Forget Followers, Chase Fulfillment
From Tech Obsession to Writing Rebellion, A Perspective from a Veteran Coder
I've been working as a developer for almost 25 years, and it's something I’ve always enjoyed. It's not a job for me; it's been this crazy obsession. I'm always trying to learn more, diving into new tech and figuring out how things work.
Why did I stick with it for so long? Well, for one, I genuinely enjoy it. There's something about coding that clicks with me. But let's be real—it also pays pretty well. I've been lucky enough to get some great opportunities along the way.
As I'm getting older, I'm starting to wonder: what else is out there? Don't get me wrong, I have zero regrets about my career choice. I've built something solid, and I've picked up skills that are useful pretty much anywhere. Problem-solving, logical thinking, attention to detail—that stuff is gold in any field.
Still, there's this part of me that's curious. Have I missed out on other cool stuff because I've been so laser-focused on tech? It's not that I want to ditch programming or anything. It's more like... I want to see what else I can do with all these skills I've built up.
That's when I decided to explore writing as a new avenue for expression and growth. It's like using my problem-solving skills on words instead of code. Writing is new territory for me, but it's exciting in a familiar way. I can take all this experience I've got and share it in a different way. Plus, it lets me connect with people outside of, you know, lines of code.
When I started, I was cranking out some articles on Medium, but I kind of lost my way with it. A lot of my focus was on vanity metrics. Yeah, I have a decent following on Medium, but as a lot of people know, it doesn't take much to grow a following. But are you getting people who are actually reading your stuff? I'm not getting a lot of that. So that became discouraging.
So I stopped… This was late last year.
But, coming back to it now, it reinvigorated me. I published a few more articles in late July. It's more about relighting that passion. Trying again, I will look at it from a new angle. I will not chase metrics. Instead, I will write to connect with people and for the sake of writing. If people find me and want to subscribe, perfect. If not, then it is what it is.
This new approach isn't limited to one platform. I've taken it to LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) as well. With X, I've had some growth. Two or three years ago, I tried to do things but didn't grow at all. I'm lucky if I gained 10 followers back then. Whereas now I've actually doubled my following. It's a simple formula: write what resonates with you. Respond to and engage with people. Don't chase metrics. Over time, you build connections with people.
I'm focused on building connections and relationships with people. These connections aren't just about personal growth - they're the foundation for something bigger. That's why I'm doing this. I also look at life experiences—things that I can share and turn into inspiration. You get used to a routine. But then, life happens, and you must change it.
That's the one constant—change.
I guess this is like an introduction to me. Normally, you start off with the introduction, but I guess it's better late than never. I see this publication as an attempt to connect with people. I want to share my views and my experiences. I want to show how I see things and how to deal with them. How do you calm your thoughts and feelings? How do you turn them into actions that get you where you want to be?
That's what I want this to be.
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