We're told throughout our years in school to spend extra time and work on the areas that need improvement. But is that really sound advice? Does an artist who is gifted really need to work on their algebra? Does a programmer really need to spend time having a better understanding on the affects of music in society? Of course not. Now I'm not saying these areas aren't important... they are. To some people.
Each person is unique and has a unique set of interests and talents. Why are we not spending more time honing in those skills and making them better? Why do we bother making something mediocre less mediocre? Why not make something good great!
If you're a programmer that loves working in the front-end UI but dreads writing complex database queries or obscure APIs, then just do front-end UI stuff and get better at that. Don't spend time crafting something you're not good at or don't like when you could be getting better at something you do like.
"Well I have to do SOME database work" you might say. Probably, yes. But how much is up to you. Each of us in our roles at work have a certain freedom to craft our profession how we see fit. If you don't like writing in TSQL, speak up! If your job requires you to spend 90% of your day in something you don't want to do, then you are what is known as "being on the wrong seat in the bus". Maybe you're even on the wrong "bus". Take time each week to change something about your job, no matter how little, to craft your profession to what you want it to be. For example, if I want to only do front-end work, then a good plan for me would be to study a topic and give a talk on it. Speak to leaders and other developers about what you've learned and show that your passionate about it. Pretty soon you'll be know around the office as the go-to guy for everything frontend.
The happiest people in their professions don't have magical, perfect jobs. They have jobs that they have spent time cultivating and creating. What are you doing to create your perfect job???
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