How to Get a Raise

My "How to Get a Raise" comment became one of the most popular I've ever made at Hacker News - obviously this topic is important to people. I'll repeat the short version here, and I'll also give more detailed analysis for people who like to know why things work. Here we go -

The question was, "Why do business analysts and project managers get higher salaries than programmers?"

My reply -

Because programmers don't ask for more money often enough.

The Absolute Biggest Mistake I've Made While Traveling

Leaving places where everything is right "just because."

I just arrived in Beijing. The air is cold and crisp, the pace is fast, people are wearing suits and carrying briefcases and the general vibe here is I'm on a mission.

I hate cold weather except in small doses, and I haven't spent more than two weeks in a cold-weather place during a cold time of the year since... I don't know when, it's been a long time. A few years.

I forgot how the cold makes people move fast, crisp, not dally, not lounge about... it's refreshing. I feel like I'm in New York a little before Christmastime, which (shitty cold weather aside) is one of my favorite times in one of my favorite places in the world.

But let's about traveling (and life) mistakes. The biggest mistake I've made, by far, is leaving a place where I'm very happy or productive or I've got a good workflow. Occasionally, everything is just right somewhere... and when everything is just right, I'd recommend you milk it for all it's worth.