tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post9049315934546074236..comments2012-03-05T14:17:46.999+02:00Comments on Offir's random thoughts on... stuff.: 4 Is The New 5Offirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03982485371655249234noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post-35880007308381964912012-03-05T14:17:46.999+02:002012-03-05T14:17:46.999+02:00Thanks for the long and educated comment, Miron! :...Thanks for the long and educated comment, Miron! :)<br />Well, as you said, time will tell, but generally speaking, even though I see your point – I don’t think salaries are going to drop drastically, if at all, and maybe on the other hand they will raise the age of retirement, which will balance this “economic equation” from the other end, so we will still consume “as much as we should”…<br />Let’s stick around in the same company and see what day (or year) brings! :)Offirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982485371655249234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post-71080239993131501942012-02-13T10:56:28.686+02:002012-02-13T10:56:28.686+02:00One of the reasons I decided to join AT&T was ...One of the reasons I decided to join AT&T was the good ol' days in MobiMate I had with you and Ofer (and for a short time with you too Erez, don't be offended :)).<br /><br />You forgot to mention one important factor that may drive your dream into reality. Unemployment. In some western European countries, unemployment is reaching a frightening 30% of the general population in the working age (well, probably less in high tech, but still). There are talks of reducing the work week into 4 days (but keeping corporate working 5 days a week) so that more people could enter the employment cycle. That’s all about the economy, dummy, and it will make your dream come true, unless…<br /><br />Unless it will bounce against the opposing forces of the universe. Let me tell you a little story. One of my previous bosses (let’s just say that his founder was very fond of Kabala) was a strong believer in hard work. His idea of hard work was working late hours, 24 hours a day if possible. I failed to convince him that it will not drive productivity up, but will surely drive quality down (have you tried to debug a regex in 4 am?). While the meek succumbed to his whims, I insisted in working a reasonable 10-11 hours a day, and lo and behold – my productivity was the highest in this team. So for this guy, a working week of “only” 4 days will be a disaster.<br /><br />Another dark force will be the corporate themselves. The whole consumer economy is based on the thin balance between work and free time. In our free time we need to consume our earnings from our work time. If we work less (and possibly earn less) we will consume less, but will have more free time to spend. The consuming society is not good at spending quality time, and this can yield sociological difficulties that may be worse. Only societies like the Indian culture (well, they actually doesn’t work even when they are at work, so let’s rule them out) which balance the person daily life, will appreciate such gift. <br /><br />Well, that’s all on that. I’m not sure I will see it in my life, but I’m younger than Kurzweil, so maybe I will be around for the singularity.<br /><br />Cheers,<br />MironMiron Ophirhttp://blogs.ophir.org.ilnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post-59584743417682649202012-01-18T18:33:35.426+02:002012-01-18T18:33:35.426+02:00It's a deal, mate!It's a deal, mate!Offirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982485371655249234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post-82844567798291370772012-01-18T18:31:43.524+02:002012-01-18T18:31:43.524+02:00We'll be home, nursing the new baby :P
BTW, si...We'll be home, nursing the new baby :P<br />BTW, since that vacation two years ago, Naama solemnly believes that you folks actually live up there... Perhaps next summer then?Erezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12253971140104710537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post-77223878063332230802012-01-18T18:22:47.246+02:002012-01-18T18:22:47.246+02:00Well, mate, one of the things I liked at AT&T,...Well, mate, one of the things I liked at AT&T, and it took me a while to get used to it, is the "forced vacation" on August (and now maybe also on April??).<br />I don't like being told when to go to vacation, as it takes part of the fun in planning a vacation (some sort of childish issue I guess... :) ).<br />Yet, since having that long weekend with you guys in the north couple of years ago - I truly appreciate that "vacation de facto " thingy!<br />So, where are you guys during this year's shutdown? :)Offirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03982485371655249234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-121760765031616532.post-23748675881891951432012-01-18T18:14:44.072+02:002012-01-18T18:14:44.072+02:00First of all, Ofer, Miron and yourself are indeed ...First of all, Ofer, Miron and yourself are indeed a winning team, as I got to work with both Ofer and Miron at Worldmate too and now with the three of you at AT&T :-)<br />Ok, like Product Managers do, let's start with definitions: What is a vacation? According to your employer, it is the time you declare as physically away from work. However, since nowadays, we are hooked to our workplace through various technological instruments we are inclined to check emails and answer phone calls or even attend Web conferences during vacation time.<br />On the other hand, while at work, you are connected to "life" via the same technological instruments. You accept calls from your wife and call the insurance company when you need to or browse to your bank account.<br />So as the barriers between "work time" and "vacation time" become more and more vague today's "vacation" concept becomes obsolete.<br />With that, I believe that the idea of vacation is super important to preserve, as one needs to have the legitimacy to "switch off" the "work world" and focus on the things that one works for :-)Erezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12253971140104710537noreply@blogger.com