I read a book once (I can't remember what the name is).
An architect was once asked, "What is your best work or design?"
He simply replied:
"My next one."
That answer has stayed with me ever since. It has become more than just a memorable quote... it has shaped the way I approach my own creative journey. I've made it a personal philosophy: every project I take on must be better than the last. I don't want my best work to be something I've already completed. Instead, I want it to always be ahead of me, something I am still striving toward.
For me, engineering is not a fixed achievement but a continuous process of becoming. Each project is an opportunity to learn, refine, and challenge what I thought I already knew. With every new thing, I try to push myself further, technically and creatively, so that my work reflects not just what I can do, but how I am growing.
My past projects represent where I've been. They are important markers of experience, lessons learned, and foundations built. My current work represents where I am right now... my present understanding, my current skills, and my evolving perspective.
But my next project represents where I'm going. It holds the potential of everything I have yet to discover about myself as a developer.
This mindset keeps me from becoming comfortable. It reminds me that growth only happens when I step beyond what I already know. It also means that I never see a project as an endpoint, but rather as a stepping stone toward something greater.
So, none of my past work will ever be my best work...because I intend for my next one to be better.