Programming is an art, but...

Programmers are not called artists!

The difference between being an artist and a (software) programmer is that, the former can expect quick results but the latter can't. An artist creates his work. An artiste performs live. And if you are one, you can expect appreciation soon after, say after a concert is over! And if you have excelled, then you can expect few more opportunities coming your way. Artistes are used to it. And, they expect it.

If you are a programmer, you do you assigned work. And after a software lifecycle or in your appraisal meeting with your manager, you get appreciated for how well you did your job. Programmers are used to it.

I have a problem. I am both an artiste and a programmer. I am expecting what I am used to in my field of music, in my profession as well. And since that doesn't happen, I am left wondering if I am not performing to my potential.

I was getting frustrated of my growth in my profession and talked to a friend of mine. I told him that I am losing my motivation to do my work. I feel there isn't much appreciation and visibility and I am feeling as if life is getting stagnated. Then my friend told me that I am already doing great and I am just expecting too much from myself. I didn't completely understand it then.

Today somehow, the time difference in cycle of recognition and appreciation in the field of art and in it the field of software crossed my mind. Then, I understood the problem that I have. Probably, I am expecting  that results too fast in my profession because I am used to it because of my musical concerts & recordings. I think now I understand, what my friend told me, completely. Probably I am expecting too much. I just need to keep doing what I am supposed to do. Results will come.