I understand what you are going through, and you are right, I worked for a big Tech company for 20 years, and if I'm being honest, it destroyed my life, and led to constant stress and depression, I lost my family because these companies are designed to keep you at work by providing, free food, free gym, free everything! Who needs to go home right! Never be loyal to any company they will suck the soul out of you. I'm glad I escaped from the hampster wheel I was on.
I think it is good that you are acknowledging your own failure. No one forced you to treat your family poorly. So accept that you were susceptible to it and you can train to get better willpower in the future. Sorry for your loss nevertheless
Loyalty to companies is a one way street. They will fire employees or even shut down whole plants / sites if a bean counter thinks it will increase profits. You well-being counts for nothing.
I love coding. It's fun, and I went from homeless to buying a house. Do I support what big tech is doing to society? No, and there are many ways to be in tech that are not destructive
Compared to working in big oil, planes, mining, automotive industry and related stuff, most of chemistry, a large part of manufacturing, marketing, gafam are somewhat reasonable industries to work in. Of course you can try to find something which makes more sense for your conviction but don't overcomplicate.
Engineering skills give you the ability to create solutions to problems. Your issue is finding worthy problems to build solutions for, rather than engineering per se, so don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Go find problems that affect millions of people that can be solved thru technology, scope it out, talk to like-minded people, then go do it. You will find higher purpose & fulfillment. You CAN do it.
I left software engineering career a year ago to focus on hardware engineering, which I wanted to do for a long long time (my degree is MS in EE in fact) - I find challanges in HW far more interesting than in typical software roles. My software skills are still relevant as occassionally I have to write some code, but vast majority is hardware design. So I can subscribe to what you are writing, it's all about finding an interesting context in which you want to work. I did not find a purpose on development of various software solutons I did (and I worked both for big known companies as well as my own startup), but I find it in my current job, even though the salary is slightly lower, but my mental condition is way better now.
@@pawelsto9801 Yeap. It's about the purpose. We are smart enuf to know not to lose most of our life to earning 💰 far beyond our basic need. We can either do this and finally look back on our death bed merely to lament how we have wasted our years pursuing the extra dough to satisfy ephemeral, fleeting nonessential needs, or go do what this life is worth.
I believe technology has advanced enough, to the point where we *could* have something close to a sci-fi utopia, but massive socioeconomic challenges are blocking the path. These are not technological problems. No React update is going to fix them. We have millions of people sitting at desks staring at Excel spreadsheets and writing code…for what, exactly? What is humanity even trying to build? Does anyone even know? It’s mostly unnecessary nonsense. Fluff. Squeezing the last drops of “value” out of the existing economy isn’t going improve human life. Releasing humans from their mundane pointless jobs, however, would help tremendously.
Good thoughts to express! Most conscientious people eventually give deep thought to the work that they do. I have found writing software and firmware for medical device companies strikes a balance between technology and humanity. Good luck in the journey down a new road...
I am struggling finding a decent job in tech and bro is out here quitting tech and living life. Also its kind of awesome that education in russia is free. That's a W over US.
Every russian i have met in life are well educated and speak fluent english. And they were average means Russians. I met them working at high end resorts on the east coast, they were here w/work visas working in the resort.
Silicon Valley isn’t the only path to making a difference through technology. I’m building a startup to help my country progress in digital transformation, cut down on paper waste, and connect citizens more closely with essential services. Alongside that, I run a solo web development company, making it affordable for new businesses to establish a strong online presence. Technology has given me purpose and has been instrumental in helping me overcome depression. I split my time between different cities-sometimes at my parents' place, other times at my sister's. Whenever I feel the urge to explore, I pack my backpack and set off to discover a new city. But I’ve come to realize that work isn’t everything; meaningful relationships, hobbies, and personal passions are essential for a fulfilling life.
@@ahmadirfan7840 I started as a remote TSE while freelancing on the side. I worked on small projects to sharpen my skills and build my portfolio. Now, I’m focusing on my startup in the healthcare sector and running a web development company, which is similar to freelancing but with a bit more structure
Here's something for you to ponder from an OLD Budweiser beer AD jingle, "When it's RIGHT, you KNOW it; when it's GOOD, you FEEL it ! " I've learned NOT to ignore 'gut' feelings, when they come to me; they are God (or my guardian angel) guiding me. Have FAITH that we're each given some skill to make an honest, honorable, worthwhile living ... and you WILL discover yours ...
Oh my God, I understand you sooo much... But I chose to earn some savings money to cover my basic needs, and live few years full-time contributing to open source. That's the thing that makes me happy, and aligns with my spiritual and moral compass much more, than commercial development.
We will miss you if you leave. i urge you to continue to share your wisdom that your life adventures have given you. Share who you are; your dreams; your insights. Perhaps you will continue to deliver messages, homilies about life and living. I came to you enjoying your motorcycle adventures. Personally, I hope you can continue sharing your travels and understanding of the world we live in. I encourage you to share your adventures, your travel through life and then anecdotes and metaphors of being a part of life on this planet. Don't leave us Kseniia.
„Live‘s short“ .. similar curriculum vitae here. After 20 years of doing that I went back home, back to the island, I grew up at. I found a job not in software engineering but in IT. It does not pay nearly as much as the jobs before and I miss coding a lot! But - I have gained in quality of life a lot, am now living with my family and everyone, I love and value around me. I am about to shift coding towards my free time as a hobby, almost just as I started :) I am trying to use my knowledge in projects for us as humans without side effects. Let’s see, how it goes :) Thanks for making that video - it is important!
Young lady youre brilliant, a mixture of natural intellect AND insightfulness to the what humans really need …..and dont need. This video really resonated with me.
Excellent post - I have been in tech for over 50 years and still designing chips using fpga's , building parts in 3d and then cnc for my airplane , and many other things . The tools have come a long way and my forcing function based on an enquiring mind is building stuff and has never been focussed on money " Choose the freedom of a humble life vs the slavery of extravagance " . I try and find balance by managing the signal to noise ratio and for this reason am not on facebook, x , twitter , insta - and only watch youtube selectively about tech, flying , music, product design and software. - good health and safe riding to you
I'm glad you found something that is more peaceful for you. I personally had a crisis when I was about 34 relative to technology and being an engineer, mostly with computers. I was able to get over it but the short stay away from it was rather costly for me. I had to re-orient my thinking around people and companies that realize that people time comes before work time. The teams I came across were awesome and the problems were minimal. We still show up for work a LOT and we even work from home sometimes but its all chill now.
