I Get to Make Things

The other day I was reflecting on exactly why I loved my job as a software developer and I came to a very simple conclusion. It’s because I get to make things.

Could there be an innate desire in us as humans, to create? It seems to be an integral part of who we are as a species. We love to create things and we enjoy the results of other’s creations. It is a real privilege, as a software developer, to get paid for doing what is naturally fulfilling.

At the core of my work as a software developer, I have an incredible freedom to be creative in my day to day work. It is what helps me look forward to each day of work.

Now, it hasn’t always been this way. There have been times when I’ve been stuck in a rut, pushing out mediocre code, doing the bare minimum that allowed me to just finish the job. In that state of mind, there was no joy in the work and it all became tedious. I found that I had to actually work to find joy in my work. Improving my craft through reading books and related websites, taking pride in the end result, not being satisfied with mediocrity. All this contributes to not only being better at what you do, but it also makes the work enjoyable.

Now whether or not you are a software developer, I hope you have a job that gives you the freedom to create something. Its a great feeling to end a day of work and be able to say to yourself, “I made something today”.