I'm 34 living with my mom. Working 2 jobs 54 hours a week 7 days a week while studying CS and trying to lose weight. I will do this and come out on top
I've started at 35. went to college again. Would not be possible without the support of my wife. Best advice I can give: Stick to one language. It doesn't matter witch one you line most, you will get a job eventually. Just keep grinding.
Damn I couldn't imagine learning to code with a kid as well. Props to anyone that can pull it off. I was so burnt out when I finally landed my first dev job. It was a grind!
@@erniepaj yea, that was like over 10 years ago when I was washing dishes full time. It took a long time, but I wanted it more than anything, and eventually broke in and grew to where I am today - wfh developer making 6 figures. It took a long time and I had a lot of up and downs, but I kept my eye on the prize. At one point my wife thought maybe I should give up and try something else when I couldn’t find a job. I thought about it, but then I decided to triple down on coding and give it absolutely everything. Thankfully it paid off lol
A year ago I found a youtube vid about how the brain will learn something, then keep working on it subconsciously when you have down time. A great trick is to do something mundane that doesn't use your brain between learning sessions or when you feel your frustration levels getting to high. I think this is why people often come up with great ideas in the Shower, or suddenly think of a solution to a problem their having as their trying to get to sleep. I find 10 mins of housework, between learning sessions to be a great way to retain what I'm learning and I don't have to worry about doing chores just before bed :D
"do something mundane that doesn't use your brain between learning sessions" I like this. When it comes to critical thinking, I imagine we all have a battery of focus that can be used for complex tasks. Your battery may be a different size than someone else's, but once that's depleted for the day, you yield poor results for the effort.
@@talleman201 I am in an almost identical situation as you when you started. I'm 38, just bought a house that I'm remodeling, got a wife and a four year old. I am still in the research phase (is coding right for me?). May I ask how you got started? Did you buy software and just get to work? Thank you in advance 🙏
@@nipalife2391 My story is pretty well covered here: th-cam.com/video/8ZTsn1n6P5s/w-d-xo.html I started coding by learning a bit of VBA for my job, and figured out that I really enjoyed automating things. Started doing CodeCademy, and FreeCodeCamp, then just kindof fell into a full time job doing coding.
Outstanding video! Learning to code right now with a full time job, wife, 2 kids, and Church leadership activities. You have to want it and you have to get your family on board. My wife and I work together to ensure I am hitting 2 hours a day.
Struggling with all this right now but reassured by the no bs advice, because it aligns with what I was thinking I need to do to overcome my “time” issues.
Im 40 and Ive studied computer science and I code since I was 18, Ive worked on and off of this industry, since 2021 Ive been working entirely as a programmer but nowadays is really hard to catch up these new technologies, I have a job as SE
Thanks a lot for your video content. I've just started coding at 37 while having 2 jobs. I believe we can do anything as long as we like it. And this is a great channel for weekly inspirations.
I feel this, it took me 4 years as self-taught to get a dev job and my job is only part-time at the moment. However, I tracked all of my programming time. I had over 2,000 hours of strong programming time (usually between 5 to 20 hours a week) before I finally landed paid work. As Don mentions in this video and many of his other videos, consistency is key. You also have to want it because sometimes you will feel hopeless. Also, I recommend surrounding yourself with other people in a similar position, it definitely helps.
That part-time gig is a start! "You also have to want it because sometimes you will feel hopeless." This is so important. That motivation WILL dip. Then, what you do from there is going to determine if you reach that finish line or not.
Hey mate, 34 years old, have a wife, 2 kids who are twins at the age of 2, full-time shift work 4 x 4, however at the start of this year I am studying IT as well as Web Dev qualification, I either get up at 3am or stay up late after the kids are in bed to get some hours and grind in, i have given myself small term goals to achieve which in the end works towards a big goal
You can totally do it! I’m 49 and I completed a front end developer certification on Coursera. I have a full-time job and other responsibilities, but I did some every single day and took a day off here and there to rest. It is possible, you just have to make it a priority. Momentum is a powerful force, so it’s important to keep it going.
Great video this. I am 33, full time job and family. I started coding about 6-7 months roughly. I am at the end of scrimba frontend. The react oortion. It isn't easy at all. However, I have never clicked with anything like I have with coding. You are correct you need to make time, no shortcuts in this racket.
