[__pache__]

> it's fairly fun to solve puzzles, but I don't enjoy it with the feverish intensity that the best developers seem to.

Sorry man, but if you aren't up all night having a blast solving problems then people like me will semi-easily crush you. For decades I've lost sleep because I'm obsessed with problems.

There's no way to compete. You kinda get the leftovers, if there are any?

Maybe switch careers into something you are super passionate about, or there's a ton of job openings where passion isn't as consequential.

Sorry to say, but yeah, why _should_ you beat me if I work twice as hard?

[atleastoptimal]

What specific field do you work in in the tech industry? What was it that spurred your passion in the first place?

[__pache__]

dragon ball z fan sites

automating baulder's gate and such; game automation made me feel like I was a god. waking up in the morning and finding a ton of items _for free?!_ my god, what an incredible feeling as a kid.

gaming tournaments, making websites for my teachers.. I probably programmed 10,000 - 20,000 hours before I was paid a substantial amount. the first "contract" I ever did was for Magic The Gathering online when I was ~12...! made a little state machine that would rarely fuck up, always recover from problems, etc. etc.