This is a very bold and wise move. It takes a lot of courage to step away from something stable and familiar and chase after what truly makes you happy. I am going to take a walk. Good luck!
I quit IT after 22 years, I have a Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence specialty, and I worked on the financial area everything there is money(stress) 24/7, depression, etc etc, right know I do what I really like to do Im a professional photographer I run 15kms daily I only use my phone to attend my clients, no social media, and I use my computers just to edit my clients videos and photos, I wont return to IT ever, I love technology but not the approach that is being given to it. Thanks for your video!!!
Thanks for sharing your work/life experience with all of us. Coding to support the online revenue needs of retailing must feel like handing out "free" opioids at every public venue from town parks, to school yards, to concert halls. Social media addiction is now a real, widespread thing, and it is having devastating effects on the next generations. The toxicity of the modern world is now everywhere: environmental pollution, multiple addictions, financialization of most human interactions, growing anxiety/depression/rage, and runaway surveillance capitalism. The System will not correct these toxicities as they are the driving force behind corporate profits. It will keep going until it crashes into its self-created catastrophe. Hopefully there will be some wise people around then to help pick up the pieces and create a better, more nurturing and more meaningful future for humanity. Hopefully there will be something to embrace after the demise of 21st century technofeudalism dystopia.
Intelligence and deep values. Impressive and thought provoking. I know you said not to write thank you, but this video is a gift; an intellectual elephant turn.
🤦 Simping BS. What was so intelligent and deeply valuable? Her lifestory which is NOT unique? Or BS statement like "go outside without any technology"? 😂 I will remind you: she said it and you watched it on big tech platform 🤣🤣🤣 Have fun during thinking about hypocrisy 😂
@@kseniiaadvA great video to the point ! However I have something to mention. I have spent time to other Russian software engineers and I think that what I will mention now it would be to their mind too. I have had the same thought since I started my career about purpose at work. However I was not as lucky or smart as you to land jobs that will make me a millionaire. So I would like to ask you why to quit now that you are a millionaire and not 10 years ago. What you are saying is really easy to deduct and the majority of people feel it. The problem is what are the alternative options. So in my opinion now you are stating a problem without a general method towards the solution. What someone could do differently to support a family and find purpose at work ? Thank you and I am sorry for being direct but I think you will appreciate it.
commenters - i need help. i've been in tech and.. i physically sick from it. my wrist hurts and gets worse with time, my vision has suddenly gotten worse this year (longer work day with this job), constant headaches (probably from screen, unsure)... and i DO NOT love what i do. I am stuck with a very passive aggressive group that deliberately find TINY faults to highlight to the boss. i've done a good stretch of 15 years but now i am tired. i have NO OTHER SOURCE of income. i have NO SAVINGS. but i cannot do this anymore. open to suggestions please.. i really need to get out.. im suffocating
Regarding the wrist pain - maybe you have inflammation there that causes the pain, and if so omega 3 can maybe help. There are omega 3 pills that can be bought without a doctor's prescription. In addition, it can also be due to an ergonomic problem in the way you hold the computer mouse in your hand. When you sit with the computer, try not to constantly hold the mouse in your hand, but only while you activate the mouse. You may also learn some keyboard shortcuts that will allow you to perform actions using the keyboard instead of using the mouse. Regarding the headaches - sometimes after the age of 40 you need glasses for close vision, and sometimes you need multifocal glasses. You can go to an optometrist and ask for an eye exam. Regarding the attitude from the group - it looks like workplace bullying. Try google "omega 3", "multifocal" and "workplace bullying" and you might find more information that will help you as long as you work there.
@a.dancer9508 thank you so much kind being. Yes I have omega at home but forget to take it, this is a good reminder and I will restart it. Thank you for your considerate and thoughtful reply
I'm learning to code. Self-taught. I'm told not to bother since AI will make coders irrelevant, but I don't care. I like this stuff and will continue to grow.
Don't worry too much about what is next for you. Keep following what your heart is telling you and you will be a fulfilled and happy person. I once had money and was unhappy in life, once I started following what my heart was telling me my life became much fuller even without the big paycheck.
Agree with you here. Do what you’re passionate about and find others who feel the same. Then you’ll make it work. Life is a journey and it is your choice to fill it with the dreams you want not what a corporate wants you to fill it with.
I would recommend you to use your technology skills to improve human lives that way you can still pursue your passion for technology, science and live according to your values.
We all try to solve basic needs first. Once people accumulate enough wealth, some of them decide to teach others how to live. Now is the time to be ethical. Now is the time to give back. Not before we get set ourselves. It is rather funny, to be honest, how people suddenly achieve enlightenment with enough money in the bank. Good for you to realize things about your own life though!
I believe it's not just a company; it’s the customer who will seek affordable, high-quality products. This requires your company to compete fiercely, and to do so, you need more resources than your competitors. Therefore, sales play the most important role. The only hope is that culture can influence customer behavior.
I agree with your video and liked it. All this marketing, ads, capitalism, just makes more people stressed, buying things they don't need to out-compete their neighbors who are also getting in debt. Yes, of course it leads to stress and suicide rates. It's just not sustainable. Where is all this consumerism leading to. Only more misery. Thanks for making the video. You are probably an empath and able to see and sense things around you. By the way, I was learning Russian, made it through the cyrillic letters, war started while I was planning to visit there. Spasibo.
