We are undeniably living in a time where tools like Claude, ChatGPT & Co. take on many of our daily tasks and even parts of planning. Among these may be tasks that once brought us joy. So, what do we do then? For some, a new perspective on daily work can help.
Beginning: Praise
Being satisfied with the tasks we do every day is important. It gives us the joy and motivation to keep going and to keep improving.
When I started programming 12 years ago, there were many tasks I found challenging as a junior developer. At the time, I worked on extensions for an in-house ERP system in C#, and my "customers" were my colleagues. The best part was presenting the finished functionality to them and receiving their praise. That praise gave me satisfaction and the enthusiasm to tackle new tasks.
The problem: When a feature didn't go over well, a colleague was having a bad day, or simply wasn't interested in the update, my motivation — and my satisfaction — vanished along with it.
Middle: Self-Praise
When I switched industries and became a web developer, my type of customer changed. I no longer had daily direct contact, so I heard from them less often — neither praise nor criticism.
So what motivates you then?
During this time, I learned to take joy in development itself. I could focus much more on what good development really means. My skills improved, and so did my standards for writing clean, thoughtful code. My motivation now came from within: I wanted to provide the best technical solution for the problem at hand. If the customer happened to be happy on top of that — all the better.
The problem: The best technical solution isn't always the best solution for the customer or the boss. Often, it takes far longer than a more practical option — and sometimes, it's actually the solution the customer or boss suggested that ends up being implemented. If every solution is only aimed at meeting the highest technical standards, and frustration grows because other requirements, such as time constraints or practical usefulness, are ignored, you realize that your satisfaction and motivation are only temporary and don't last in the long run.
End: New Motivation – Progress
Since I started managing projects alongside my work as a web developer, my perspective has shifted again. When you are personally responsible for meeting deadlines and fulfilling requirements, a new kind of joy emerges: the joy of progress.
As long as productive work is being done on a project, there is no stagnation. And no matter how small the step, it's still a step forward. In terms of motivation and satisfaction, this is independent of factors you can't control:
Whether the customer finds the feature interesting or not, is having a bad day, or the task is technically simple — progress is something I can influence. Even in difficult times, I can find it in small tasks.
AI – A New Perspective Needed
I first learned this change in perspective through my work as a project manager. But now, this mindset is becoming relevant for every developer — even without project management experience.
Anyone using AI as a "code companion" will find that part of the joy of programming — writing code yourself — takes a back seat. Instead, it's more about reading and understanding code, delegating tasks, and giving precise instructions.
Especially in such situations, consciously tracking your own progress can be helpful — even without a formal project management role. Setting a clear goal for the week or the day and deliberately monitoring your progress toward it can become the key to lasting satisfaction and motivation. Even small milestones, when reviewed regularly, help make achievements visible and bring more structure and fulfillment to the workday.