I want to be a Craftsman
Simply being a Software Engineer is no longer enough for me.
I am a professional software engineer. I have been for about eight years now.
Over the years, I’ve dedicated countless hours to becoming a better engineer -- honing my technical skills, wrestling with complex problems, finding effective means of collaborating, and iterating on my own processes. However I've recently come to an unsettling realization... this isn't fun anymore.
The problems I solve at work aren't as challenging or interesting as they used to be. Working for a Company also comes with a fair amount of baggage and constraints. I still love working and exploring complex problems, but I'm spending more and more of my days frustrated rather than satisfied. Simply being a Software Engineer is no longer enough for me.
I’ve decided it's time for a change. I want to be a Craftsman -- defined as someone who produces artifacts in the world with an attention to detail and a continually increasing level of understanding.
I’m going to start creating things myself -- solving my own problems and the problems I see around me. The artifacts I produce will largely be code. Pieces of software. Applications and Utilities. But I don’t want my craftsmanship to be confined to the domain of my professional trade. I want to create more with my life.
You’re actually reading another one of my creations right now! I’ll be building and thinking in public. It’ll be a bit messy, but I’ll refine it as I learn and grow.
The public posts I make here will be my thoughts on Craftsmanship and some anecdotes from my journey of becoming a Craftsman. Here in this post, I’m mostly covering the "What". What do I mean when I say “I want to be a Craftsman”? I’ll eventually share more about the Why and the How. And of course, I'll keep you updated as my thinking and understanding on these topics evolve.
I’ll be creating paid posts, like Artifact Logs, which will showcase the things I’ve created, large and small. You’re invited into the walled garden if you’d like to take a peek at what I’m building.
I’ll be focused on solving problems with my creations. But merely creating artifacts, or solutions, isn't enough for me. I want to sharpen my skills and acquire new ones. I want to dive deep on complex topics and hone my understanding of what an "ideal" solution could be. I want to create something that I'm proud to point at and say, "I did that. That is the kind of Craftsman I am."
I'm redefining my role in life in pursuit of joy and satisfaction. I'd love for you to join me.
What does craftsmanship mean to you?