I read somewhere that attitude is what matters; for example, if you have one great guy in your team, who happens to be cynical, pessimistic and such it's going

I read somewhere that attitude is what matters; for example, if you have one great guy in your team, who happens to be cynical, pessimistic and such it's going to hurt overall performance of the team compared to the same team without that guy. Or something like that. I don't know, but this seems to be something you'd like to take into account if you're hiring. But my main point is different. First, if your job has certain elements to it that you don't like and you don't feel like you have the resolve to do those things (for whatever reason) you should just change jobs. And second, I find your statement that "passion fades" unfounded. It didn't fade for me and it was about twenty years so far and counting. It's the same for OP, it seems. And I do have (enough of a) life, have great SO (with whom I'm together for almost as long as I code!), and so on; it still didn't change a thing (ok, it may be that I'm now trying to plan more things in advance but that's it). As for those "problems you do not love" - I genuinely don't have them anymore. Right, there always is some frustration, sometimes anger, but I think these emotions are a testament to my love for all these problems: I wouldn't feel them if I didn't care, right? So, while it's not necessary to be true scotsman - genuinely passionate - it changes much if you are. I say "scotsman", because I would like to think that passion that fades is not a true one... Maybe I'm wrong. We need to wait another twenty years to be sure :)