Where do you find your motivation? Are you really passionate about the project you’re working on? Is your goal to become the best software developer like a Kung Fu Master? Or… something else?
I remember back then when I was in college, our team can code up a project full of features and reasonable reliable in just a few weeks. Yes, the code might not be in the best shape, but I can remember that we used to have the project implemented in a passionate way. Why? Maybe it was because there are different teams working on the same project and we wanted to be the best team. Or maybe we wanted to get good marks so that we can graduate. Or maybe we were naive and thought the employer would mine what grade I got in course XXX.
After working at a company for around 2 years now, I’ve noticed that my fellow workers, including myself, feels less passionate about what we do. What should we do? What’s wrong with us?
If you’re working full-time at a company, what drives you to do what you do? Maybe… stock-option? bonus? a share of the revenue?
If you’re working by contract, what drives you to do what you do? Use the current contract to get the next big contract?
Please give me some feedback… I’d really like to know. :-)
Trying to get it done quicker so I don't have to look at it anymore.
ReplyDeleteQuit your job and do your own projects...if you can't do that, then work fulltime and do your own thing on the side. Build something you want/need...then you'll find your passion.
ReplyDeleteMark Fuqua
For many people, work is just work. It gives you a paycheque, pays off your bills, and puts bread on the table. For the most part, I see nothing wrong with this philosophy, really, as long as you fulfill your duties faithfully and diligently.
ReplyDeleteIn the mean time, explore what you really want to do and see if you can find where your passion lies. Can you turn that passion into something that pays the bills as well? If you can, go for it. If not, just enjoy it.
It is not like I hate doing software development. I still like what I do. However, sometimes it's because of the lack of passion that makes the project fails. Cost/Time overrun, unexciting features, inefficient, etc...
ReplyDeleteI would say to you, figure out what you really want to get out of life. If it has nothing to do with programming, then start looking for that other thing that does it for you. If it programming 'does' do it for you. Then start looking at all of those CFC and CFM pages as learning opportunities. Not just that you can do it, but ways to do it better, faster and easier. (yes, how to spend less time programming because that CFC you built for the last project is easily migrateable to other projects.) Then spend you time looking at the projects that you are working on and how they can be catalyst for ideas of what you can do on your own.
ReplyDeleteIf you are always looking to grow, then you will find ways to grow. My current situation would never have come to me without the intense desire to make the code I am working on at any given time, have some effect on the company's bottom line... Now I am part owner of the company and I am grateful to myself that I cared enough about the bottom line to make the advances that I did.
I find that software makes a big difference. Use tools that are pleasing to work with. I really like Coda and Sequel Pro on Mac OS X.
ReplyDeleteWhen an employer tells you what programs to work with... that kills the mood right there. An employer should realize that the workers know the game better then themselves - and let those employees make choices.
I am subcontracted by marketing firms to make their beautiful designs comes to life. Adding the interactivity by my own accord is what motivates me.
Knowing the site I am going to launch will have LOTS of eyes on it motivates me.
Having my name, not my employer's, on the portfolio piece motivates me.
Not giving 2/3 the profit to an employer motivates me. To be fair, employers pay LOTS of taxes for you!
Mostly, being a husband and father motivates me.
Stock options, profit sharing, etc = red flag! I read between those lines. It says "I'd like to treat you like a salaried employee but don't want to actually pay you for your work." Run away!
I won't attempt any psychological diagnosis of you, but as far as what motivates me?
ReplyDelete* Seeing a new project take form
* Solving hard problems
* Learning something new
* Beautiful, elegant code
* Control (I must admit)
* Thinking how many lines of code I DIDN'T have to write by using ColdFusion.
Good luck man. It sounds like you are in a rut. Try something totally new like Flex for a while.
I second what Brad said: the projects that are uninteresting and don't provide some challenge are the hardest to be motivated about.
ReplyDeleteI may be reading into this, but it sounds like you're not getting much of a quid pro quo reward for putting in a good effort on your projects, financially or socially (in college, your efforts were rewarded by good grades and the praise/respect of your peers and competitors).
Being in a similar situation myself, that makes it all the more important to find your own internal motivation for improving your coding skills and making your projects shine.
I think about my two kids and how much they love me and knowing that I could fail them by not doing my job is motivation enough. This also helps me not act spoiled.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing it wrong ;o)
ReplyDelete