Hi Kseniia, I love your videos! But this one is so personal and really touched me. I share your love for motorbike adventures. I've had an idea for some time about how to help the local people and motorcyclists. I would love to share this idea with you. Please write to me at
What a remarkable journey your life has been. I’ve truly enjoyed your motorcycle videos and now you drop this incredible advice. Keep what you’re doing. And I get your point…
Sounds like you had quite a journey. There's more to life than money and holding down a high paying job, but for a lot of people earning a lot of money even at the cost of their values is a decision they have to make just so that they can support themselves or their families. I hope you're in a better place now and find your new path, I am still trying to teach myself the basics of full stack web development in my free time while working full time even though I am aware that a job as a web developer will not solve all my problems or make me feel any happier. I'm highly motivated by increasing my income potential while living in a high cost of living city (Los Angeles). We all go through our own journeys, but it sounds like you found peace by making our decision to leave your software engineering job. Take care fellow human ❤
"Most software today is very much like an Egyptian pyramid with millions of bricks piled on top of each other, with no structural integrity, but just done by brute force and thousands of slaves." ~ Alan Kay
What you say sounds so familar and struck a cord. After 13 years I too called it quits after a couple multi-national tech companies wanted more from me than I was willing to give. Go out on your own, work for yourself, do what you wish, be your own boss. Your life will be the better for the effort that takes, and it does takes some serious effort. But it is all worth it, for both your self worth and peace of mind.
You seem exceptionally wise for your age. I'm an electronic engineer and I think you're right, capital order is a problem and in general common people like you and me aren't free to chose a healthy and respectful life if wanting to survive. I've saved enough to live in countryside and try to grow my own food as much as possible but capital order created good ways to discourage a life like mine too. It's hard to solve problems without helping the dark side, but if you search carefully and never repress your good values, you'll find a way.
I was an electrical engineer. The theory and potential was very interesting but most of my work was control engineering and ultimately I just was not very good at it. So after getting fired too many times I bought a farm in Tasmania.
Hi Kseniia, you can think about what valuable can do for certain organizations or companies that are looking for improved healthcare software, more effective energy software solution or something else that needs to be done in order to impact people's in a positive way comparing it to social media apps you mentioned. Lots of people would love to be at your position with skill and experience but also possibilities, especially those who has ideas but don't have skills yet, me included. Think again how positively you can contribute to society and even nature and get some money for it as well. Goodluck!
Waliking is now an important part of everyday life . . . I am aware that I have too much screen time . . . consciously trying to reduce it. I think we should make the most of the skills we have and continue to grow - caring and being mindful of others and our own needs. You have also taken a path that matches your current needs . . . rather than what other people expect . . . that takes courage ! Now enjoying greater creativity through DIY skills, rebuilding my home.
What a wonderful young lady you are, but its 45 degrees and dark and about bed time, so I am not going for a walk. You would be a great person to talk to and have a coffee with many many times but I dought our paths will cross, I hope you find your path as there isn't anything you can't do. Thanks for making the future look brighter.
The person (having low wealth and much time) has to fit the job (not just tech), not the job has to fit the person, its always been that way. This may be improved a little by using tech to match jobs to job seekers. Take your solace where you can find it, sometimes even on the job.
I like to make the point that technology cannot solve the problem of "human nature", and most of the most serious problems we're facing today are tied to human nature in one way or another. I used to live close enough to work that I'd walk to and from work every day (which took about 20 minutes each way), and I think that having those two breaks every day was a real benefit to me. Best wishes to you.
You should start a program or startup from home to guide people on some aspects of technology and make decent earning for yourself in the process ! You know, the world is a large ensemble of individuals, companies, other entities etc. and they will not give up their paths of maximizing revenue or profits, no matter how much pain it causes to a sensitive people like you ! Be pragmatic enough to protect yourself from avoidable pain ! Lastly, I add that I liked your video, your english narration style and your true emotion.
Love from Bengaluru, India 💖 Bythe way sister the snake plant is not good for abundance, you may study about it and you may consider to replace by some other plants. And I was a top techie too, I was a cybersecurity engineer in top banks in the UK and Belgium and my family and myself became UK citizens too over the years, however we still decided to quit and return to India. I am now happily retired for almost two years and I am just 48 years old and I did nothing to earn money for the past two years as I do not need to earn money anymore. And it was the right thing to do for myself and especially for my family and my young son. Nobody in my family regrets leaving western consumerist lifestyle and returning to a simple life embracing mother earth...
Not sure how this popped up for me (obviously 'the algorithm '), but am glad I saw your video, will forward to a couple of friends that are also in tech and also from Russia. Best regards from Rocklin and Roseville, CA
Thanks for this, I am in a similar situation with a company. So, I can really identify, Iam learning a lot, but low pay, really long hours. Very little time off. Quality of life is bad.
I get it-coding can be frustrating, and it’s not always peaceful, also for the end users. But if you ever decide to go back, maybe approach it as just a source of income. Try to detach a bit from it emotionally, and keep in mind that everything around us has lessons to offer. Staying mindful, even something as simple as focusing on your breath while working, can help bring calm and balance.
Good time for a sabbatical if you don't need the money. The industry is looking for the next big thing & scraping the bottom of the buzzwords for profits but it will rebound again. It will have a higher purpose again & the next generation will be stepping on themselves to get in.
we are living in a world that prioritizes benefits over our human values. i felt like a brick in these structures, problem is who's gonna stop these capitalistic machines ? there's not a short supply of bricks it seems
I fully understand your sentiment and you have good reason to feel that way. J. Robert Oppenheimer was an American theoretical physicist and one of the very few people in the world that fully understood Einstein's theory of relativity. With that knowledge out of pure curiosity he learned a weapon of mass destruction could be made but Robert was a good man and only wanted to test his theory and meant no harm, however, the U.S government had different plans for this new found technology. It is said Oppenheimer literally fell down on his knees and begged military and government officials not to use it to harm anyone. Of course his request fell on deaf ears. Nagasaki and Hiroshima was it's first victims. Follow your heart and your decision is commendable!
Deeply agree with you. I have a bachelor's degree in computer science and I have no social networks but linkedin and youtube. I think technology is swallowing our society and destroying real relationships, with people and ourselves. Technology is also turning us lazy and dumb. I try to not to overthink about the subject but I would like to quit technology someday as well because I feel I am doing no good to the society in general terms. Nevertheless I'm trying to put my knowledge somehow useful and not harmful to the society and my environment.
The evidence is that, as most process in biology, intelligence seems to be a self cancelling process, meaning, at a certain point, intelligence seems to be lethal, it might as well be a perfectly valid solution for the Fermi paradox.
I spent 18 wonderful years in Silicon Valley. For a while leaving between Spain and California. Always did things that felt meaningful to me. I enjoyed your video. There is one thing tou are very right about: life is very short.