I would argue that these are great advices for people who either have kids, extremely time consuming jobs, or straight up have two jobs, which is why reading the full title is pretty important. I say this because, now that I'm just a normal single adult (late 20s) I have more free time than what I had as a teen or college student. I got a CS degree, but I had extra time for personal projects and gaming during my time in college too. Being an adult without kids feels like going to school but getting paid for your time, in a way.
Hello Don, I've been watching your videos for over 2 years now. I've been trying to learn how to code for 2 years(i'm 29 now) while being on and off from it and while being the biggest procrastinator. Responsibilities and full time job were making me take months off coding and in doing that ,i was frustrated and anxious by my actions.( i was studying for 1-2 months and then off for 2-3 moths ). I made the decision to swap my job for a part-time one and make coding my first priority. I learned from my mistakes and i will make it through this in the end. Thank you Don, for helping and inspiring new Developers , you're truly amazing! BELIEVE GUYS!
That on and off schedule for learning to code has prevented so many developers from gaining deep enough knowledge to be competitive in the market. I'm glad you found a way past that.
I am a qa automation and got married and now have a baby, and you’re right before I have all the time learning something, but now having family responsibilities while need to learn more, in my case need to learn different programming language and technologies is truly a challenge. But I’ll try your suggestions, to really make time and communicate it with family. Thanks a lot!
lol Christ I had thought about doing this as well at work, even though I know my mind needs uninterupted silence and my lunch break is my time to decompress. Working in a high school sucks!
My experience in the past, working from morning to evening and playing game aka runescape. But runescrape need long hours grind, so i need to find some way to automate it. First touch is learning Java to become proficient with it. Time goes on, learning java as first language for me is great advantage and easier to learn another language later. Time goes by, getting call from webdev job, interview and hired. That not tough as you think. Do what you want and learning how to archive your target by decomposite it to small cake. That take times, patient and long hours grind of coding is the best way how to learn to code xD.
I am a beginner, 36, 2 kids, and I watch a lot of vba excel. It is the easiest. I learned a lot from excel mastery. I will learn other languages after mastering excel vba.
I think people need to stop thinking of coding, at least the front end side of things, as some abstract entity. It's building. It's refining. It's developing the skills to create something functional and, if you're lucky, something beautiful. Think of it as a craft. One that takes years to master. You are a craftsman/woman. Approach it with that level of artistic passion and focus and the sky's the limit.
7:15 To me, flow works when you already know what you're doing, or using skills you have already acquired, it makes working on something effortless. Learning takes effort, if it doesn't feel difficult your brain has no reason to adapt, it will not make new connections. So, if you are trying to learn something new and experience flow, you are probably doing it wrong. It's good for improving skills though, to practice things you already know.
@@DonTheDeveloper I agree flow and focus go hand in hand, but to my mind, whether flow is useful for learning depends on what stage of learning you are at and the type of skill you're trying to improve. If the learning relies mostly on memorizing facts, references, definitions, and data, then focused attention is great. If the learning is about processes, procedures, techniques, analysis, evaluation, insight, or intuition, then too much focus can lead to a 'can't see the forest for the trees' mindset, and you may move in the wrong direction. As Scott Young says in his book 'Ultralearning': More complex tasks tend to benefit from a more relaxed kind of focus. I'm just saying learning is complex, and flow and focus can be a double edged swords. 'Communications of the ACM' has a nice article about the complexities of learning for developers, just search for '10 Things Software Developers Should Learn About Learning' to find it.
I’m 20 years old, and I’m deciding whether I should go to college, or go the self taught route. I also have ADHD. What can I do? I want to become a backend developer.
It sounds like you're looking for a simple answer for a complicated question. Seek out a mentor and have them dig into your situation a bit more to help you make those decisions.
I appreciate the good will but honestly try to joggle full time office job, wife, kids and find time and energy for something like learning programming while also having zero tech background. And do not lose yourself or family in the process. Keep telling them everyday that you are busy, wont play with them, spend time with them etc. This is what it takes.
Coding takes too long to complete the certification especially if you’re going the self taught route with a full time job or etc. also it’s not a guarantee that you will find a legit coding job afterwards.
Please don't discourage moms of newborns from pursuing learning to code!!! There will NEVER be a better, calmer, less chaotic time in parenting...each stage brings its own challenges and "interruptions", and if you are waiting for that time to come, you will be waiting a LONG time. If I had known what I know now, I would have started my learning journey 16 years ago! After getting my kids on a eating/sleeping routine, the first 1.5- 2 years of parenting was the most structured and predictable. Looking back, that would have been the ideal time for me to take on a project like this. Each person is different, and our success will be determined by too many factors to generalize. I think each of us have to determine what metrics we are using to define and track success for our own learning journey.
