similar utility vehicle
Every life situation is different, but in general, I wouldn't expect somebody with a position in the $98K [0] median pay bracket to be living paycheck to paycheck.
There's a big difference between sleeping in a $200 Craigslist junker and a car where you can check your emails while it drives itself (for an extra $12000).
It was Monday. He travels back to his home for the weekend. During the weekdays he stays close to work by sleeping in his car. It is unfortunately something that many people in Silicon Valley do to avoid rush hour traffic.
"Implied" is in the eye of the beholder. The only implication I saw was that this employee was super loyal to a company that didn't care about him at all.
That's because Jalopnik writes with a heavy anti-Tesla/Musk slant daily in bad faith because they know it gets clicks. "Guy lives in car to avoid 90 minute commute daily" doesn't have the same ring.
It's difficult for any person (me too) who has faced this collision between personal and professional live to no be endured with the sweet taste of irony.
I imagine one day, when HR gets to the Pearly Gates, the HR idiot who laid this guy off will be waiting in a very short line behind the guy who cut the original Star Trek. Neither of them will know why they are in a separate line.
Eventually I realized they were just exploiting my poor self esteem and found the courage to quit, and found a job that paid double for half the hours.
Today I am constantly coaching people to do the same.