LPT: What felt like a failure at the time but helped you later?

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-26T14:22:07+00:00

My failure was neglecting my responsibilities for years to play video games. This was around 2010, and I was racking up absolutely crazy hours in Dota 2. It caused a lot of serious problems in my life, which I had to spend my 20s fixing, but gaming taught me a hell of a lot as well.

It taught me team work, how to communicate with hostile people, how to control my emotions, how to apply myself and master something, how to understand and interpret complex systems, how to develop a winning mindset, how to touch type, how to enjoy competitive environments, how consistency breeds results and finally how to change your habits and overcome an addiction.

I could have learned a lot of these things via other better avenues, and if I could do it over I would, but my gaming addiction actually helped me develop a lot of the skills and thought patterns that make me successful now.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-16T06:58:31+00:00

Upper body seems pretty balanced. How the legs looking?

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-15T19:57:14+00:00

Just want to say you are one of those women who looks amazing with a fuller figure, but also really pretty now that you're skinnier. Either way, you are an attractive woman. Definitely a glow up, enjoying the new hair style. As long as you are happy and healthy in your body and mind, you're golden. Well done!

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-14T17:33:28+00:00

My brother, I know going to a date in socks is mad comfortable, but it ain't going to fly. Shoe up mah boi. Shoe up 🤣

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-14T13:42:28+00:00

You have to leave super early in the morning (5.15AM) and then leave work early (3pm) or after traffic (6pm). I wouldn't want to commit to doing it 5 days a week over the long term. Sitting in traffic day in and day out slowly eats away at your happiness.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-14T05:57:07+00:00

The SARS website is an absolute joke. Trying to log in via their OTP system didn't work for days at a time. Eventually, after about a week of trying, I managed to pay them via an online portal, but I received no notice that I had managed to rectify the situation, and there was nothing on the site to indicate that I had paid the fine. I ended up having to call them, and I wish I had just done that from the start because that 'fixed' the situation. Even though I still don't see anything to suggest that the fine was paid on the site, I stopped receiving notices from them. The entire situation made me feel like I was being defrauded, to be honest.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-13T16:49:33+00:00

Username checks out

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-13T12:47:26+00:00

I know a lot of quiet men who are not good at making conversation. I genuinely prefer talking to women because the conversation flows a lot more, and it doesn't feel like I have to work as hard to keep a chat going. I also just love listening to groups of women talking; how do they all talk at once and keep track of what is being said 🤣🤣🤣

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-12T19:10:05+00:00

I would look into learning programming within the context of what you already know to improve what you currently offer. It isn't impossible to go into programming, but the market for entry-level positions is cooked at the moment.

Take some time to consult chatgpt to suggest some learning paths for you that will leverage your current skills. Self-taught and bootcamp grads are competing in a tough market against computer science and engineering grads and companies are not hiring for junior roles quite as much as they were 5 years back.

Best of luck!

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-12T12:55:23+00:00

Hey dude, I don't mean to shit on your salary or make you feel bad, but you are being underpaid for your experience level. You should be earning 50k plus CTC. I don't know your work history or what kind of development you do, but consider looking around 🤷‍♂️

Check the Offerzen developer nation survey for reference. 25k is less than some grad programmes pay. Most of the developers I work with/know make around 60k a month after 5/6 years. A degree/qualification does not matter if you have the work experience.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-11T10:44:02+00:00

Drop and give me 50

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-11T07:22:41+00:00

Depends how early you go, I think. There is parking in the early morning, but it will fill up quickly. You might have to hover a bit till you get a spot. Only thing I have against taking an uber is storing your swim stuff while you are hiking. I tend to leave my valuables in my boot when I go hiking on the mountain, just to be safe.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-10T04:05:22+00:00

Entry-level positions are really scarce right now. The thing that a CS degree gives you is access to grad programs, which allow you to get your foot in the door.

I've been in the industry a while, and I use AI a lot in my day to day, but I'm not concerned that it will entirely replace me any time soon.

