Why You Need An Intention For Your Coding Career
24 Mar 2026 #careerLast week, I wrote about the most painful lesson my best job taught me. Recently, I shared it on dev.to. The concept of a “plan” generated some discussion. Here I’m expanding on that.
It took me over 10 years to connect the dots.
For years, I didn’t have a career plan. I jumped from job to job feeling something was missing. OK, when I say “jump,” I mean fired, bored, and laid off. That was my most painful lesson. It cost me my health at the lowest point.
A “plan” sounds like a blueprint with every career scenario figured out in advance.
Nobody starts with a perfect plan. The early stages of our careers are about discovery, experimentation, and building skills while learning to navigate the corporate world.
Plans are hard to follow when layoffs are always around the corner and AI is changing job descriptions.
An intention helps you decide when to move
Instead of “plan,” think of an intention: a guiding principle that helps you decide whether to stay or move on.
There’s always luck, setbacks, and resets. It’s impossible to account for all of them in a “plan.” But an intention pushes you to act instead of waiting.
Here’s how an intention helps you in practice.
If your intention is money, a couple of years without raises or bonuses should push you to move. That’s not the job that will fill your pockets. Maybe a better choice would be joining a startup in early stages.
If your intention is growing a network, sitting in a cubicle isn’t the best idea. A better role might be DevRel, evangelist, or consultant, positions that takes you out of your cubicle.
Money was just an example. It could be gaining leadership experience, climbing the ladder, or learning opportunities.
Use your career intention as your flashlight. Otherwise, wait to leave only when bored, fired, or burned out. I wish someone had told me that when I started my coding career. It would have saved lots of headaches. Set your intention today.
If you liked these lessons, you’re going to like, Career Lessons From the Trenches, my free 7-day email course where I distill 10+ years of career lessons into 7 short emails–to help you navigate your coding career.