4 Years of Programming - Everything I Got Wrong

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on their nearly 4.5-year journey as a programmer, sharing insights and lessons learned. They recount their initial struggles with PHP, the importance of mastering daily tools like Git, and overcoming imposter syndrome. The video also discusses their transition to a remote job with an AI startup, the challenges faced due to unrealistic expectations and pressure, and the decision to quit. The creator emphasizes the value of choosing the right company early in one's career and the impact it has on learning and job satisfaction.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The speaker reflects on their journey as a programmer and shares insights they wish they knew at the beginning.
• 📚 They emphasize the importance of learning the tools you'll use daily, such as git, GitHub, and bitbucket.
• 😵 The initial job experience was overwhelming due to the vast codebase and the pressure to learn PHP quickly.
• 🤝 A supportive manager and team can greatly ease the transition into a new programming job.
• 🚀 Overcoming imposter syndrome by taking on new challenges and learning opportunities is crucial for growth.
• 💡 The speaker encourages embracing a mindset of continuous learning, even if it means stepping out of your comfort zone.
• 🔄 The realization that companies are paying you to learn can be a powerful motivator to take on new projects.
• 🌍 The desire for a digital nomad lifestyle led to seeking new opportunities that allowed remote work and travel.
• 💼 The second job at an AI startup had a promising start but turned out to be a significant mistake due to poor management and unrealistic expectations.
• 📉 The pressure and lack of support at the AI startup led to a decline in job satisfaction and a loss of passion for coding.
• 🔄 Taking a break and rediscovering the joy of coding through learning and practicing can help regain motivation after a challenging experience.

Q & A

How long has the speaker been a programmer?

The speaker has been a programmer for nearly 4 and a half years.

What was the speaker's background before becoming a programmer?

Before becoming a programmer, the speaker worked in marketing and advertising.

How quickly did the speaker secure a job after learning to code?

The speaker secured a job as a programmer 11 months after starting to learn code.

What was the speaker's initial reaction upon seeing the codebase on the first day at the new job?

The speaker was overwhelmed and had a meltdown because there was so much code that they didn't understand.

What was the speaker's first piece of advice for new programmers?

The speaker's first piece of advice was to learn the tools that will be used on a day-to-day basis for the job.

What was the speaker's experience with imposter syndrome?

The speaker experienced imposter syndrome, feeling paranoid about being found out or potentially being fired due to not being good enough.

How did the speaker overcome their fear of taking on new projects?

The speaker overcame their fear by adopting a mindset that the company was paying them to learn and started to take on new skills and projects.

What did the speaker learn from using Scrimba?

The speaker learned React with Scrimba and uses it daily in their job now.

Why did the speaker decide to leave their job as a WordPress developer?

The speaker decided to leave because they wanted to code more, work with React, possibly some backend, and have the freedom to travel the world.

What was the speaker's biggest mistake in tech?

The speaker's biggest mistake was ignoring a gut feeling about a potential job and accepting it without considering the potential challenges with the CTO.

What was the speaker's experience like working at the AI startup?

The experience was initially positive with travel and learning opportunities, but it became stressful due to high pressure, lack of support, and an absence of project management or UX design.

What did the speaker do after quitting the job at the AI startup?

The speaker took a break, traveled, and then got back into coding by doing lots of LeetCode problems and learning JavaScript and Python.

What is the speaker's advice for new programmers in their first few years?

The speaker advises new programmers to be intentional and careful with the companies they choose to work for in the first few years of their career.