I've been listening to moms on their learning to code journey for 5+ years. I've mentored a lot of them. "Please don't discourage moms of newborns from pursuing learning to code!!! There will NEVER be a better, calmer, less chaotic time in parenting" This just isn't true for many of them. I'm not discouraging moms from learning to code. I'm saying you don't need to rush into it. The reality is that the newborn years can be brutal and many have found that they can actually make meaningful, consistent strides after that period. And that's ok.
Hey man. Do you know any website/company/organization that helps people that are on disability to get a laptop? Even super cheap monthly payments? I been wanting to learn web dev for a long time.
Maybe a rent-a-center if you have a local one near you? Frequent visits to your local library can be a good option as well. You'll just have to search around.
I'm 34 living with my mom. Working 2 jobs 54 hours a week 7 days a week while studying CS and trying to lose weight. I will do this and come out on top
Damn right you will.
I've started at 35. went to college again. Would not be possible without the support of my wife. Best advice I can give: Stick to one language. It doesn't matter witch one you line most, you will get a job eventually. Just keep grinding.
Damn I couldn't imagine learning to code with a kid as well. Props to anyone that can pull it off. I was so burnt out when I finally landed my first dev job. It was a grind!
Same. Props to those parents indeed.
I’ll never forget my days working 40hrs a week washing dishes grinding on code on the evening
I love stories like this.
did you eventually code as a living?
@@erniepaj yea, that was like over 10 years ago when I was washing dishes full time. It took a long time, but I wanted it more than anything, and eventually broke in and grew to where I am today - wfh developer making 6 figures. It took a long time and I had a lot of up and downs, but I kept my eye on the prize. At one point my wife thought maybe I should give up and try something else when I couldn’t find a job. I thought about it, but then I decided to triple down on coding and give it absolutely everything. Thankfully it paid off lol
I wish I hadn't quit my job to focus full-time on coding. But I appreciate all the learning and growth thus far 🙏🏾.
If only we could go back in time. But we can't. So we push forward.
A year ago I found a youtube vid about how the brain will learn something, then keep working on it subconsciously when you have down time.
A great trick is to do something mundane that doesn't use your brain between learning sessions or when you feel your frustration levels getting to high.
I think this is why people often come up with great ideas in the Shower, or suddenly think of a solution to a problem their having as their trying to get to sleep.
I find 10 mins of housework, between learning sessions to be a great way to retain what I'm learning and I don't have to worry about doing chores just before bed :D
"do something mundane that doesn't use your brain between learning sessions"
I like this. When it comes to critical thinking, I imagine we all have a battery of focus that can be used for complex tasks. Your battery may be a different size than someone else's, but once that's depleted for the day, you yield poor results for the effort.
I used to do this in college. I study then nap then study then nap. I woke up with concepts clicking.
I learned to code at 38 while building a house, living in a camper, and raising kids. Also had a full time job. No excuses. just do it!
Let's go!!
You are a bullet! :D congrats
Great job!! Congratulations
@@talleman201 I am in an almost identical situation as you when you started. I'm 38, just bought a house that I'm remodeling, got a wife and a four year old. I am still in the research phase (is coding right for me?). May I ask how you got started? Did you buy software and just get to work? Thank you in advance 🙏
@@nipalife2391 My story is pretty well covered here: th-cam.com/video/8ZTsn1n6P5s/w-d-xo.html
I started coding by learning a bit of VBA for my job, and figured out that I really enjoyed automating things. Started doing CodeCademy, and FreeCodeCamp, then just kindof fell into a full time job doing coding.
Outstanding video! Learning to code right now with a full time job, wife, 2 kids, and Church leadership activities. You have to want it and you have to get your family on board. My wife and I work together to ensure I am hitting 2 hours a day.
"you have to get your family on board"
Undervalued advice for sure. This is so important.
Just like getting successful, learning to code is just the beginning. Building things is the hard part.
Struggling with all this right now but reassured by the no bs advice, because it aligns with what I was thinking I need to do to overcome my “time” issues.
Im 40 and Ive studied computer science and I code since I was 18, Ive worked on and off of this industry, since 2021 Ive been working entirely as a programmer but nowadays is really hard to catch up these new technologies, I have a job as SE
Great advice Don.
34 now - got my first job
Thanks a lot for your video content. I've just started coding at 37 while having 2 jobs. I believe we can do anything as long as we like it. And this is a great channel for weekly inspirations.
