zlacker

Let's say for example Software as a whole suddenly crashed. It's now one of the worst paying jobs you can possibly get, while being a coal miner jumps up as one of the most profitable jobs. Would you immediately sign up and start working in the mines? Would you be physically fit enough for it?

There are large amounts of cultural and career inertia that you have to overcome to 'pivot' your career towards something wildly different. Not everyone can pivot towards something better especially as times change, education changes and people change. My father never graduated highschool and for him, fishing paid better than other opportunities. It was the same for my step-father.

It was also all that they knew how to do. There were few retraining programs (that they couldn't afford even if they could) and to them, their career was their life. Their friends did it, their parents did it. It was their entire identity.

What I'm doing is effectively the pivot away from the family career. It doesn't change the fact that it left a generation in the dust.

>>fzeror+(OP)
My whole point: things rarely "suddenly crash" but you still have to keep an open eye and connect the dots and take action or at least advise your kids and help them take action. I totally agree that there is a lot of cultural and career inertia (I have a similar story like you but in different context and part of the world).