Apr. 7, 2023
Read time: 2 minutes and 40 seconds.
tags:We often get lost in the digital world, especially in software, and forget the simple satisfaction of building something tangible. I recall when I was a kid I had the opportunity to take a few shop classes in middle school and we had a chance to do carpentry. So imagine children with saws…
It’s easy to lose sight of the end-user in software development and the original problem we set out to solve. Creating something physical can bring a sense of accomplishment that’s hard to find elsewhere.
In software, we sometimes focus too much on features and components, forgetting the why behind our work. I have quite a few friends who work in development and aim to solve big picture problems with software but, lose sight of the importance of their work when they’re so far removed from the end user. It’s why there’s a tendency of engineers and developers to go after failing businesses in startups because they can move quickly and see the impact of their work with users. In software we lose sight of sometimes the end consumer why we need a feature and this disconnect is a stark contrast to the tangible results of physical creation. Where, immediately after building something, you see the effect and whether or not your work is any good.
Building things with your hands is a rewarding experience and it certainly has been for me in the last couple of years as I’ve extended by toolkit from different stacks to different working materials. It connects you directly to the outcome of your labor. Like building a table or a simple shoe rack. Something I did and was obsessed with creating floating racks for everything. It’s about seeing a project come to life and being able to say, “I made that.” Even if it sucks.
When you build something yourself, you invest more care and attention to detail as well. Especially when you’re trying to build something for your self. You own the problem and the solution. It’s the love that you put into something when you built something to solve your own problems that is so much more valuable than buying a solution. It’s a different feeling than hiring someone else to do it and having them do a mediocre job to earn a pay check. I’ve learned this with contractors and the importance of setting guidelines and being on top of contractors who are making an installation. If you’re not on top of them throughout the process, they’ll take shortcuts that could ultimately harm you both physically and financially.
Working with your hands, you immediately see the impact of your efforts. The progress is clear and measurable. This direct feedback is something that’s very personal. Instead of waiting to get some false feedback, you can evaluate your work and comfortably give yourself a harsh criticism about how you would like to improve. Which is okay! It’s okay to be critical of yourself. It’s not okay to be in a spiral constantly crushing yourself about something over and over again without a solution.
Building things, whether it’s a complex project or a simple repair, brings a unique satisfaction that only you can give yourself. It’s a reminder of our ability to solve problems and create something tangible. Try building something this week, no matter how small, and experience the joy of creation first hand instead of solving your problem buying it.