I like the sports analogy to explain a 10x programmer.
A 10x programmer is the product of talent, discipline and environment. Same as a professional athlete. The environment is what differs.
In professional sports, the athlete has a team supporting them to maximize output (coach, doctor, assisant, etc). They are free to focus on their art. Talent and discipline then make the difference.
In software the programmer is at the mercy of the product manager, other developers, management, etc. Because software is more than code, the time they spend on improving their talent is interrupted by meetings, compromise and whatnot.
In my experience, 10x programmers are usually entrepreneurs in startups or intrapreneurs in larger companies. They are supported by their environment to allow them to shine. This allows them to focus on their talent and frees their time to code, learn and improve relentlessly over time.
A 10x programmer is the product of talent, discipline and environment. Same as a professional athlete. The environment is what differs.
In professional sports, the athlete has a team supporting them to maximize output (coach, doctor, assisant, etc). They are free to focus on their art. Talent and discipline then make the difference.
In software the programmer is at the mercy of the product manager, other developers, management, etc. Because software is more than code, the time they spend on improving their talent is interrupted by meetings, compromise and whatnot.
In my experience, 10x programmers are usually entrepreneurs in startups or intrapreneurs in larger companies. They are supported by their environment to allow them to shine. This allows them to focus on their talent and frees their time to code, learn and improve relentlessly over time.