In this video I'm talking about passion and why, contrary to a popular opinion, I believe it is not necessary in order to be a good software developer.

I realize my take might not be very popular. Do you agree with it or do you thinkit's impossible to be a good developer without passion for coding?

Outline:

0:00 Intro
0:46 Passion in other jobs
2:59 Passion in software development
3:58 How to be good at anything
5:39 Why employers abuse the word "passion"
7:34 Job like any other
8:30 Outro

Notes

Intro

• passion is mentioned often in job offers
• I think not only passion is not necessary to be a good developer, also I think companies don't care about it
• so why is it so commonly threw around as a requirement?

Non-passionate success

• I have a dentist I go to whenever I'm in my hometown
• he always does great job and I can trust him
• stomatology is his job, but not his passion
• Giannis Antetokounmpo
• huge basketball talent, but preferred football
• started playing to help his parents
• took him 2 years to realize his talent and take it seriously
• worked hard because he was used to working hard, not because he was passionate about basketball

Passion does not mean skill

• I've worked with some great programmers
• some of them were passionate about coding
• they do side projects and try new things in their spare time
• some of them have other passions they follow
• during work they do their best, and after work they spend time with their families, they travel, make videos or take photos
• I've also worked with average of below average programmers
• among them were people doing it purely for money, but also people who are passionate about coding

How to become better

• talent + hard work + smart decisions
• not all are equal
• these are only internal things, of course there are external factors like wealth or luck
• where does the passion fit here?
• passion can keep you motivated to work hard
• passion can help you make smart decisions
• but passion itself is not a must have here

Is passion useless?

• not at all!
• I'm sure there is correlation between passion and success
• passion will keep you going
• the passion itself does not make you good
• lack of passion does not make you bad
• programming is a profession like any other
• you can do it whatever your motivation is
• it's a relatively easy market, you don't need to be among the best to make a good living