Finding a Slogan for Yourself Is More Practical Than Chasing a Side Hustle

When I first entered the workforce, my big boss often said: "My role is to improve your productivity."

At the time, I didn't think much of it. But after working with him on several projects, I gradually saw his approach. In every discussion, his focus was always on how to make progress smoother and reduce obstacles. No detours, no padding.

During that period, I didn't have my own direction for how to do things, so I learned from him and set a slogan for myself: "I believe the essence of software is to improve user productivity."

This sentence is ordinary, but it's very useful when I actually do things. Every time I go in circles among several options, I just ask myself: "Which one helps users save time and effort more?" My mind clears up immediately.

Later, I added two more: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication (yes, I borrowed Da Vinci's famous quote) and Keep consistency.

These three sentences are not for show; they are the tools I use every day. Others can't see them, but I use them daily.

When I see a proposal, I first check whether the business boundaries are clear, whether the implementation introduces more complexity, and whether it connects with what we've done before. If these don't align, it basically needs to be redone.

Once, the team was working on a feature with two options: one was "clever" in its writing, the other was plain but structurally clear. We ended up choosing the latter. Not for safety, but because the business itself was already complex enough. If the code added more complexity, it would only confuse our own people. That decision proved very useful later. The readability and maintainability of the code were ensured through such choices.

Recently, in architecture discussions at the company, I often say: The business is already complex enough; don't add hard-to-explain things to the code.

Clear system boundaries, readable code, and easy extensibility—these three things are enough. No need for deliberate flashiness, and no need to complicate things just to show off skills.

I have a friend who works in QE, and her slogan is "Shift Left Testing". The first time we collaborated, I didn't pay much attention to what those three words meant. But after working with her on several projects, it became clear: things that can be looked at early, she won't delay until the end; at the start of the process, she first pulls out the key points; what can be verified during development, she won't leave for the testing phase. Others think she "moves early," and she doesn't argue. Over time, everyone knows her way of working. No need to shout slogans; her daily practice is her label.

The closest example around me is my carpenter. His slogan is very direct: Get things done.

He's an introvert and usually doesn't talk much, but when things come to him, he pushes them forward one by one. No procrastination, no detours, no preamble. Many things I find troublesome, he just gets to work decisively.

It's not that he doesn't think; he's used to breaking things down into parts he can touch. Once things start moving, it's hard to stay stuck. His favorite saying is: there are always more methods than difficulties. When dealing with problems, his approach is much simpler than mine: first complete the part you can do now, and the next step will naturally emerge.

His slogan is not complicated, but it reveals the essence of efficient work: action is the most direct path to breaking anxiety and complexity.

In recent years, I've seen many friends' side hustle anxiety. Yes, I've had it too. But now my thinking has changed. I believe doing your main job well is more practical than any side hustle. Doing your main job well can bring confidence, rhythm, and choices.

Of course, doing your main job well doesn't rely on shouting slogans or working desperately; it relies on accumulating small daily practices. Over time, these practices become my own way. Even if I change teams, companies, or directions, this set of things remains with me.

And a slogan is the starting point of this path. It seems light, but when you're actually working every day, it pulls you back onto your own track. When you encounter trouble, it's harder to wander off; when there are many things, it's harder to be led astray; when there are many choices, it serves as a baseline.

However, I've also encountered the limitations of slogans.

For a while, I was very insistent on "keeping consistency." Later, I found that some old designs were no longer suitable to continue using, but because of the phrase "keep consistency" in my mind, I delayed making changes.

So although a slogan is a direction I set for myself, it cannot become a wall blocking the way forward. Regularly reviewing your slogan and letting it grow with you becomes especially important.

The meaning of a slogan is not "I must stick to this sentence forever," but whether it can help me do things more clearly, more simply, and more understandably in the present moment.

So, why not find a slogan for yourself and let it become the most solid fulcrum on your career path.