"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do." - Epictetus
Reflection
Becoming a great developer isn't just about clean commits or clever solutions. It's about the mindset you bring to the merge. To the pull request. To the setback that tests your patience.
Epictetus reminds us that growth begins with clarity. You don't develop discipline, creativity, or resilience by accident. These traits take root in quiet choices made deliberately, day after day.
Without direction, progress drifts. With vision, it compounds.
Skilled developers don't just react to the day. They write the blueprint for who they're becoming and live into it, shaping it line by line, habit by habit, moment by moment.
Today's Insight
You are not waiting to become a better developer.
You are becoming one with every choice you make.
Action Steps
- Clarify Your Vision - Write down three qualities you want to embody deeply. Choose values that challenge who you are now.
- Align Action to Identity - Take one concrete action today for each trait. Discipline? Block 90 minutes of deep work. Creativity? Solve a problem in two ways. Resilience? Review a past mistake without judgment.
- Reflect with Precision - Treat habits like unit tests for the values you're building. Each action should validate who you're becoming. Does it pass? Or does it need a refactor?
Consider This
What if every decision was a vote for your future self?
Who are you building through today's habits?