First Things First

In a previous post (you know the one; it's the only previous post I've got), I stated the primary purposes of this blog as developing my voice and building my brand. I stated that providing some benefit to you as only a secondary goal. Actually, not even a goal. More of a nice by-product if it happpens. Over the past week, I've concluded that I've gotten that hideously backwards. In the weeks leading up to starting this blog, I'd found myself consumed by a desire to dive deep into advancing my career as a software developer. I wanted to take courses, read books, start a blog, hone all of the skills and become great at what I do. I've since found that desire to be a self-destructive one. Earlier this week, during my morning prayer time, I was listening to The Ascent of Mount Carmel, St. John of the Cross' how-to guide of reaching spiritual union with God. In so doing, I was reminded of my priorities in life. I need to love God. I need to love my neighbor. And that's it. Those are my priorities. "Become a programming demigod" is not in the list. I found that what was consuming me was a sort of vanity. I wanted to be great at programming so that I could be great at programming. That's not to say there is no value in excellence as a developer. Far from it, there is much good to be done with great programming ability. But righteousness requires that one's skills be applied for the good of others. If the price of good coding is to neglect the needs and well-being of people, it's not worth it. Some examples of me already failing seeing myself getting derailed as a decent human being in this pursuit: 1. I decided to wake up 30 minutes earlier to train, with little serious consideration for the fact that the lost sleep may make me less decent of a person. It crossed my mind, but only to the extent of how I would justify it to my wife. I'm still planning to continue with it, but with the rule that if I notice it negatively impacting my ability to relate to people, especially my wife and children, I will abandon it. 2. We take company walks where I work, a brief 15-minute stroll down the street and back. It's a time to get a little bit of leg-stretching and be people together, technical and non-technical. While on one of these walks, I turned the conversation to asking what podcasts people listen to to get better at programming. It was a selfish act which derailed the conversation, excluded our non-technical co-workers, and was all about me. So with an eye to leaving selfishness behind and instead showing some love and serving my fellow man, the primary purpose of me throwing my thoughts and experience out there will be to help you out. If my marketability improves, well... That's cool. I pray that I can do that for you.