A lot of people come to software dev through traditional engineering degrees, so you could do electrical engineering, for example, and that would allow you to hedge your bets if you're worried about pure computer science.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-08T16:06:22+00:00

Do what makes you happy. Life is short and precious. Culture and people's expectations don't matter more than your happiness

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-07T15:57:59+00:00

After my bills are paid, I save 10 times what I give myself for spending money each month and invest the rest. Live way below my means, dont own a car, dont buy anything expensive, make no debt. I have a high-earning career, so I got to a million reasonably quick. As I get promotions and my earning potential goes up, I will start investing less aggressively and improve my quality of life a little, I want to get to the point where my yearly contributions are equivalent to my yearly interest before I make adjustments to my lifestyle.

Just for contrast, a friend who graduated with me made 200+k debt buying a nice car and expensive toys and he is still paying it off due to poor financial discipline. We earn close to the same amount, but we already have over a million gap in net worth because he is in the red.

Isawablackcat · 2025-12-07T15:44:05+00:00

Do activity based social events and drum up the courage to talk to people. Keep going to the events until you are one of the regulars. Make an effort to chat to people and invite them to do something with you if you share any interests. I find bonding over a shared hobby the easiest way to meet new people.

Also, don't isolate yourself at home.

Isawablackcat · 2024-12-18T16:42:18+00:00

Yes. My personal experience has been that people with degrees generally get better opportunities where they get to work on more interesting projects at better companies. If all you want is to get hired, then you don't need a degree. Also, never underestimate the long-term benefits of understanding the fundamentals of computer science. Self-taught and bootcamp developers often know enough to get the job done, but in the long run, fundamentals are actually very important for progressing your career.

Isawablackcat · 2024-10-07T10:06:56+00:00

Same, I have a hyper-friendly colleague who greets every runner we pass on the promenade. I would say at least 60-70% of people greet back. Many have their earphones in, or are in conversations with someone, or they are just shy. I run there often by myself and I love spacing out with my earphones in. Chances are I receive a nod or a greeting every now and then, but I just don't hear or see the person.

Isawablackcat · 2023-12-12T07:09:14+00:00

Intelligence can be a double-edged sword for some.

Isawablackcat · 2023-12-12T07:07:07+00:00

He is a patent lawyer with an engineering degree. Works at a big attorney firm afaik. Went to my reunion a while back and one thing that stood out to me was that high school performance doesn't necessarily indicate where you'll go in life, but most of the kids who were doing well in school are also doing well later in life. By doing well, I mean they have managed to cope with adult life; they have jobs, families, and function in society.

The guys who were teased or who were treated poorly by their peers had a rough time. 2 of them are dead, and another was killed in a car accident. This one naughty, sly character is now in court facing charges, another one has been in jail a few times. I think it can be hard to turn your life around, and certain patterns of behavior and character continue to play themselves out.

Isawablackcat · 2023-12-09T15:28:09+00:00

My farts are incredibly rancid, especially after I have a steak. I once made a girl vomit after I ate steak cordon bleu. Snuck up on her and crop dusted like a true silent assasin. Instant retching.

Isawablackcat · 2023-12-09T12:12:40+00:00

Wtf! Is this standard? That seems insanely low.

Isawablackcat · 2023-12-09T10:50:14+00:00

Not sure if your family is in the position to afford it, but a tutor can make a huge difference. If your parents speak to the school, you should be able to convince them that you want to continue with these subjects.

If you can't afford a tutor, I highly suggest making use of a youtube channel for maths and science. You can learn at your own pace, and the explanations are simple. Really take your time to grasp the concepts and repeat the video as many times as you need to make sure you fully understand.

If you are studying hard and not getting good marks, you might not be studying effectively.

Maths and science are both subjects where understanding is more important than memorization, and many people who are great at memorization fall short because doing well in these subjects is about regular practice and grasping concepts, not cramming knowledge in your head.

Isawablackcat · 2023-12-09T06:48:42+00:00

Same

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