Enjoying it makes such a big difference. You need that enjoyment for those low energy, low motivation nights.
I feel this, it took me 4 years as self-taught to get a dev job and my job is only part-time at the moment.
However, I tracked all of my programming time. I had over 2,000 hours of strong programming time (usually between 5 to 20 hours a week) before I finally landed paid work. As Don mentions in this video and many of his other videos, consistency is key. You also have to want it because sometimes you will feel hopeless.
Also, I recommend surrounding yourself with other people in a similar position, it definitely helps.
That part-time gig is a start!
"You also have to want it because sometimes you will feel hopeless."
This is so important. That motivation WILL dip. Then, what you do from there is going to determine if you reach that finish line or not.
Hey mate, 34 years old, have a wife, 2 kids who are twins at the age of 2, full-time shift work 4 x 4, however at the start of this year I am studying IT as well as Web Dev qualification, I either get up at 3am or stay up late after the kids are in bed to get some hours and grind in, i have given myself small term goals to achieve which in the end works towards a big goal
I'm 43, I'm just starting, and I work full time. But I'm going to do this.
Consistency is key. Don't let up!
@@DonTheDeveloper Thanx, I won't.
@@DonTheDeveloper Appreciate the adhd video, I have adhd and I was thinking how it would affect me, but it's all good.
I have Bose and I had no idea I can replace the ear muff part omg. Thanks.
Haha np. Something to note though is that the replacements are never as good as the original ear muffs at keeping outside noise out.
You can totally do it! I’m 49 and I completed a front end developer certification on Coursera. I have a full-time job and other responsibilities, but I did some every single day and took a day off here and there to rest. It is possible, you just have to make it a priority. Momentum is a powerful force, so it’s important to keep it going.
"Momentum is a powerful force"
Underrated advice right here.
Great video this. I am 33, full time job and family.
I started coding about 6-7 months roughly. I am at the end of scrimba frontend. The react oortion. It isn't easy at all. However, I have never clicked with anything like I have with coding. You are correct you need to make time, no shortcuts in this racket.
I would argue that these are great advices for people who either have kids, extremely time consuming jobs, or straight up have two jobs, which is why reading the full title is pretty important. I say this because, now that I'm just a normal single adult (late 20s) I have more free time than what I had as a teen or college student. I got a CS degree, but I had extra time for personal projects and gaming during my time in college too.
Being an adult without kids feels like going to school but getting paid for your time, in a way.
Learning a new thing as an adult is incredibly hard, but it gets easier if you have the raw desire to learn.
Hello Don, I've been watching your videos for over 2 years now. I've been trying to learn how to code for 2 years(i'm 29 now) while being on and off from it and while being the biggest procrastinator. Responsibilities and full time job were making me take months off coding and in doing that ,i was frustrated and anxious by my actions.( i was studying for 1-2 months and then off for 2-3 moths ).
I made the decision to swap my job for a part-time one and make coding my first priority. I learned from my mistakes and i will make it through this in the end.
Thank you Don, for helping and inspiring new Developers , you're truly amazing! BELIEVE GUYS!
That on and off schedule for learning to code has prevented so many developers from gaining deep enough knowledge to be competitive in the market. I'm glad you found a way past that.
Thanks for this video!
wow what a video - glad this came up recommended to me needed this wake up call
Glad to hear it!
18 months of +8 hours per day of coding got me in the industry as a fullstack dev in 2022
edit: Started at 37 years old
I love the video man!
You could run for office the way you speak so eloquently and passionately. Thank you for your content. It really makes a difference.
Great Video, doing a little everyday helps.
I am a qa automation and got married and now have a baby, and you’re right before I have all the time learning something, but now having family responsibilities while need to learn more, in my case need to learn different programming language and technologies is truly a challenge. But I’ll try your suggestions, to really make time and communicate it with family. Thanks a lot!
Awesome video man. The first step is to get people to take full accountability instead of lying to themselves.
This step is so important, but once you're finally willing to own up to these things, it makes you so much more durable for the bumpy road ahead.
I am learning how to code while having a full time job, studying networking engineering, systems admin, learning linux, I did slot in time to code.
literally me right now
lol Christ I had thought about doing this as well at work, even though I know my mind needs uninterupted silence and my lunch break is my time to decompress. Working in a high school sucks!
I think for me, your videos are my grounding.
Lol. You earn a new follower. You have a great mindset
My experience in the past, working from morning to evening and playing game aka runescape.
