Cost of Being a Developer

The Cost, If You Really Want to Be a Developer…

Everyone says they want to be a “developer” — someone who helps others grow, who builds people instead of platforms. It sounds great, right?

But here’s the truth: if you really want to be a developer, it’s going to cost you.

• You’ll have to surrender the spotlight.
• You’ll have to stop being the hero.
• You’ll have to let go of that little craving for credit and applause.

Great developers aren’t the ones in the spotlight — they’re the ones quietly working behind it. They’re the guides in someone else’s story, not the main character.

What does this mean? 

• That means giving away opportunities instead of holding onto them.
• That means letting someone else lead, even if they don’t do it exactly like you would.
• That means celebrating others when they get the praise you used to get.

And here’s the wild part: if you’re really good at developing people, it’ll start to show because they won’t need you as much anymore.
They’ll grow.
They’ll lead.
They might even surpass you.

And honestly? That’s the win.

Being a developer means shifting your scoreboard. It’s less about what you achieve and more about what you can help others achieve.

It’s not easy. It hurts sometimes. You’ll wrestle with your pride more than you’d like to admit. But over time, you’ll find something even better than recognition — the joy of watching someone you invested in step into their moment.

If you really want to be a developer, this is the deal: You’ll lose the spotlight, but you’ll gain legacy.