[robotnikman]

I've always admired the tenacity of people who reverse engineer stuff. To be able to spend multiple months figuring out barely documented technologies with no promise of success takes a lot a willpower and discipline. It's something I wish I could improve more in myself.

[detrites]

I think you could. In some sense "easily". It may be about finding that thing you're naturally so interested in or otherwise drawn to, that the months figuring out become a type of driven joy, and so the willpower kinda automatic.

And if you find it, don't judge what it is or worry what others might think - or even necessarily tell anyone. Sometimes the most motivating things are highly personal, as with the OP; a significant part of their childhood.

[robotnikman]

You definitely have a point there, looking at some of my previous work I was able to stick to projects for many months if I found the work interesting. I'll have to admit in the past 5 or so years any time I've tried to start a project there was always the thought in the back of my mind of 'will this benefit my career' or 'how can I make money on this in the future'. It seems having such thoughts adds additional anxiety to whenever I try and start to work on something for fun.

Looks like that is what I need to start looking for again, projects which I find interesting or fun to do in my spare time, without thinking about how it would affect my career or trying to find ways to monetize it.

[detrites]

I totally get this. Something I'm learning - slowly - as it is so counter to sound ethic, is that making some work into pure fun helps the other work by preventing burn-out, which for me at least is an ongoing risk. Certainly feels better!