Awesome post! Its hard to decide the top answers, because there are soooo many things I would tell myself that I didn't know when I began programming. Here are some:
Don't sweat the small stuff. You are not the first person to make this mistake (whatever that may be) and you will not be the last.
Do yoga! You'll thank me when you don't get bursitis or backaches. And the more circulation you have the more blood that goes to your brain.
Find a programming path you enjoy and stick with it. Be an expert at one thing at least - and believe in it. Have a reason why you do that particular job.
Take mental breaks
Learn from the best.
Read a lot.
Teach yourself the art of total concentration
Talk to the rubber duck - its the only way to get from point "A" to point "B" without going on tangents that waste time.
There is no shame in not knowing something.
However far your special skills and knowledge take you remember who you are and what it took to get there. Namaste!
Hey, I’m Ted — I spent almost three decades writing code before I started writing about code. These days I explore how developers build, break, and secure things — from APIs and AI models to the weird
Hey, I’m Ted — I spent almost three decades writing code before I started writing about code. These days I explore how developers build, break, and secure things — from APIs and AI models to the weird
I do career panels every once in a while and get asked a variation of this question.
One thing I wish I started earlier in my career was networking.
Get out there to coding meetups, cons, presentations, etc. Make connections. You are more likely to land a new gig through your network than you are through a recruiter or hunting it yourself. Same goes for when you become a hiring manager -- you'll never have to use a recruiter or post-and-wait websites.
Hey, I’m Ted — I spent almost three decades writing code before I started writing about code. These days I explore how developers build, break, and secure things — from APIs and AI models to the weird
Worked for 25+ years in the IT industry first in the Federal Government, then consulting for years, then at Match.com for 15 years. Taking a sabbatical into 2022 figuring out what I'm doing next!
Not there yet, but sounds like great advice. When I get my first developer job, I'm going to print this out, frame it, and hang it on the wall above my monitor.
Hey, I’m Ted — I spent almost three decades writing code before I started writing about code. These days I explore how developers build, break, and secure things — from APIs and AI models to the weird
It's just a tongue-in-cheek advise on food choices. I just wished I drank less caffeine (hypertension and all) ate less pizza and chips (probably why my triglycerides are so bad). I still eat and drink these now, but in moderation.
Awesome post! Its hard to decide the top answers, because there are soooo many things I would tell myself that I didn't know when I began programming. Here are some:
I definitely wish I had done 2 and 3.
never too late my friend!
I love #1 (liked the book too)
me too! also, my grammy once told me "worry is a wasted emotion."
I loved this answer
Thanks Ben
Invest in Bitcoin
I do career panels every once in a while and get asked a variation of this question.
One thing I wish I started earlier in my career was networking.
Get out there to coding meetups, cons, presentations, etc. Make connections. You are more likely to land a new gig through your network than you are through a recruiter or hunting it yourself. Same goes for when you become a hiring manager -- you'll never have to use a recruiter or post-and-wait websites.
Plus all the things you learn is a bonus.
Agree 100%. I forgot to put this one. Also, hackathons.
Great advice!
7b. The math nerds you remember from school don't understand machine learning either.
I say as a master of math without a lick of ML knowledge despite reading up on it :P
Re #5: You'll pry my coffee from my dead, frozen hands! :-)
Not there yet, but sounds like great advice. When I get my first developer job, I'm going to print this out, frame it, and hang it on the wall above my monitor.
I always try to answer or explain things like I wanted have them explained when I was asking this. That's how trainees skills grow faster.
Emphasis on 9 to 13 :-D
Love point 12!
That's what it means to be dependable.
That's great advice. I'm glad I read it 😀
Great stuff if you could clarify number 5
It's just a tongue-in-cheek advise on food choices. I just wished I drank less caffeine (hypertension and all) ate less pizza and chips (probably why my triglycerides are so bad). I still eat and drink these now, but in moderation.
Great advice! Thanks for the post!