A Millennial Tech Worker Reflects on Industry Hype Cycles and Burnout
By
Elena Verna
Crispy enough to crunch, soft enough to enjoy. A good bake.
Summary
A reflective first-person account from a millennial tech worker who has witnessed major industry shifts over the past decade — from cloud migration and digital transformation to the rise of SaaS, remote work, and product-led growth. The article explores the emotional and professional toll of constant change, questioning whether the tech industry's relentless pace is truly progress or just motion. The author expresses mixed feelings about burnout, hype cycles, and the unanswered questions lingering beneath the surface of tech culture.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledI've been in tech long enough to think I'd already lived through the big shifts.
Every company suddenly needed to become a software company (whether they had any business doing so or not).
Recurring revenue became our SaaS religion.
Remote work exploded, then partially un-exploded.
A lot of mixed feelings and unanswered questions.
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