A few years ago, I was doing everything by the book.
I shipped tickets.
I followed the design spec.
I kept my head down and deployed code.
I thought I was growing.
But deep down, something didn't feel right. I wasn't solving real problems. I was just… executing.
🏭 The Reality of a Feature Factory
I started my career in what's now often called a Feature Factory - an engineering environment where:
- Product managers hand over features like checklists.
- Developers implement them without context.
- Success is measured by velocity, not impact.
Every sprint, it was:
"Here are your 3 tickets. Finish them by Friday."
I did what was expected - wrote code, merged PRs, attended standups.
But I wasn't thinking. I wasn't learning. I wasn't questioning.
And no one expected me to.
🔁 The Problem with This Loop
At first, it felt productive. But after a few months…
- I couldn't explain why a feature existed.
- I wasn't involved in any product decisions.
- Bugs kept reappearing - and I kept patching them the same way.
I realized I was stuck in a loop:
Code. Close. Repeat.
That's when I knew I had to change something - or I'd never actually grow.
💥 The Moment Everything Shifted
One night, I was fixing the same recurring bug again. I paused and thought:
"Why does this even happen so often? Is the design flawed?"
That question triggered a chain reaction.
Instead of blindly fixing it, I:
- Dug into the product flow.
- Spoke with a QA about the root behavior.
- Suggested a structural change to the feature.
And it worked. Not only did the bug go away - the user flow became simpler.
For the first time, I didn't just code.
I solved a problem.
🧠 How I Started Thinking Like a Senior Developer
From that point on, I realized:
Being a senior developer isn't just about experience.
It's about how you think. How you approach problems. How you care.
Here's what helped me make the shift:
1. I Started Asking "Why" Before "What"
I stopped jumping into code. Instead, I asked:
- What are we really trying to solve?
- Who benefits from this?
- Can this be done simpler?
These questions helped me write less code - and ship better results.
2. I Took Ownership, Not Just Tasks
Instead of saying, "That's not my job,"
I started saying, "Let's figure this out."
Ownership isn't about control - it's about care.
It builds trust, and trust builds leadership.
3. I Learned to Say "No" (With Empathy)
Earlier, I used to say yes to everything.
Now, I sometimes say:
"This might not solve the user's real pain point. Can we revisit it?"
Seniors don't just ship features - they challenge assumptions with humility.
4. I Started Thinking in Systems
I stopped thinking in isolated tickets and started thinking:
- How does this impact the architecture?
- Will it scale?
- Can this logic be reused?
This zoomed-out view helped me write more sustainable code.
5. I Measured My Work by Outcome, Not Output
I no longer cared about "how many tickets I closed."
Instead, I focused on:
"Did this improve the product? Help the user? Reduce friction?"
That's when I felt truly valuable.
🚀 You Don't Need a Title to Think Like a Senior
Thinking like a senior has nothing to do with your job title.
It's a mindset. A practice. A posture.
Whether you're a junior or mid-level dev, you can start today:
- Get curious.
- Think holistically.
- Question constructively.
- Own your code and your impact.
🧩 From Builder to Thinker
"A feature factory builds fast.
A problem solver builds right."
You're not just here to write lines of code.
You're here to create clarity in chaos. To ship value, not just features.
You have more influence than you think.
Start thinking like a senior - even if no one's given you the badge yet.
💬 Final Thought
If you're stuck in the "code → close → repeat" cycle… stop.
Zoom out.
Ask "why."
That's where your journey from feature factory to real-world engineer begins.
🔁 You Might Also Like
🔍 Overcoming Impostor Syndrome in Tech: My Personal Story and Real-World Tips
🧠 How to Escape Tutorial Hell: 5 Steps to Finally Becoming a Real Developer
👨💻 About the Author
Nirmit Kotadiya is a full-stack developer and writer who helps developers go from passive learning to confident building. He shares real-world coding tips, mindset shifts, and practical ideas to grow in tech — and in life.
Build things that make you proud.
Share ideas that make you better.
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🐦 Twitter/X: @NirmitKotadiya
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