How do I find passion in my role, so I can get promoted?
Do you love your job and are excited to go to it every day? I love my coworkers, they're the best part of my day. I also love the free food. However while I don't necessarily hate the work I do, I find it dull and unexciting at times. At the end of the day who cares about writing code that will be used by other corporations to make money. This gap in interest/passion makes it hard for me to get promotions and reach higher ranks in my job. But then, I've always felt this way in the jobs I've held. In my spare time I still program, just on tiny side projects that are small in scope and quick to do. Like build an RC car with 3d parts and my own software stack. Because of my hobbies I think I chose the correct career, I just have never experienced "loving my work". TC 130k, 7YOE
Just switch job
Switch jobs. Take some responsibility beyond your level for some time. Own some system. Change teams
And you will always feel that way unless you do what you're passionate about. I have 20+ years of experience in that business and side projects and teaching kids to program are my life savers now. It only gets worse with the experience and time. It is not fun to make some douchebags rich while you're waiting to pay off your mortgage.
If I am a code secretary I hate it. If I am pushing myself and working to solve new and difficult problems I love it. I love architecting things and code is just one tool. It could have been in any field for me TBH. $ doesn't change this. However, it is necessary and I definitely am not seeking to sell myself short. Why did you get into engineering in the first place?
I got into the field because I love to create. I'm not creative, in an artistic sense, but given an idea I can implement it. Being able to use a computer to create something free? Amazing. I also got a degree in computer eng because I love programming on top of hardware to have something tangible to show off. I think I just really enjoy small scoped projects. Things with an end in sight. A way to call something complete and then move on. As opposed to owning a beast of a codebase where a large majority of the details are a mystery to me.
The tangible aspect I enjoy a lot as well. I have been in a mechatronics firmware which is pretty rewarding. It does not pay as well so I am leaving though. Do you own an asset at all? Even in large codebases there is lots of room for tangible creativity. It seems like contractors get the one off cool projects a lot...
Focus on the money.