Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Applied Materials -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: willcousa who wrote (38109)	10/11/2000 10:15:39 AM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 70976

OT -- As you've pointed out, if one was to own his business or (in special cases only) something close to it (eg. independant contractor, computer consultant, Lawer, MD, etc.) then he would have some flexibility to manage his time. But that is not practical for the majority of the people. Yes one can always make trade offs, but when the system is set up to the contrary, the cost of those trade offs may be too high for most. Let's say you are a great accountant and you are the controller of the company. The choice you have (in your field) is not "Can I be a controller and make 150k working 60 hour weeks or should I work only 20 hours and make 50k". Your most likely choices are (again in your field) (a)work 60hr as controller and make 150k, or (b)work 50hr as Sr. accountant and make 80k, or (c)work 40hr as bookkeeper and make 45k, or (d) work as a part time accounting clerk for 25hr and make 15k. So it boils down to do I keep a prestigeous job at 150k for 60hr work week and hope to retire earlier and provide better for my family. Or do I work 25hr weeks as a clerk and make ten times less (remember, we are talking about the ability to work the hours you want). This is hardly a fair choice. In short, unless you are running yourown business (and who says that takes less time), you cannot have a professional career on half time basis. The reason for this is that just as the factory assembly increased productivity but had drastic negative effects on workers' life and their job satisfaction, the service sector has increased its productivity by creating its own version of assembly line and depriving its personel of a happy life. Just as in a factory assembly line you have to work at the speed of the line and have little control over your time, in the service industry you have to move at the speed of the business and cannot take too much time off. Sun Tzu PS This is hardly the forum for this discussion. I feel I have adequately explained my point. So please pm me if you like to discuss it further.