From Tinkering To Developing

Hobby projects, we all have at least one of those, or even multiple. I have always been a busy bee. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am always busy with something. I can't help it either, it's just my nature.

As a child I was always crafting or building. Usually I was taking things apart. My victims were mainly radios, computers or other electronic equipment. I wanted to see how it was put together, to understand how it worked. Usually I understood little of it of course.

The common thread was always: Can I learn something from it? Can I apply it somewhere else? Most of my hobby projects were therefore also related to my biggest passion, being my job, software development. Analyzing a problem, seeking a solution, implementing and making someone happy. How cool is that?

Or sometimes just for the fun of it. It becomes really fun when you can combine different hobbies or interests. There was always a link with other hobbies like films, photography, traveling.

Everything I learn, I try to apply in my work. And conversely work challenges inspire new experiments. Sharing knowledge is crucial in that. What's of it all if we don't do anything with it? I also like to teach people things, inspire them.

Our industry also doesn't stop moving, it even evolves extremely fast. For someone like me it is a paradise, always new 'toys' to play with. Never a boring moment.

The combination of passion and curiosity is the perfect cocktail for growth. And if you can make it your job, what do you want more then?

But not everyone has to combine work and hobby. It can also be different and that is perfectly fine.