Dear Kseiia, I saw a couple of your videos. I noticed that you have a Rather Expensive Motorcycle and all of the best riding gear. I knew that you had a good career, but I was not sure doing what. Then I was part of the video about the Russian Women who are Doctors in Guatemala. I thought maybe you are a Doctor. When I was this video and heard how you want a simpler more stress free life, it made me keep thinking of all of My Amish and Mennonite friends. I live in Southern Michigan. I think you might like to meet some Amish people who still don't own automobiles and they travel by Horse and Buggy and do much of their Farming with horses. They are very self sufficient as far as raising all of their own food on their Farms. Canning food to have in the Winter ect.
Sorry, just sharing an honest thought here. You believe technology and social media are bad for humanity, so you quit your job in Silicon Valley. But now you work for RUclips (Google), one of the largest social media platforms owned by one of the biggest tech companies in the world. It seems like you simply switched job positions; you didn’t leave big tech - you’re still working in big tech. I don’t mean to be rude. I sincerely wish you all the best in your new life journey. 🙏
I agree with you but I think that while riding motorcycle we also should avoid relying on eletronics overloaded bikes! Recently a videoblogger commenting on his trip through Colorado mountains mentioned that he accidentally ran into a group of young bikers riding tock trail machines manufactured in the 80s when gas still flowed by gravity to the carburetors! Honda introduced in 2023 a light&cheap dual purpose carburetor fedbike called xr150 in the US/Canada market, just to give a recent example. Thanks for your video!
@@kseniiaadv Not true. Vehicle technology has vastly i proved the reliability and performance. You may lament about the good old days but I can tell you having a distributor cap not arcing or a blocked float valve in your carburettor is no fun when you’re sitting on the side of the road trying to figure it out. Motorcycles like H2’s and Hayabusas wouldn’t exist without the technology we have today!!
The problem is not that companies want to generate money because that's their sole purpose. The problem is that you are not free, you are owned by job, or rather the contract you signed for. You can't do what you love to do. You need money to live. You have tasted freedom, and at the same time, you depend on money. Simple like that. So, look for a better balance or start your own business. Still, you need money to pay your bills. Either way, or you go all in and start your own business, or you find a rich man or work part time and compromise.
Hi Kseniia, I feel you perfectly, I worked for OSF Digital (SalesForce) in Romania.. I have quit for the exact same reason, unfortunately not many people think or feel like you, I know a lot of people "desperate" for a "good job", unfortunately for the majority it's like some kind of holy grail. Personally I never understood why "working at Microsoft" (just as an expression) is such a cultivated goal. On the other hand tho, there are some who start to realize it's meaninglessness
How are you going to support yourself now? Do you have a family to take care of? Very curious to hear how you will navigate the challenges that result from this decision. Let us know. Most people who do this try their hand at being social media influencers, making money indirectly from these same ad supported platforms which you just admitted cause so much damage.
Hardware Engineer here. I'm in Silicon Valley as well and I quit my job at Qualcomm in 2015. I have been consulting ever since (Straight RF, LLC). Yes, it is scary at times - even now. But, the life balance is, very much, worth it. You can do it!
I agree with the general theme, but there is a gaping hole in what you're saying. Values are necessarily hierarchical in that you value some things more than others. For instance, if you value the environment, why? There must be a value above that. When we structure our values and trace them upwards, they lead to a singular point, the summum bonum, the ultimate good. I call that point God, but if that bothers people, you still cannot deny all values lead up a hierarchy to an ultimate good. You must structure your life to that and get rid of anything that doesn't fit, and in so doing, you will achieve purpose and fulfillment.
My advice to you: get a partner, get kinds (minimum 2, but better 3). This will give you a sense of purpose for the rest of your life and will make your life fulfilled. I am also from Russia, but a bit older, so I lived a bit in the USSR. And my honest opinion, is that companies and individuals, who pursue revenue are the ones who make the world better and the ones who prevented this world so far from being blown up. As an opposite, the ones who peruse idealistic ideas (communism etc), are the ones, who create problems. So, there is nothing wrong in working in retail for the company, which peruse revenue.
I understand what you are going through, and you are right, I worked for a big Tech company for 20 years, and if I'm being honest, it destroyed my life, and led to constant stress and depression, I lost my family because these companies are designed to keep you at work by providing, free food, free gym, free everything! Who needs to go home right! Never be loyal to any company they will suck the soul out of you. I'm glad I escaped from the hampster wheel I was on.
“The corporate trap” as it’s known. I know it very well!!
I know what you mean - I slept on the floor under my desk !
I work from home so I'm with my family all the time
I think it is good that you are acknowledging your own failure. No one forced you to treat your family poorly. So accept that you were susceptible to it and you can train to get better willpower in the future. Sorry for your loss nevertheless
Loyalty to companies is a one way street. They will fire employees or even shut down whole plants / sites if a bean counter thinks it will increase profits. You well-being counts for nothing.
I love coding. It's fun, and I went from homeless to buying a house. Do I support what big tech is doing to society? No, and there are many ways to be in tech that are not destructive
Without big tech how do you comment here ser? 😂
What are some ways that are less destructive?
what ways are less destructive in your opinion
@@lannyjr1042 look at galaxy brain here
Compared to working in big oil, planes, mining, automotive industry and related stuff, most of chemistry, a large part of manufacturing, marketing, gafam are somewhat reasonable industries to work in. Of course you can try to find something which makes more sense for your conviction but don't overcomplicate.
Engineering skills give you the ability to create solutions to problems. Your issue is finding worthy problems to build solutions for, rather than engineering per se, so don't throw the baby out with the bath water. Go find problems that affect millions of people that can be solved thru technology, scope it out, talk to like-minded people, then go do it. You will find higher purpose & fulfillment. You CAN do it.
I left software engineering career a year ago to focus on hardware engineering, which I wanted to do for a long long time (my degree is MS in EE in fact) - I find challanges in HW far more interesting than in typical software roles. My software skills are still relevant as occassionally I have to write some code, but vast majority is hardware design. So I can subscribe to what you are writing, it's all about finding an interesting context in which you want to work. I did not find a purpose on development of various software solutons I did (and I worked both for big known companies as well as my own startup), but I find it in my current job, even though the salary is slightly lower, but my mental condition is way better now.
