It was back in the 90s when we were at it....

Besides all the willy waving... as you just illustrated - the contracting market isnt exactly what it used to be. 200k is an unusually high rate to get in 2019 and certainly not without good experience and network. And there probably was a reason why you accepted a permanent position for what I assume less money... because you know that the market is bad. So no young guy can base his plan on the experience you made back then... IT is a great way to get a decent job relatively easily. But it is far from hitting the jackpot.

FWIW my full package now is better than when I was contracting in '07

Oh yeah, just for Treverus

I´d say my full package looks better than yours.

And I guess you have a big car too

Making it big means making millions in a year. Not a paltry 200 thousand.

I agree. IT contracting doesn't make you rich but can give a good income at maximum.


To make it big, you have two options:
1. Develop a product and sell it
2. Have people that work for you


In all other cases, your maximum income is limited to daily rate * number of days.

Big cars are not really a good indication for a full package...

If you say so

Restricting this to legal ways:
1) become a professional athlete in a popular field
2) become rockstar
3) become a specialist in an area where great value is generated (e.g. trader, banker)
4) be lucky by joining a very successful startup very early pre-IPO, almost in any role
5) work your butt off and become an executive at a 'normal' company and get bonus, equity, etc.

Only nr 5 is a long term sustainable career but it requires immense effort (in addition to talent, luck, etc.).

So, I suggest you just marry a rich woman as somebody else already alluded to. I wish I had done the same!

Tip of the day:

Get hired by Credit Suisse and then become one of the 1'070 so called "Material Risk Takers".

As such a key risk manager you will get an average compensation of 1.5 Mio CHF.


https://insideparadeplatz.ch/2018/12...655-millionen/

Anyways, make it big means different things to different people. Big means happy for me. Happy today.

Come on, get off your high horse. It's clear what the original poster meant.

Omtatsat ?

Just trying to retire early make 3million fast as possible and not die from stress or go to jail. So far it will take me 30years >.< i was hoping it could do a little faster.

So to sum up.

Option 1 (basics - good option but need to be techsavy)
IT contracting, as a good options but kind of capped at around 200k in todays market. Getting permanent job at bigtech probably a better experience.

Option 2 (hitting the millions - likely burnout)
Senior banker, seems to be the most likely way to go, but probably not worth it when it come to life quality. Correct me if i'm wrong. Requirements to be a senior banker i guess would be a masterdegree in finance and 10-15years work experience at a tier 1 bank? Likely 80hours workweek for 10-15years. Not sure how many people can actually handle that.

Option 3 (no limit but close to impossible)
Start a great company/product many people want to buy. (Be among the 5% of companies that do not go bankrupt.) I know a few guys the did this but most were setup with wealthy parents from early age and very few just went from zero-hero. Extremely difficult to succeed and actually cash out at the end, but happens. I think the Facebook/Google stories are extreme outliers and bad references.

Any other new suggestions?

This thread started a year ago. Perhaps time to actually do something instead of still figuring out how to make it big

Oh it's moving. I have 200k now but would like it to go a bit faster Just wanted to reactivate the topic. Do you have some new suggestions?

So you seems to have experience. What are you suggestions Thanks

@Treverus So what is hitting the jackpot? You come with no ideas. I'm trying to find what to do not to get reminded i suck