How to break bad habits - talk with @ThePrimeagen Senior Software Engineer at Netflix​

Summary

In this personal and inspiring discussion, the speaker shares his journey through overcoming addiction, ADHD, and life challenges. He talks about the power of discipline, faith, and self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of making the right decisions moment by moment. The speaker recounts his transformation from struggling academically and battling substance abuse to finding success in both his career and personal life. He highlights how learning to control ADHD turned it into a superpower and discusses his career path, including landing a job at Netflix through hard work and luck.

Takeaways

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The speaker is a husband and father of four who balances family life, a day job in engineering, and streaming on Twitch.
• 💻 He uses his back brain to solve 80% of problems at work, streamlining his tasks to manage his time efficiently.
• 🚀 He has been diagnosed with ADHD, which he views as a superpower when combined with maturity, but acknowledges it can be a nightmare with excuses.
• 📚 His academic performance improved significantly from high school to college, where he became a high performer.
• 🛑 He overcame addictions and a troubled past, including an addiction to pornography and drugs, through a spiritual awakening and determination.
• 💪 He emphasizes the importance of controlling one's reactions based on what is right, rather than how one feels.
• 🏆 His success at Netflix was partly due to luck and partly due to his skills in rxjs, which he showcased on LinkedIn.
• 🗓️ He does not use any form of task management tools or agendas, believing that important tasks will naturally be remembered.
• 👨‍💻 He suggests that learning JavaScript for UI is an easy path to getting hired in the programming field due to high demand.
• 🌐 English is crucial for programmers, especially for those looking to work in the American business context.
• 🔑 He believes that discipline and self-control are key to overcoming challenges and achieving personal and professional success.

Q & A

What is the speaker's primary online activity on Twitch?

The speaker primarily streams programming content on Twitch, and occasionally streams gaming.

How does the speaker manage his time with multiple responsibilities?

The speaker manages his time by doing things swiftly and letting his 'back brain' solve 80% of the problems at his day job, so he knows exactly what to do and can do it as fast as possible.

Has the speaker been diagnosed with ADHD and how does he view it?

Yes, the speaker has been diagnosed with ADHD. He views it as a superpower when combined with maturity, but as a nightmare when used as an excuse.

What was the speaker's academic performance like in high school and college?

The speaker had a GPA of 2.16 in high school, which he believes is barely passing. However, he almost doubled his GPA in college.

What significant change did the speaker experience in college?

The speaker had a significant change in college when he stopped engaging in addictive behaviors and started taking control of his life, which led to improved academic performance.

How did the speaker's religious beliefs influence his life change?

The speaker became religious after a terrifying, yet real presence feeling with God that he was going to die if he continued his previous lifestyle.

What is the speaker's approach to overcoming addictions?

The speaker's approach to overcoming addictions is to stop in the moment and to say no continuously, realizing that it's always a decision made in the moment.

How did the speaker get hired at Netflix?

The speaker got hired at Netflix after listing a skill in rxjs on his LinkedIn, which caught the attention of a hiring manager. He attributes his success to a combination of preparation and luck.

What was the speaker's experience like at Schedulicity?

The speaker had a negative experience at Schedulicity, describing it as a very hard job with a manipulative CEO.

How does the speaker stay organized in his work?

The speaker does not use any form of task tracking or writing things down. He believes that important things will be remembered and less important things will be forgotten.

What advice does the speaker have for someone starting in computer science?

The speaker recommends learning JavaScript for UI or middleware as it is an area with a lot of job opportunities. He also suggests considering Java due to its industry standard and demand.