But runescrape need long hours grind, so i need to find some way to automate it. First touch is learning Java to become proficient with it. Time goes on, learning java as first language for me is great advantage and easier to learn another language later.
Time goes by, getting call from webdev job, interview and hired. That not tough as you think.
Do what you want and learning how to archive your target by decomposite it to small cake. That take times, patient and long hours grind of coding is the best way how to learn to code xD.
I am a beginner, 36, 2 kids, and I watch a lot of vba excel. It is the easiest. I learned a lot from excel mastery. I will learn other languages after mastering excel vba.
I think people need to stop thinking of coding, at least the front end side of things, as some abstract entity. It's building. It's refining. It's developing the skills to create something functional and, if you're lucky, something beautiful. Think of it as a craft. One that takes years to master. You are a craftsman/woman. Approach it with that level of artistic passion and focus and the sky's the limit.
7:15 To me, flow works when you already know what you're doing, or using skills you have already acquired, it makes working on something effortless.
Learning takes effort, if it doesn't feel difficult your brain has no reason to adapt, it will not make new connections.
So, if you are trying to learn something new and experience flow, you are probably doing it wrong.
It's good for improving skills though, to practice things you already know.
Flow is all about focus. Your focus can be dialed in with learning something new and challenging.
@@DonTheDeveloper I agree flow and focus go hand in hand, but to my mind, whether flow is useful for learning depends on what stage of learning you are at and the type of skill you're trying to improve.
If the learning relies mostly on memorizing facts, references, definitions, and data, then focused attention is great.
If the learning is about processes, procedures, techniques, analysis, evaluation, insight, or intuition, then too much focus can lead to a 'can't see the forest for the trees' mindset, and you may move in the wrong direction.
As Scott Young says in his book 'Ultralearning': More complex tasks tend to benefit from a more relaxed kind of focus.
I'm just saying learning is complex, and flow and focus can be a double edged swords.
'Communications of the ACM' has a nice article about the complexities of learning for developers, just search for '10 Things Software Developers Should Learn About Learning' to find it.
f i might add put a timer on your phone(like 30min) put your phone at a distant away and try learning a subject matter until the clock runs out
forgot the i from if sorry
Dedicating blocks of time for this is a great strategy! Keep it short. 30 minutes is good.
yes
I’m 20 years old, and I’m deciding whether I should go to college, or go the self taught route. I also have ADHD. What can I do? I want to become a backend developer.
It sounds like you're looking for a simple answer for a complicated question. Seek out a mentor and have them dig into your situation a bit more to help you make those decisions.
Learn front-end first, no company searching someone without decent experience as their back-end dev
I appreciate the good will but honestly try to joggle full time office job, wife, kids and find time and energy for something like learning programming while also having zero tech background. And do not lose yourself or family in the process. Keep telling them everyday that you are busy, wont play with them, spend time with them etc. This is what it takes.
It's certainly a tough balance. The truth is, not everyone can make it work (at that point in time).
Coding takes too long to complete the certification especially if you’re going the self taught route with a full time job or etc. also it’s not a guarantee that you will find a legit coding job afterwards.
Honestly CS50 is killing me
Please don't discourage moms of newborns from pursuing learning to code!!! There will NEVER be a better, calmer, less chaotic time in parenting...each stage brings its own challenges and "interruptions", and if you are waiting for that time to come, you will be waiting a LONG time.
If I had known what I know now, I would have started my learning journey 16 years ago! After getting my kids on a eating/sleeping routine, the first 1.5- 2 years of parenting was the most structured and predictable. Looking back, that would have been the ideal time for me to take on a project like this.
Each person is different, and our success will be determined by too many factors to generalize. I think each of us have to determine what metrics we are using to define and track success for our own learning journey.
I've been listening to moms on their learning to code journey for 5+ years. I've mentored a lot of them.
"Please don't discourage moms of newborns from pursuing learning to code!!! There will NEVER be a better, calmer, less chaotic time in parenting"
This just isn't true for many of them. I'm not discouraging moms from learning to code. I'm saying you don't need to rush into it. The reality is that the newborn years can be brutal and many have found that they can actually make meaningful, consistent strides after that period. And that's ok.
Hey man. Do you know any website/company/organization that helps people that are on disability to get a laptop? Even super cheap monthly payments? I been wanting to learn web dev for a long time.
Maybe a rent-a-center if you have a local one near you? Frequent visits to your local library can be a good option as well. You'll just have to search around.
An adult**
Whoops! Thanks.
get cracked out and skip sleep
Don't do that.
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