"work in ML can be as dull and unfulfilling as any other domain"
I love this statement.
A while back, when I was trying to figure out what I liked, was good at and should do with my career, I realised that I can't select things based on how much I liked the good parts (because I like so many things) but rather, how annoying I found the dull parts.
It's like, if you find a profession or hobby, where even the annoying and dull parts you can say "meh, it's not great but like I'm not too bothered by this", then you'll probably manage to survive a 20 year tenure with it. Since that's where most people would tap out.
It's easy to like the fun parts. Like when you are coding and everything is working fine. But are you also fine with the nitty gritty of debugging, refactoring and all the in-between bits that round up the profession? I see this in many professionals across the board.
Those who understand the significance of the mundane, the small and boring tasks as a integral component of the wider vision of the profession, develop a special bond with that, that is longer lasting and truer.
Not too much unlike relationships I would say. The good times can be great. But if the small day-to-day stuff is slightly annoying, it starts to get under your skin, and grows over time, like chipping away at a tree trunk, eventually felling the tree. Lasting bonds happen when each person understands and isn't too bothered by the mundane and annoying, human side of their partner.
All this being said, please excuse the philosophy. I'm in Europe, it's 11am, I've had my 3rd coffee and ironically I'm supposed to be refactoring code right now.
> I realised that I can't select things based on how much I liked the good parts (because I like so many things) but rather, how annoying I found the dull parts.
One thing I've noticed about myself is that I'm never really sure what makes me happy, but I definitely know what makes me unhappy, so I try to do the opposite of that.
Of course. It's the "zoom" effect, not sure how else to call it.
Take mountain climbing. When looked from outside you imagine the mountain, the green, skies and what-not, but the actual task view is 90% gray rocks, 5% your calloused hands and 5% sky.
I love this statement.
A while back, when I was trying to figure out what I liked, was good at and should do with my career, I realised that I can't select things based on how much I liked the good parts (because I like so many things) but rather, how annoying I found the dull parts.
It's like, if you find a profession or hobby, where even the annoying and dull parts you can say "meh, it's not great but like I'm not too bothered by this", then you'll probably manage to survive a 20 year tenure with it. Since that's where most people would tap out.
It's easy to like the fun parts. Like when you are coding and everything is working fine. But are you also fine with the nitty gritty of debugging, refactoring and all the in-between bits that round up the profession? I see this in many professionals across the board.
Those who understand the significance of the mundane, the small and boring tasks as a integral component of the wider vision of the profession, develop a special bond with that, that is longer lasting and truer.
Not too much unlike relationships I would say. The good times can be great. But if the small day-to-day stuff is slightly annoying, it starts to get under your skin, and grows over time, like chipping away at a tree trunk, eventually felling the tree. Lasting bonds happen when each person understands and isn't too bothered by the mundane and annoying, human side of their partner.
All this being said, please excuse the philosophy. I'm in Europe, it's 11am, I've had my 3rd coffee and ironically I'm supposed to be refactoring code right now.