The three aspects of a successful Software Engineer

A wise person once told me that there are three aspects to a successful software engineer.

1. Attitude.
A person must have a good outlook and should always strive to do the best that he/she can. That defines attitude. A bad attitude could be attributed to the work environment (colleagues, work interest, monetary satisfaction, bosses etc.) but a good software engineer will try not to let such annoyances affect him.

2. Motivation.
Motivation means having a reason to do things. It gives a person a purpose and goal. If the odds are stacked against a person, then he/she must rise to the occasion.

3. Ability.
Ability involves the capability of a person. The ability of a software engineer is determined by the skills in his/her domain of expertise.

Now, here’s the interesting part. The aforementioned facets of a software engineer must go in that order of precedence. By having a good attitude and an “Up and at ‘em” disposition, one can discover motivation. Once a software engineer finds a reason to do something, then he/she will not quit until the job has been done and done well. A good attitude and proper motivation will naturally make a person pay attention to trivial details. It will make him or her push forward beyond normal limits and that’s what garners ability. An individual could be born with great skill but that could be put to little use unless he/she develops a good attitude.
Laugh in the most trying of times, never give up even if the chips are down and show others respect irrespective of whether you like them or not. That’s what a healthy attitude demands.