I’ve figured out what I like most about my job:
1) Looking for the root cause of a problem in a complex system or finding a solution to a complex issue. This is what’s called troubleshooting, but often it doesn’t even require touching the keyboard. It also frequently falls into the category of reinventing the bicycle. In the first scenario, it’s somewhat like a puzzle, where the brain generates many potential solutions that compete with each other. Then the hands test these solutions and narrow down the options to consider. This mode often keeps me at work until very late at night. In the second case, it’s the desire to make something from scratch rather than using ready-made black boxes, to understand it. Correlates with point 3.
2) Creating something like this: I thought of it, and there it is working. Not only in programming but also in electronics and mechanics. Some twenty-something years ago, I wrote Tetris and a 3D editor. It was hard to explain why, but it was interesting. Well, okay, I even got paid some money for the 3D editor.
3) Learning something new, acquiring new skills and abilities up to a certain level. From this level onward, it becomes routine, and more interesting, unexplored topics take their place. A typical example – I once got into drums and guitar, and the initial steps were very interesting, but after a certain level, it wasn’t as much. Overall, piano and drawing also fall into this category.
These items are major. There’s one minor – loading my brain with a large number of parallel tasks and struggling to cope with them. Apparently, the brain gets some necessary substances from such a load.
What I dislike:
1) Any regular routine tasks. I have to do them, but I’m always surprised to find that there are people who enjoy them.
2) Participating in conversations that lag behind my personal pace and are not of interest to me personally. I lose focus and eventually stop listening altogether.
3) Doing things whose usefulness is unclear to me, but other people tell me they are beneficial, which I hardly believe. This is quite common in companies that simulate a whirlwind of activity.
4) Organizing the workspace. This includes everything – from the order on the desk to the order in the file system and browser windows.
Who shares my interests and disinterests?
Hi, I'm Rauf Aliev. 