@@pawelsto9801 Yeap. It's about the purpose. We are smart enuf to know not to lose most of our life to earning 💰 far beyond our basic need. We can either do this and finally look back on our death bed merely to lament how we have wasted our years pursuing the extra dough to satisfy ephemeral, fleeting nonessential needs, or go do what this life is worth.
I believe technology has advanced enough, to the point where we *could* have something close to a sci-fi utopia, but massive socioeconomic challenges are blocking the path. These are not technological problems. No React update is going to fix them.
We have millions of people sitting at desks staring at Excel spreadsheets and writing code…for what, exactly? What is humanity even trying to build? Does anyone even know? It’s mostly unnecessary nonsense. Fluff.
Squeezing the last drops of “value” out of the existing economy isn’t going improve human life. Releasing humans from their mundane pointless jobs, however, would help tremendously.
Control.
Utopia doesn't exist. Stop reading Marx
Pays the bills though. For a lot of people. That matters, unfortunately.
@@censoredeveryday3320 As if you have ever read any
We are all just trying to survive. And to survive better than others.
Nobody knows what is doing exactly
Good thoughts to express! Most conscientious people eventually give deep thought to the work that they do. I have found writing software and firmware for medical device companies strikes a balance between technology and humanity. Good luck in the journey down a new road...
I am visiting Mexico with my wife. She is 75 years old and I am 73. I wish you love and happiness.
BEATUIFULLY EXPRESSED
I am struggling finding a decent job in tech and bro is out here quitting tech and living life.
Also its kind of awesome that education in russia is free. That's a W over US.
But the quality isn't that consistent and often questionable
We imported them because they promised to create jobs. They didn’t.
@@tenminutetokyo2643 Sergey Brin was born in Russia.
Every russian i have met in life are well educated and speak fluent english. And they were average means Russians. I met them working at high end resorts on the east coast, they were here w/work visas working in the resort.
Being a female in tech puts you at the top of the list
You’re wise beyond your years.
Silicon Valley isn’t the only path to making a difference through technology. I’m building a startup to help my country progress in digital transformation, cut down on paper waste, and connect citizens more closely with essential services. Alongside that, I run a solo web development company, making it affordable for new businesses to establish a strong online presence. Technology has given me purpose and has been instrumental in helping me overcome depression.
I split my time between different cities-sometimes at my parents' place, other times at my sister's. Whenever I feel the urge to explore, I pack my backpack and set off to discover a new city. But I’ve come to realize that work isn’t everything; meaningful relationships, hobbies, and personal passions are essential for a fulfilling life.
But from start, do you begin by doing freelance, or attended a few gigs, present your ideas that related to what you are doing right now?
@@ahmadirfan7840 I started as a remote TSE while freelancing on the side. I worked on small projects to sharpen my skills and build my portfolio. Now, I’m focusing on my startup in the healthcare sector and running a web development company, which is similar to freelancing but with a bit more structure
Hey I like to work with your company
would be interesting for me too
Here's something for you to ponder from an OLD Budweiser beer AD jingle, "When it's RIGHT, you KNOW it; when it's GOOD, you FEEL it ! " I've learned NOT to ignore 'gut' feelings, when they come to me; they are God (or my guardian angel) guiding me. Have FAITH that we're each given some skill to make an honest, honorable, worthwhile living ... and you WILL discover yours ...
Oh my God, I understand you sooo much...
But I chose to earn some savings money to cover my basic needs, and live few years full-time contributing to open source. That's the thing that makes me happy, and aligns with my spiritual and moral compass much more, than commercial development.
We will miss you if you leave. i urge you to continue to share your wisdom that your life adventures have given you. Share who you are; your dreams; your insights. Perhaps you will continue to deliver messages, homilies about life and living. I came to you enjoying your motorcycle adventures. Personally, I hope you can continue sharing your travels and understanding of the world we live in. I encourage you to share your adventures, your travel through life and then anecdotes and metaphors of being a part of life on this planet. Don't leave us Kseniia.
Er schuilt een warm mens in jou, dat liefde en vrede met je mag gaan
„Live‘s short“ .. similar curriculum vitae here. After 20 years of doing that I went back home, back to the island, I grew up at. I found a job not in software engineering but in IT. It does not pay nearly as much as the jobs before and I miss coding a lot! But - I have gained in quality of life a lot, am now living with my family and everyone, I love and value around me. I am about to shift coding towards my free time as a hobby, almost just as I started :) I am trying to use my knowledge in projects for us as humans without side effects. Let’s see, how it goes :) Thanks for making that video - it is important!
Young lady youre brilliant, a mixture of natural intellect AND insightfulness to the what humans really need …..and dont need. This video really resonated with me.
Excellent post - I have been in tech for over 50 years and still designing chips using fpga's , building parts in 3d and then cnc for my airplane , and many other things . The tools have come a long way and my forcing function based on an enquiring mind is building stuff and has never been focussed on money " Choose the freedom of a humble life vs the slavery of extravagance " . I try and find balance by managing the signal to noise ratio and for this reason am not on facebook, x , twitter , insta - and only watch youtube selectively about tech, flying , music, product design and software. - good health and safe riding to you
Thank you for this video. It was so inspiring for me
I'm glad you found something that is more peaceful for you. I personally had a crisis when I was about 34 relative to technology and being an engineer, mostly with computers. I was able to get over it but the short stay away from it was rather costly for me. I had to re-orient my thinking around people and companies that realize that people time comes before work time. The teams I came across were awesome and the problems were minimal. We still show up for work a LOT and we even work from home sometimes but its all chill now.
This is a very bold and wise move. It takes a lot of courage to step away from something stable and familiar and chase after what truly makes you happy. I am going to take a walk. Good luck!
That walk - Following Your Highest Excitement. 👍🏽👍🏽
Finding true soul purpose is important. It could be different for different people/souls.
