[wccrawford]

I caught this perspective early, and would be very clear in interviews that I didn't ever want to be a manager. I had a lot of interviewers ask, "Don't you have any ambition?"

My answer was always that I did, I got to where I wanted to be, and I intend to stay there. I'm a programmer. I program. Ambition realized.

And with the money that programmers make, it seems even more ridiculous to suggest that I had no ambition while applying for a job as "senior developer" or "lead developer".

[Sohcahtoa82]

Management and engineering require two completely different skillsets and are two completely separate jobs.

Just because someone is a great engineer doesn't mean they'd be a good manager. I'd be scared to work under a manager that doesn't acknowledge and believe this.

[3-cheese-sundae]

I’m in this position as well, but over time I’m becoming more concerned about getting pushed out of independent contribution by ageism.

[mattgreenrocks]

Learn and do things other people say are hard, and that you find interesting.