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Why Most Developers Start Dying After 5 Years in the Industry

They don’t literally die, no. This is a reflective experience.

Alex Maher
4 min readNov 18, 2023

You know, after being in the game for over 10 years, I’ve seen a pattern that’s pretty hard to miss. It’s like, after five years or so, a lot of developers hit this wall.

They stop growing.

And it’s not because they’re not good; it’s more about where they’re at and what’s going on in their heads. Let me break it down for you.

The Cozy Trap

When you’re fresh in the field, everything’s exciting, right? You’re learning, you’re hustling, everything’s new.

But give it a few years, and you find your groove. It’s comfy, sure, but it’s like you’re stuck in this fancy, golden cage.

Comfy, but limiting.

Think about my buddy, let’s call him George. The guy was a coding wizard. Always up for a challenge, always pushing the envelope. Then he lands this cushy job, big bucks, nice title.

Fast forward a bit, and he’s not the go-getter he used to be. He got comfortable, stopped trying new stuff. Classic golden cage situation.

Not the Top Dog Anymore

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Alex Maher
Alex Maher

Written by Alex Maher

.NET C# dev with 10+ yrs exp, self-taught & passionate web developer. Sharing tips & experiences in C# and web dev.

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