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Ask HN: What Matters Most in Tech? Awards, Media Praise, or Peer Respect

What’s the biggest honor someone in tech can receive that isn’t money, a job title, or company success?

Is it being inducted into a Hall of Fame like the Internet Hall of Fame?

Winning a major industry award from groups like ACM?

Being profiled by top outlets such as Wired or TechCrunch?

Or is it something less formal — like earning deep respect from peers and being cited as an inspiration by other builders?

What do you think is the highest non-financial honor in tech?

( 5 comments | 2 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: What Matters Most in Tech? Awards, Media Praise, ... by JacobArthurs on Saturday February 21, 2026 @06:08PM (#47105937)
Peer respect, without a doubt.

An award means a committee agreed you were impressive. Having engineers who've actually shipped things at scale cite your work unprompted means people with taste and context consider you credible.

Re:Ask HN: What Matters Most in Tech? Awards, Media Praise, ... by SoundsDebatable on Saturday February 21, 2026 @08:39PM (#47107196)
Yeah peer respect is important
Re:Ask HN: What Matters Most in Tech? Awards, Media Praise, ... by Chachingfm on Saturday February 21, 2026 @05:33PM (#47105575)
Depending on the person.
Re:Ask HN: What Matters Most in Tech? Awards, Media Praise, ... by toomuchtodo on Saturday February 21, 2026 @05:34PM (#47105587)
“What are you optimizing for, materially and emotionally?” Status? Validation? Material comfort?

Many can provide advice on what to chase and optimize for, only you can decide for you.

Re:Ask HN: What Matters Most in Tech? Awards, Media Praise, ... by SoundsDebatable on Saturday February 21, 2026 @05:44PM (#47105687)
True