DEV Community

Discussion on: How to Write Software: 5 Lessons Learned from Running Businesses

Collapse
 
sandordargo profile image
Sandor Dargo

It's a very interesting article, thanks Erik. Your last point is particularly interesting. Yes, (y)our pride is irrelevant to the business. That's completely true.

But how much is the business' pride relevant to the developer on a salary? Especially if we don't talk about a startup.

I could ask a simple question.

"Bob, [...] I don't see another dime, so where's the motivation?"

Collapse
 
daedtech profile image
Erik Dietrich

Thanks for the kind words!

To address your question and Office Space reference, I'll draw on the rather cynical perspective I have on most salaried software jobs. I have a taxonomy of corporate workers that categorizes someone who cares about "the pride of the business" as an idealist: someone who loses perspective on their own self-interest because they get caught up in the company's culture. These folks are prone to working long hours for no actual, discernible benefit.

I don't want to be that person and, as a business owner, I also don't want to employ that person, because it's exploitative. Convincing people to work long hours and give free value in exchange for questionable/vague outcomes down the line ("I'll remember this at your next performance review!") isn't something I support.

As a business owner/coder, I set aside my pride and ask what's in the business's (and thus my) best interests. As an employee, I'd set aside pride and ask what was in the best interests of my career/advancement/prospects. In both cases, those may line up with delivering visibly awesome stuff... but they may also not.