I quit IT after 22 years, I have a Data Warehouse and Business Intelligence specialty, and I worked on the financial area everything there is money(stress) 24/7, depression, etc etc, right know I do what I really like to do Im a professional photographer I run 15kms daily I only use my phone to attend my clients, no social media, and I use my computers just to edit my clients videos and photos, I wont return to IT ever, I love technology but not the approach that is being given to it. Thanks for your video!!!
Thanks for sharing your work/life experience with all of us. Coding to support the online revenue needs of retailing must feel like handing out "free" opioids at every public venue from town parks, to school yards, to concert halls.
Social media addiction is now a real, widespread thing, and it is having devastating effects on the next generations. The toxicity of the modern world is now everywhere: environmental pollution, multiple addictions, financialization of most human interactions, growing anxiety/depression/rage, and runaway surveillance capitalism.
The System will not correct these toxicities as they are the driving force behind corporate profits. It will keep going until it crashes into its self-created catastrophe. Hopefully there will be some wise people around then to help pick up the pieces and create a better, more nurturing and more meaningful future for humanity. Hopefully there will be something to embrace after the demise of 21st century technofeudalism dystopia.
Intelligence and deep values. Impressive and thought provoking. I know you said not to write thank you, but this video is a gift; an intellectual elephant turn.
“Intellectual elephant turn” - love this!
🤦 Simping BS. What was so intelligent and deeply valuable? Her lifestory which is NOT unique? Or BS statement like "go outside without any technology"? 😂
I will remind you: she said it and you watched it on big tech platform 🤣🤣🤣
Have fun during thinking about hypocrisy 😂
@@kseniiaadvA great video to the point ! However I have something to mention.
I have spent time to other Russian software engineers and I think that what I will mention now it would be to their mind too.
I have had the same thought since I started my career about purpose at work. However I was not as lucky or smart as you to land jobs that will make me a millionaire.
So I would like to ask you why to quit now that you are a millionaire and not 10 years ago. What you are saying is really easy to deduct and the majority of people feel it. The problem is what are the alternative options.
So in my opinion now you are stating a problem without a general method towards the solution.
What someone could do differently to support a family and find purpose at work ?
Thank you and I am sorry for being direct but I think you will appreciate it.
So she was supposed to communicate telepathically? @@mehow357
you look so shy but articulating such strong opinions greatly. cool! respect!
Thank you for sharing. I work in a so called Fortune 500 company and I feel the same way often . You will be missed.
commenters - i need help. i've been in tech and.. i physically sick from it. my wrist hurts and gets worse with time, my vision has suddenly gotten worse this year (longer work day with this job), constant headaches (probably from screen, unsure)... and i DO NOT love what i do. I am stuck with a very passive aggressive group that deliberately find TINY faults to highlight to the boss. i've done a good stretch of 15 years but now i am tired. i have NO OTHER SOURCE of income. i have NO SAVINGS. but i cannot do this anymore. open to suggestions please.. i really need to get out.. im suffocating
Regarding the wrist pain - maybe you have inflammation there that causes the pain, and if so omega 3 can maybe help. There are omega 3 pills that can be bought without a doctor's prescription. In addition, it can also be due to an ergonomic problem in the way you hold the computer mouse in your hand. When you sit with the computer, try not to constantly hold the mouse in your hand, but only while you activate the mouse. You may also learn some keyboard shortcuts that will allow you to perform actions using the keyboard instead of using the mouse.
Regarding the headaches - sometimes after the age of 40 you need glasses for close vision, and sometimes you need multifocal glasses. You can go to an optometrist and ask for an eye exam.
Regarding the attitude from the group - it looks like workplace bullying.
Try google "omega 3", "multifocal" and "workplace bullying" and you might find more information that will help you as long as you work there.
@a.dancer9508 thank you so much kind being. Yes I have omega at home but forget to take it, this is a good reminder and I will restart it. Thank you for your considerate and thoughtful reply
@@afkhoso Try logitech vertical mouse and logitech wave keyboard against wristpain. It helped me.
You have such big humanity in your heart. God Bless you.
Honesty at its best 👌
Wish you luck on your journey ✌️
We need more people like you in this world. Thank you for this statement and best of luck to you moving forward.
Beautiful home! Thanks for the video
В конце сильно. Оставил без дыхание, Спасибо ❤
I'm learning to code. Self-taught.
I'm told not to bother since AI will make coders irrelevant, but I don't care. I like this stuff and will continue to grow.
Wow, I'm so happy that I have found your channel. Good luck on your adventures.
Don't worry too much about what is next for you. Keep following what your heart is telling you and you will be a fulfilled and happy person. I once had money and was unhappy in life, once I started following what my heart was telling me my life became much fuller even without the big paycheck.
Agree with you here. Do what you’re passionate about and find others who feel the same. Then you’ll make it work. Life is a journey and it is your choice to fill it with the dreams you want not what a corporate wants you to fill it with.
Well-said. And I thought I was the only one with that mindset and feeling
I would recommend you to use your technology skills to improve human lives that way you can still pursue your passion for technology, science and live according to your values.
We all try to solve basic needs first. Once people accumulate enough wealth, some of them decide to teach others how to live. Now is the time to be ethical. Now is the time to give back. Not before we get set ourselves.
It is rather funny, to be honest, how people suddenly achieve enlightenment with enough money in the bank.
Good for you to realize things about your own life though!
Wow!! Much respect to you and your true values! Thank you!
I believe it's not just a company; it’s the customer who will seek affordable, high-quality products. This requires your company to compete fiercely, and to do so, you need more resources than your competitors. Therefore, sales play the most important role. The only hope is that culture can influence customer behavior.
Yes, my thoughts exactly.
Loved the talk. Wish you a great life ahead...
I agree with your video and liked it. All this marketing, ads, capitalism, just makes more people stressed, buying things they don't need to out-compete their neighbors who are also getting in debt. Yes, of course it leads to stress and suicide rates. It's just not sustainable. Where is all this consumerism leading to. Only more misery. Thanks for making the video. You are probably an empath and able to see and sense things around you.
By the way, I was learning Russian, made it through the cyrillic letters, war started while I was planning to visit there. Spasibo.
