Reflecting on Ihsan in my work: why I still give my best effort when no one is watching

Assalamu alaikum everyone, I've been reflecting on this topic for some time now, and I felt like sharing my thoughts. I work in cybersecurity. My role involves detecting weaknesses in software that operates at the core of people's systems. When I identify and report a vulnerability before it can be misused, people remain safe-but they usually never find out about it. There's no thank-you note for the crisis that never occurred. A coworker once asked me: "Why put in so much effort? In the end, your performance review might still just be average." And to be honest, he had a point-the rating didn't always match the work I'd done. But I kept remembering the concept of Ihsan. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah has prescribed excellence in all matters." (Sahih Muslim 1955) And in Surah Al-Mulk (67:2), Allah says: "[He] who created death and life to test you [as to] which of you is best in deed." It's about being the best, not necessarily doing the most. This changed my whole perspective. The test isn't about quantity; it's about quality, sincerity, and striving for excellence. And it applies to everything-not only our prayers and recitation, but also the work we do with our skills and intellect. I sometimes still feel a bit torn-wondering if I should devote less time to technical tasks and more to purely religious activities. But I consistently arrive at the understanding that once my prayers, obligations, and character are fulfilled, seeking excellence in beneficial work isn't a distraction from my faith. It's actually an integral part of it. "Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended." (Sahih al-Bukhari 1) The same task, but completely transformed by my niyyah. If any of you are also navigating this balance between professional life and deen, I'd really appreciate hearing how you approach it. JazakAllahu khairan.