From Obsession to Bare Minimum even at 50LPA, Struggling to find love for the craft I was once engrossed in.

I used to be the kind of developer who could work for hours without even noticing the clock, completely immersed in the process. I didn’t care about money or external validation—what drove me was the pure joy of building user interfaces and functional software.

But now, I find myself barely motivated to work. I’m just putting in the minimum effort to get the paycheck, and it’s starting to show. My clients and employers often point out that the quality isn’t there anymore. It takes several back-and-forth sessions to align with their expectations, which is frustrating for everyone involved.

The hardest part for me is that I feel like I’ve lost the ownership I once had over my work. I’ve gone from being an intern to serving as a CTO, and yet, somewhere along the way, the passion I had for the craft has faded.

To make matters worse, even big salary packages—₹40, ₹50, ₹60 LPA—don’t excite me anymore. I remember how, early in my career, I didn’t care about money because the work itself was so fulfilling. Now, it feels like nothing can bring back that sense of purpose.

Has anyone else been through this? How did you navigate it? Is it possible to reignite the love for your craft, or is it time to explore something entirely new?

PS - 6 years of experience