Think of coding as a tool
Too many people get wrapped up in the mindset that they need to learn to code. This is a trap and it’s hard to get motivated to learn for learnings sake. It’s better to think of coding as a tool. It’s a means to an end. It’s something you need to acquire to reach your goal. You have a vision of something you want to build or are seeking some quality of life improvement. The end goal isn’t to write gibberish into your computer terminal.
My experience learning
In 2012, I didn’t set out to enjoy the coding part of building a business. It was a means to an end. I was broke, driving a shuttle for minimum wage, and trying to build a startup. I couldn’t afford to hire a developer, so in order to see my startup idea built out, I had to teach myself.
Fortunately, I stuck through the frustrations of learning because I was passionate about what I was building. Eventually this passion flipped, and I became more interested in my newfound code wielding powers. It’s a pretty cool feeling — being able to control an army of computers with a few keystrokes or write the application code used by millions of people daily.
Be careful.
By the end of this journey, you might decide to leave your day job because you love building software and want to do it full time.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about income expectations and the time it takes to learn.
For those making the switch, here’s a link to my post on how long it takes to earn a six figure income.