But they are my vacation days… right?

This blog post by David Anderson (Agile Management Blog) resonated with me more than any other in a long time. David and I are pretty close in age it seems and I have been having the same thoughts, only he publicly shared them.

Over the past several weeks I have been looking for work, software engineering work to be specific, and I've noticed something really different in what I wanted from a company more than money. And as David pointed out, it was the work environment and benefits.

When I was younger and growing a family, I wasn't too concerned about insurance, vacation, school plays, field trips or dance recitals. I was, for heavens sake, a programmer. The code must be complete, at any cost.

But not I want more. I can handle leaving the code slinging to someone else, I want to use the software business experience I've learned and use it to make a better company for the customer, the employee and the shareholder.

But what I've noticed is that most companies don't believe someone who has grown up creating software has any business sense? What is up with that? If you have been in the computer industry since the early 80's, you've seen most of the break through technology and may have even help create it.

Is there a natural progression from someone who writes code, to someone who sees value in a job that includes innovating? Some call this architecting technology but I disagree. I see an Architect as someone who is more concerned with the creation of technology and it's interaction than with the business of software creation. Maybe that's what a good CTO gives a company. But what if your company can't support a CTO?

Anyway, back to the original post theme, being an older geek in the technology industry. I think we're the only ones who reminisce about our old BBS's, Commodore or Atari computers; writing, selling and installing our own products; watching stupid kids throw away millions of venture capitol on espresso and same day flights across the country to give a sales pitch to an unqualified prospect.

Yes, I'm more worried about my health, my families health, my interests outside the office than I am burning days and days at work. There was a time I would do it in an instance no matter the cost. But I'm not there anymore. I know it doesn't have to be that way. That type of work environment is due to poor project management and unrealistic expectations from executives.

Great post David.