While mastery can apply to any profession, in this post I will focus on its significance in programming and development.
Becoming the best version of yourself isn’t easy. However, the key consideration is this: if you’re willing to invest several years of your life in learning to become a master, the knowledge and rewards you gain will benefit you for the rest of your life.
Mastery isn’t just about sitting endless hours in front of a computer. It affects every aspect of your life—discipline, health, communication, and more.
Reasons to become a Master
Money
I am not judging but if money is your motivation, then why not. Specialists are paid exceptionally well for their expertise.
Reputation
Even more valuable than money is the reputation that comes with mastery. It opens doors to opportunities: exciting projects, networking with fascinating people, traveling, and more. These are things that remain out of reach for many.
Did you know that American actor Denzel Washington hasn’t auditioned for a role since winning an Oscar in the late 1980s?
Offers
When you’re a master, job offers are no longer a concern. You won’t even need to apply; companies will seek you out for your skills.
Large companies would rather pay well for a master than hire multiple mediocre individuals.
Poetry
You write code that is a joy to read, a masterpiece studied by others.
Simplicity
You write clean, easy-to-understand code that anyone can maintain with ease.
Speed
What takes you days today will take only hours as a master. Your experience enables you to write code so quickly that you’ll wish you could type faster the code you already wrote in your head.
Foresight
You’ll anticipate potential problems in advance, designing software that’s easy for your colleagues to implement. From testing and metrics to debugging and logging, you’ll have it all covered.
Final words
What do you want to do instead? Mediocre people have a harder time getting employed because there are too many of them. They are also the first ones to be fired.
Thus, becoming a master isn’t just a matter of preference—it’s a necessity.