Hi Kseniia, I love your videos! But this one is so personal and really touched me. I share your love for motorbike adventures. I've had an idea for some time about how to help the local people and motorcyclists. I would love to share this idea with you. Please write to me at
What a remarkable journey your life has been. I’ve truly enjoyed your motorcycle videos and now you drop this incredible advice. Keep what you’re doing. And I get your point…
Sounds like you had quite a journey. There's more to life than money and holding down a high paying job, but for a lot of people earning a lot of money even at the cost of their values is a decision they have to make just so that they can support themselves or their families. I hope you're in a better place now and find your new path, I am still trying to teach myself the basics of full stack web development in my free time while working full time even though I am aware that a job as a web developer will not solve all my problems or make me feel any happier. I'm highly motivated by increasing my income potential while living in a high cost of living city (Los Angeles). We all go through our own journeys, but it sounds like you found peace by making our decision to leave your software engineering job. Take care fellow human ❤
"Most software today is very much like an Egyptian pyramid with millions of bricks piled on top of each other, with no structural integrity, but just done by brute force and thousands of slaves." ~ Alan Kay
Thank you and do have a good day
What you say sounds so familar and struck a cord. After 13 years I too called it quits after a couple multi-national tech companies wanted more from me than I was willing to give. Go out on your own, work for yourself, do what you wish, be your own boss. Your life will be the better for the effort that takes, and it does takes some serious effort. But it is all worth it, for both your self worth and peace of mind.
You seem exceptionally wise for your age. I'm an electronic engineer and I think you're right, capital order is a problem and in general common people like you and me aren't free to chose a healthy and respectful life if wanting to survive. I've saved enough to live in countryside and try to grow my own food as much as possible but capital order created good ways to discourage a life like mine too. It's hard to solve problems without helping the dark side, but if you search carefully and never repress your good values, you'll find a way.
Truly an inspiring story, well done you Kseniia! Thank you for sharing it. 👍👍
I was an electrical engineer. The theory and potential was very interesting but most of my work was control engineering and ultimately I just was not very good at it. So after getting fired too many times I bought a farm in Tasmania.
Wow. Powerful words
The purpose of life, it's hard to explain it. But if you feel that your life is lacking, despite of you doing well financially, it's time to move on.
Hi Kseniia, you can think about what valuable can do for certain organizations or companies that are looking for improved healthcare software, more effective energy software solution or something else that needs to be done in order to impact people's in a positive way comparing it to social media apps you mentioned. Lots of people would love to be at your position with skill and experience but also possibilities, especially those who has ideas but don't have skills yet, me included. Think again how positively you can contribute to society and even nature and get some money for it as well. Goodluck!
Spot on, Girl!
Успехов тебе в жизни, ты движешься в правильном направлении. Просто изучай как устроено мироздание, твори и живи с наслаждением ❤
Waliking is now an important part of everyday life . . . I am aware that I have too much screen time . . . consciously trying to reduce it.
I think we should make the most of the skills we have and continue to grow - caring and being mindful of others and our own needs.
You have also taken a path that matches your current needs . . . rather than what other people expect . . . that takes courage !
Now enjoying greater creativity through DIY skills, rebuilding my home.
Very inspiring story. Thank you. I wish you the best in your new venture.
What a wonderful young lady you are, but its 45 degrees and dark and about bed time, so I am not going for a walk. You would be a great person to talk to and have a coffee with many many times but I dought our paths will cross, I hope you find your path as there isn't anything you can't do. Thanks for making the future look brighter.
The person (having low wealth and much time) has to fit the job (not just tech), not the job has to fit the person, its always been that way. This may be improved a little by using tech to match jobs to job seekers. Take your solace where you can find it, sometimes even on the job.
I like to make the point that technology cannot solve the problem of "human nature", and most of the most serious problems we're facing today are tied to human nature in one way or another.
I used to live close enough to work that I'd walk to and from work every day (which took about 20 minutes each way), and I think that having those two breaks every day was a real benefit to me.
Best wishes to you.
go girl!
Respect.
Humility.
Hope.
Come to Scotland for a few weeks, on a bike, you’ll enjoy.
Always playing motorcycle videos in the background while coding in LabVIEW for a big company. I know this feeling.
Greetings from Mexico.
You should start a program or startup from home to guide people on some aspects of technology and make decent earning for yourself in the process ! You know, the world is a large ensemble of individuals, companies, other entities etc. and they will not give up their paths of maximizing revenue or profits, no matter how much pain it causes to a sensitive people like you ! Be pragmatic enough to protect yourself from avoidable pain !
Lastly, I add that I liked your video, your english narration style and your true emotion.
Love from Bengaluru, India 💖 Bythe way sister the snake plant is not good for abundance, you may study about it and you may consider to replace by some other plants. And I was a top techie too, I was a cybersecurity engineer in top banks in the UK and Belgium and my family and myself became UK citizens too over the years, however we still decided to quit and return to India. I am now happily retired for almost two years and I am just 48 years old and I did nothing to earn money for the past two years as I do not need to earn money anymore. And it was the right thing to do for myself and especially for my family and my young son. Nobody in my family regrets leaving western consumerist lifestyle and returning to a simple life embracing mother earth...
Not sure how this popped up for me (obviously 'the algorithm '), but am glad I saw your video, will forward to a couple of friends that are also in tech and also from Russia.
Best regards from Rocklin and Roseville, CA
Thanks for this, I am in a similar situation with a company.
So, I can really identify, Iam learning a lot, but low pay, really long hours. Very little time off. Quality of life is bad.
I get it-coding can be frustrating, and it’s not always peaceful, also for the end users. But if you ever decide to go back, maybe approach it as just a source of income. Try to detach a bit from it emotionally, and keep in mind that everything around us has lessons to offer. Staying mindful, even something as simple as focusing on your breath while working, can help bring calm and balance.
Good time for a sabbatical if you don't need the money. The industry is looking for the next big thing & scraping the bottom of the buzzwords for profits but it will rebound again. It will have a higher purpose again & the next generation will be stepping on themselves to get in.
I love this style and this is real human, thanks Kseniia, you are the greatest person I haven
really nice message, girl
I totally agree with you. Well said.
we are living in a world that prioritizes benefits over our human values. i felt like a brick in these structures, problem is who's gonna stop these capitalistic machines ? there's not a short supply of bricks it seems
This is the paradox of technology, i can both bring us together and seperate us at the same time.
