Smok Code's video: DON T become a software developer

Becoming a programmer is EASY. Just take an online course or two, just watch a YouTube video or follow few how-to articles. All you have to do is complete this bootcamp, or build that small project. It’s much harder to stay a programmer, when your beaten track has ended and you go in the jungle of unknown. This is inevitable - for growth, for independence, for success in this craft. Let me tell you: It’s a lot of hard work. So hard it WILL bring tears to your eyes. More than once you’ll spend HOURS banging your head against the wall. Trying to solve a problem, understand an issue, find a bug or come up with correct design. Being a software developer is an ongoing challenge – an every day struggle. It’s pushing yourself to the limits – learning new things and taking a swing at more and more difficult tasks. Every day. Forever. You WILL spend years of lonely journey only to learn that you have just scratched the surface. And there is much more, much much more to still discover and understand. But it will be WORTH IT. When you’ll finally find the answer, fix a bug, merge a change, complete next goal on time AGAINST ALL ODDS – this is the greatest feeling in the world. Because then YOU KNOW that YOU can do it. You’re capable of achieving difficult, complex goals on your own, and with your team. You can make it about money, about prestige, the kind of office, company or project you work on, but in reality: long term fulfillment comes from crafting valuable solutions with your own hands. It is about the long run: constantly growing your comfort zone by trying things, reaching further and expanding. Oh yes – learning. This never ends, never. You’ll figure out that for every hour of actual coding you’ll need to do four hours of research. Do it right – set yourself up for success, find a place where you can grow, where you can learn from smarter people, and where you can teach, and give back, as it will benefit you too. There will be times when everything just works and is obvious, and then there will be times where nothing seems to make sense, and you feel lost. Not every idea will be successful, not every discovery positive. Road ahead is filled with traps and set backs, but remember that it’s not about this moment of failure, but general consistency, progress, and integrity. Some days you will even question if you’re really what you claim to be, should you continue on this path. Dig deep in you and reach your inner values. Don’t focus on others, but see how far you got, how much you achieved! Keep bad thoughts at bay, don’t let them corrupt you. Stop complaining and dwelling on mistakes. Know your worth and your skills, practice things you know you’re bad at. Oh this is hard, and it takes the time, but this is a fight for yourself. This one you have to win. Do it right and you will be rewarded. For people who become their best selves sky is the limit. They get to pick and choose where they want to go, what career they want, what company they work for. Remember that you get what you get, but what you do with what you got – this is up to you, so be good for future you, and do whatever you need, so every next day is a little better. Don’t become a software developer because it’s a career. Don’t learn programming because of money. Don’t start tech courses because your friend told you to. Do it because you love it. Do it because it’s hard. Do it because it’s worth it I hope you enjoyed this motivational video - stay tuned for more :)