I don't call myself a great programmer, even after 40+ years as a professional programmer. Whether my projects succeed or fail depends on a lot more than my own

I don't call myself a great programmer, even after 40+ years as a professional programmer. Whether my projects succeed or fail depends on a lot more than my own skills. I think I have a set of talents that make me good at methodically solving problems. I have natural curiosity. I like learning on my own and from other people. I self-taught, read everything I could find (back in the '70s and early '80s), practiced a lot, started at age 14. I got lucky with some good mentors early on, that made a big difference. My grandparents bought a terminal and modem for me when I was 16 so I could spend more time programming. I had some great jobs that let me work with people with more and different experience. I think a lot of luck and circumstance goes into success, but you also need hard work and probably an innate inclination to put in the extra work. Everyone I have ever known who succeeded, in any field, put in a lot of work, but they also had talents and traits that made success easier or more likely. I don't think in terms of getting "great" at programming. I think in terms of solving business problems and adding value for my employer or customer. What does it even mean to call someone a "great" programmer? If I have to give advice I'll say read a lot of code, learn from your peers, especially those more experienced than you. A good mentor or two can make a huge difference.