Keep things simple
Five months into coding seriously, a note to other beginners: expect to struggle, don't measure yourself against your peers, and guard your time.
Archive note I wrote this in 2018 on my old blog. It moved here in 2026 with the code and diagrams redone; library versions and APIs may have changed since. Original post.
I started coding seriously about five months ago, and I already feel confident about what 2019 will hold for me.
This post is for people like me who are just beginning.
Most of us doubt ourselves when a task is put in front of us. Even the simplest problem can seem daunting. If you’re waiting for that one big break, all I have to say is: be prepared to struggle.
The struggle is what takes you to the next level. I say struggle and not fail because I’ve realised that failure is inevitable. You will fail; there’s no two ways about it. What matters is how you pick yourself up afterwards, and that’s the struggle you have to get through before you taste success.
As Rocky Balboa put it:
It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
Peer pressure
Never do something just because someone else is doing it and succeeding. Commit fully to what you want to do, and be passionate about it.
Don’t compare yourself with peers who are ahead of you and end up demoralised. They went through their own struggles to get there.
You might not get there as fast as they did. Your learning curve might be different, and their learning methods might not work for you. It’s important to understand yourself and what works for you.
Be prepared to leave your comfort zone, and set your goals carefully.
Social media
I quit Facebook at about the same time I started coding seriously. I was wasting too much time scrolling for memes. Not everyone needs to quit if they have the self-control. I’m only on Twitter now, mainly to follow the #100DaysOfCode community.
This is my first blog post anywhere, and I hope to write more in the coming years and get better at writing.
If you’ve read this far, thanks, and I hope you have a great 2019 and reach your goals.