Mark Lee, I salute you! I was inspired by his story (I know Mark in person) and re-assessed my Ph.D. track in Educational Psychology. I chose to quit despite having 2 years of work under my belt so I can start earning to give earlier and so that I would have more free time in my life to pursue high-impact activities such as promoting effective philanthropy in others.
Here is a fantastic essay that brings together a lot of research studies that strongly suggest we can be very happy despite giving away a significant portion of our income: http://www.givingwhatwecan.org/our-pledge/number-one
A helpful piece of advice came from Nick Beckstead, a co-founder of the Rutgers chapter of Giving What We Can. He told me to consider that if I started working earlier I would earn more across my entire lifetime, and the amount would be equal to what I earn at my highest-paid years (around the age I retire) rather than the lowest-paid years (when I just start). This was a powerful consideration when my goal was to give as much money to charity across my life as I could. Starting even a year earlier, and choosing to give 50% of my income, I now stand to give at least $50,000 more, helping thousands more individuals than I would otherwise.
Posted a comment in Project Launch: Effective Animal Activism:
Exciting times! I suspect this will be the GiveWell of animal charities :)
Posted a comment in Sunk Costs in Careers:
Mark Lee, I salute you! I was inspired by his story (I know Mark in person) and re-assessed my Ph.D. track in Educational Psychology. I chose to quit despite having 2 years of work under my belt so I can start earning to give earlier and so that I would have more free time in my life to pursue high-impact activities such as promoting effective philanthropy in others.
Posted a comment in Should we sacrifice doing what we love to make a difference? part 1:
Here is a fantastic essay that brings together a lot of research studies that strongly suggest we can be very happy despite giving away a significant portion of our income: http://www.givingwhatwecan.org/our-pledge/number-one
Posted a comment in What's the best careers guidance you've ever had?:
A helpful piece of advice came from Nick Beckstead, a co-founder of the Rutgers chapter of Giving What We Can. He told me to consider that if I started working earlier I would earn more across my entire lifetime, and the amount would be equal to what I earn at my highest-paid years (around the age I retire) rather than the lowest-paid years (when I just start). This was a powerful consideration when my goal was to give as much money to charity across my life as I could. Starting even a year earlier, and choosing to give 50% of my income, I now stand to give at least $50,000 more, helping thousands more individuals than I would otherwise.