If you do programming because it pays better then, you are going to be just another guy who never amounts to anything in this world.
I know a few of these people. You're right, they've never amounted to anything... except
- Good and loving parents
- Competitive sportsmen
- Inspiring teachers (in the best sense, outside of schools)
- Good and helpful friends
- World-renowned experts in obscure fields
- Effective local politicians
Just to name a few people I know personally. And while they might never be known as awesome programmers, they do pretty well and their colleagues still look to them for leadership, because they know their domain expertise well.
Add in the guy who said: "Programming for fun" was always a foreign concept to me...I was not a great programmer. I pity the fools who are maintaining my old code right now.
A little known fellow named Ken Jennings who happened to win a few million on Jeopardy.
I know a few of these people. You're right, they've never amounted to anything... except
- Good and loving parents
- Competitive sportsmen
- Inspiring teachers (in the best sense, outside of schools)
- Good and helpful friends
- World-renowned experts in obscure fields
- Effective local politicians
Just to name a few people I know personally. And while they might never be known as awesome programmers, they do pretty well and their colleagues still look to them for leadership, because they know their domain expertise well.
It's about priorities, you know?