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# The Cult of Done: My Journey to Becoming a Maker

Leah Vera argues a developer's worth exists independently of their output. Discover five principles from the Cult of Done to overcome perfectionism and finish your side projects.

- **Speakers:** Leo Riviera
- **Event:** WeAreDevelopers LIVE
- **Published:** December 16, 2024
- **Duration:** 25:24
- **URL:** https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1277-the-cult-of-done-my-journey-to-becoming-a-maker

## Summary

Software engineer Leah Vera confronted early-career existential dread and stagnation, questioning the broader purpose of her daily routine. Seeking meaning beyond her job, she explored the concept of becoming a maker, shifting away from the intimidation of advanced tooling toward an inclusive definition of creating something from nothing.

Guided by the Cult of Done Manifesto, Vera unpacks five principles for overcoming perfectionism and creative paralysis. By breaking the creative process down into the distinct states of not knowing, action, and completion, she illustrates how to navigate the discomfort of learning without sacrificing forward momentum.

The talk highlights the necessity of treating failure as a valid completion state, freeing creators from sunk-cost fallacies and the intense pressure of producing perfect output. Vera advises protecting early creative work from unsolicited feedback to maintain stylistic ownership, ultimately emphasizing that a developer's true identity and self-worth exist entirely independently of their professional or creative output.

**Keywords:** maker culture, cult of done manifesto, overcoming perfectionism, developer burnout, creative process, iterative development, sunk cost fallacy, fear of failure, definition of done, project completion, imposter syndrome, developer identity, software engineering career

## Chapters

1. **Overcoming existential dread and burnout in software engineering** (00:00) — Questioning the purpose of repetitive coding tasks leads to finding fulfillment through building tangible projects.
1. **Defining the maker mindset for technical professionals** (05:27) — Embracing the definition of making helps technologists convert feelings of overwhelm into an actionable desire to create.
1. **Breaking down project complexities into manageable action states** (08:13) — Acknowledging the natural phases of not knowing, action, and completion provides a structured approach for continuous discovery.
1. **Scrapping completed items to focus on iterative learning** (11:47) — Relinquishing attachment to finished products allows creators to value iterative learning over an abstract notion of perfection.
1. **Accepting failure and mistakes as natural project conclusions** (13:21) — Treating failure as an acceptable stopping point reduces performance anxiety and removes guilt associated with abandoning unworkable ideas.
1. **Shielding the creative process from premature outside opinions** (18:28) — Finishing a raw prototype independently prevents unsolicited feedback from derailing personal motivation and ownership.
1. **Using completed work as momentum for future projects** (21:33) — Completing smaller tasks successfully creates a compounding foundation of knowledge that accelerates ongoing technical growth.
1. **Reclaiming personal identity beyond professional and creative output** (22:31) — Separating individual self-worth from digital production restores intrinsic motivation and fosters a healthier relationship to external exploration.

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