Many problems with this attitude. First, just let go. You're building something for someone else, and making money for them. Treating it as your own "child" an

Many problems with this attitude. First, just let go. You're building something for someone else, and making money for them. Treating it as your own "child" and being so psychologically invested will do you no good. In the grand scheme of things you're not "changing the world" with that new photo app or enterprise CRUD plug-in. Which ties in to the next point. Have a life outside work. Don't let work define you and be your only claim to personal value. It's insane that American programmers put up with so little free time. They want you on call? Then pay for every on call night and weekend. Anything less than 20-25 days off per year seems madness from Europe. And that leads to the next point. As the TFA says, naive, enthusiastic devs are often not motivated by money, but the joy of creating and they like to feel valued and thanked. TFA suggests giving awards and thanks and bullshit like that. No! The only appreciation a boss can give towards their employee is money (bonuses and salary increases). Everything else is manipulation. I don't care that you are super non-greedy good-person who doesn't care about money etc. It doesn't matter. What matters is your boss does care about it. You see, talk is cheap. I can print you all the award you want and will laugh behind your back what a loser you are. If you don't want the money then spend it for charity or frame the Benjamins and hang them above your bed. Or give it to your local homeless guy or your grandma. I don't care, but in business (not in personal relations), respect is money and money is respect. The earlier you learn it, the better. Nobody will take you seriously otherwise and you'll be seen as childishly naive until you understand money beyond it being the thing for the douche-y suit types.