I fully understand your sentiment and you have good reason to feel that way. J. Robert Oppenheimer was an American theoretical physicist and one of the very few people in the world that fully understood Einstein's theory of relativity. With that knowledge out of pure curiosity he learned a weapon of mass destruction could be made but Robert was a good man and only wanted to test his theory and meant no harm, however, the U.S government had different plans for this new found technology. It is said Oppenheimer literally fell down on his knees and begged military and government officials not to use it to harm anyone. Of course his request fell on deaf ears. Nagasaki and Hiroshima was it's first victims. Follow your heart and your decision is commendable!
Deeply agree with you. I have a bachelor's degree in computer science and I have no social networks but linkedin and youtube. I think technology is swallowing our society and destroying real relationships, with people and ourselves. Technology is also turning us lazy and dumb. I try to not to overthink about the subject but I would like to quit technology someday as well because I feel I am doing no good to the society in general terms. Nevertheless I'm trying to put my knowledge somehow useful and not harmful to the society and my environment.
Well done, Ksenia.
The evidence is that, as most process in biology, intelligence seems to be a self cancelling process, meaning, at a certain point, intelligence seems to be lethal, it might as well be a perfectly valid solution for the Fermi paradox.
I spent 18 wonderful years in Silicon Valley. For a while leaving between Spain and California. Always did things that felt meaningful to me. I enjoyed your video. There is one thing tou are very right about: life is very short.
Dear Kseiia, I saw a couple of your videos. I noticed that you have a Rather Expensive Motorcycle and all of the best riding gear. I knew that you had a good career, but I was not sure doing what. Then I was part of the video about the Russian Women who are Doctors in Guatemala. I thought maybe you are a Doctor.
When I was this video and heard how you want a simpler more stress free life, it made me keep thinking of all of My Amish and Mennonite friends. I live in Southern Michigan. I think you might like to meet some Amish people who still don't own automobiles and they travel by Horse and Buggy and do much of their Farming with horses. They are very self sufficient as far as raising all of their own food on their Farms. Canning food to have in the Winter ect.
Sorry, just sharing an honest thought here. You believe technology and social media are bad for humanity, so you quit your job in Silicon Valley. But now you work for RUclips (Google), one of the largest social media platforms owned by one of the biggest tech companies in the world. It seems like you simply switched job positions; you didn’t leave big tech - you’re still working in big tech.
I don’t mean to be rude. I sincerely wish you all the best in your new life journey. 🙏
I agree with you but I think that while riding motorcycle we also should avoid relying on eletronics overloaded bikes! Recently a videoblogger commenting on his trip through Colorado mountains mentioned that he accidentally ran into a group of young bikers riding tock trail machines manufactured in the 80s when gas still flowed by gravity to the carburetors! Honda introduced in 2023 a light&cheap dual purpose carburetor fedbike called xr150 in the US/Canada market, just to give a recent example. Thanks for your video!
@@kseniiaadv Not true. Vehicle technology has vastly i proved the reliability and performance. You may lament about the good old days but I can tell you having a distributor cap not arcing or a blocked float valve in your carburettor is no fun when you’re sitting on the side of the road trying to figure it out. Motorcycles like H2’s and Hayabusas wouldn’t exist without the technology we have today!!
The problem is not that companies want to generate money because that's their sole purpose. The problem is that you are not free, you are owned by job, or rather the contract you signed for. You can't do what you love to do. You need money to live. You have tasted freedom, and at the same time, you depend on money. Simple like that. So, look for a better balance or start your own business. Still, you need money to pay your bills. Either way, or you go all in and start your own business, or you find a rich man or work part time and compromise.
Hi Kseniia, I feel you perfectly, I worked for OSF Digital (SalesForce) in Romania.. I have quit for the exact same reason, unfortunately not many people think or feel like you, I know a lot of people "desperate" for a "good job", unfortunately for the majority it's like some kind of holy grail. Personally I never understood why "working at Microsoft" (just as an expression) is such a cultivated goal. On the other hand tho, there are some who start to realize it's meaninglessness
Civilized to Death- read this book people. Many great books give you different perspectives, this one can change your life.
Nice video dear ❤❤❤❤
How are you going to support yourself now? Do you have a family to take care of? Very curious to hear how you will navigate the challenges that result from this decision. Let us know. Most people who do this try their hand at being social media influencers, making money indirectly from these same ad supported platforms which you just admitted cause so much damage.
Free education does wonders!
Hardware Engineer here. I'm in Silicon Valley as well and I quit my job at Qualcomm in 2015. I have been consulting ever since (Straight RF, LLC). Yes, it is scary at times - even now. But, the life balance is, very much, worth it. You can do it!
Companies are pushed to raise revenues to increase share prices for their investors. The workers are just working to spin the wheels.
You should feel lucky to earn more than 100k/year.
Many people have to work 12 hours/day and do not get 1/3 of that salary.
You are right.. Most of time.. We are building software only which has no value for some people. Then why we are building these softwares ?
thank you
I agree with the general theme, but there is a gaping hole in what you're saying. Values are necessarily hierarchical in that you value some things more than others. For instance, if you value the environment, why? There must be a value above that. When we structure our values and trace them upwards, they lead to a singular point, the summum bonum, the ultimate good. I call that point God, but if that bothers people, you still cannot deny all values lead up a hierarchy to an ultimate good. You must structure your life to that and get rid of anything that doesn't fit, and in so doing, you will achieve purpose and fulfillment.
Yeah I'm a web developer with no social media. I do see the irony
You're doing it right!🙌
My advice to you: get a partner, get kinds (minimum 2, but better 3). This will give you a sense of purpose for the rest of your life and will make your life fulfilled.
I am also from Russia, but a bit older, so I lived a bit in the USSR. And my honest opinion, is that companies and individuals, who pursue revenue are the ones who make the world better and the ones who prevented this world so far from being blown up. As an opposite, the ones who peruse idealistic ideas (communism etc), are the ones, who create problems. So, there is nothing wrong in working in retail for the company, which peruse revenue.
"Enjoy your life it is short"
Technology and advancement of technology is what has kept me alive for decades.
I am an engineer and i feel tge same. No purpose, we need to group and do what it s really needed in each branches we are in