For years, I thought being a developer was my calling. There’s a certain satisfaction in writing clean code, solving problems through logic, and building something that works. But the more time I spent coding, the more I realized something unexpected: it wasn’t just about development for me. It was about creating, whether that creation involved software, design, writing, or even just figuring out how to do something new. The specific tool didn’t matter as much as I thought it would.

In engineering, especially software engineering, we often tie our identity to the tools we use. We think in terms of languages and frameworks. But what if the real drive isn’t the tool itself? I’ve come to see that development is just one form of expression, a vehicle for creativity. Once I stopped focusing on code as the goal and began seeing it as a means to create, everything shifted.

This year, my motto has become “creativity above all.” I’m learning that true fulfillment doesn’t come from mastering a single tool but from figuring out what I want to build, regardless of the medium. Sometimes that means writing a program, other times it means designing something physical, or even just solving a puzzle in a new way. The medium is secondary.

When you focus on creating, the boundaries of your profession blur. You stop being just a “developer” or an “engineer” and start becoming something broader, a problem solver, a creator. You become more engaged with the process and less concerned with how you label yourself.

It’s freeing. You stop asking, “What can this tool do?” and start asking, “What can I do?” Once you make that shift, the possibilities open up. The focus moves away from the tool itself to the end result, and that’s where the real magic happens.

So, this year, I’m embracing the idea that creativity matters more than the method. Engineering, coding, writing, it’s all part of the same thing: creating something that didn’t exist before. When you look at it that way, every tool becomes an option, and the joy of making becomes the real focus.