As people working in tech in 2020, we gripe a lot. This is a reminder that sometimes, things aren’t always all bad.
Managers
Despite all the criticisms, it’s always good to be thankful to people who have supported you. It might not be support in the way that you think is directly beneficial to your goals, but it can be support nonetheless.
It can be support through relentlessly pushing you to your breaking point and only then backing off. It can be support through commitment to flexibility to find your own way. It can be support by shielding corporate ugliness. Support demands not just intellectual horsepower, but emotional labor, and often political capital. There’s an invisible hand of supportive management that isn’t always recognized. Managers and leaders don’t always have the answers. Sometimes we expect more answers than they have. But the support they give is not nothing. And we should be appreciative, while reserving the right to be underwhelmed by other aspects of their roles.
Companies
It’s become fashionable to hate on big business. So much so that there are now books out defending them: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Business-Letter-American-Anti-Hero/dp/1250110548 I know I’m thankful for employment stability, for psychological safety, for free food, for job security, for being able to bring more or less my whole self to work. Many of us take these things for granted. It’s not always that way. I’m thankful for real milk, let alone oat milk, soy milk, and organic half and half in our pantry. We have hired people to wash dishes and load the dishwasher, throughout the entire day. Rose cider, white claw, spiked tea. The proximity to eat anything I want for lunch. I can go get an Unaju rice set that’s probably in the top 10% of Unaju rice sets in the country. Every day. I don’t really know any other word to describe it other than ‘luxurious employment.” And I’m thankful for it.
Perspective
Back in 1776, people were fighting for liberty and the right to live, gladly laying down their lives for a better, more noble future. Now we’re fighting for the right to climb our own career ladders while drinking Harmless Coconut Water, walking on treadmill desks. It’s very privileged. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a competitive marketplace for talent. This is where we are now. Both things can be true; we can be totally pampered snowflakes and be justified in demanding better, demanding more. We are blessed to live in this time of economic prosperity that benefits our skills.
Common’s Microsoft AI commercial comes to mind whenever I think about standing on the shoulders of generations before.
“Today, right now, you have more power at your fingertips, than entire generations that came before you.”
That’s true for technology, but it’s also true of workers, especially tech workers. We should be thankful nonetheless.
Autonomy
Unlike countries that require you to perform a specific role in society. Unlike elected or government jobs in the USA. This is at-will employment.
You can take your talents to South Beach, or anywhere else you want. There is a choice, a beautiful autonomy afforded to workers across this country…who were lucky enough to be born at the right time, study the right things, and go into the right professional industries. We should be thankful that there are options, and that we are free to pursue those options without retribution. A 7-foot Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator look alike isn’t going to come like you’re a Soviet scientist who doesn’t want to build a gateway into “The upside down” universe.
Some people need more focus. Others need to broaden their perspective.
Some people need to try harder. Others need to stress less.
Some people need to care more. Others need to let it go.
The secret is you are both people. The key is to know which one you are in this moment.
@JamesClear of Atomic Habits
I think we have the capacity to both be thankful, yet still push our leaders for the things we value.