Develop Yourself

Let me be clear: junior developers are necessary.

They are also risky to hire.

Let's explore the economics of hiring juniors, how to de-risk yourself and what the hell "junior" really means.

Also - here's my email if you want any targeted advice: [email protected]

Include your Github and LinkedIn and I'll give you my 3 cents!

PS. We have 2 spots left for the last cohort of the year. Join me at Parsity.io if you want to become a software developer in 2025.

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🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Aaron went from rapper to New York City Transit worker to working at some of the largest names in tech including Coinbase, Docker and Meta (Facebook).

This story isn't really about tech or money, but that's a piece of it.

The real story is about refusing to settle, rising above your circumstances and creating options in life when you feel like you don't have any.

Aaron has nothing to sell you.

He reached out to me because he wants to share his story in the hopes it will help others who may be struggling or feel stuck.

If you're not inspired by Aaron's journey, there's a chance you're a robot.

You can connect with Aaron on LinkedIn here

Send us a text

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🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

The problem with the tech advice you get on LinkedIn, X and TikTok is that it doesn't reflect reality.

The loudest voices dominate the space and create an echo chamber.

Luckily, Stack Overflow surveys tens of thousands of developers every year to find out:
 
- what professional developers REALLY think about AI taking their jobs
- the technology everyone is using 
- the tools we use daily to write code

Let's explore some of the most interesting take aways from this year's survey.

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🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Parsity grad Nils decided to change careers at 44 from professor of music to software engineer.

His story may not seem typical but in many ways it follows the same pattern that has worked for other career changers:

- He worked on real world projects in exchange for credibility.
- He was open to hybrid opportunities.
- He went outside LinkedIn and leveraged his personal network.

His life changed.

Pretty cool story. 

Nils breaks down how he did it in this episode with some practical takeaways for listeners.

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

15 years ago I made money by trading various substances for cash. 

I was hooked on drugs, alcohol and living like a loser. 

It took 3 near death experiences, 2 children, 1 intervention and too many sleepless nights to count before I changed my ways.

The transition from criminal addict to nerdy software engineer was tough and there are lesson from my former life which have helped me navigate a career in tech.

Let's explore 3 lessons that can apply to your (legal) career 😅

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Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

I used to hate admitting my mistakes when I was a more junior developer.

Over the years, I've made some embarrassing blunders. I've thought I was going to be fired a dozen times.

You can not avoid making mistakes as a software developer. It's part of the learning process. 

There are a few common problems most developers will encounter that have nothing to do with coding. How you handle them will determine how fast your career grows and if it's heading in the right direction.

I sit down with author and software engineering leader, Alex Lau to discuss our biggest mistakes so far and what we've learned from them. 

Don't judge us... too much.

Alex has written an amazing field guide for software developers to avoid the most common career mistakes. Check it out here.

Alex's book Keep Calm and Code On

Alex's LinkedIn.

This is the book I wish I had when I first started writing code professionally.

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Should I even be telling you this?

I mean I own a coding bootcamp.

The reality is that you don't need a degree OR a coding bootcamp to be a hire-able developer but there's a reason why the majority of software engineers have some formal education.

Let's go over a plan for you to learn the basics of web development on your own and whether or not a coding bootcamp makes sense for you or not.

If a coding bootcamp is for you - join me at Parsity.io 😎 and get a massive discount if you enroll by next week. I'm working 1 on 1 with the first 5 people to prep for the program!

Here's the vide on APIs I was talking about in the episode. Watch here.

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Pessimists are often right.

Optimists are often successful.

When you're doing something new like learning to code, you don't have any "proof" that you will be good at it. Your brain wants to find patterns to protect you from an uncertain future.

You scroll IG, YouTube or LinkedIn and are inundated with horror stories which affect your confidence. You begin to doubt that you can actually make it.

Before you adopt someone else's narrative. Create your own proof. 

Let's go over 2 practical ways to cultivate optimism, one of the most important traits any new developer can have.

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Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

Learning to code isn't enough.

10 years ago, being able to write some HTML, CSS, Jquery and JavaScript could land you a job.

Honestly, you can still make money just knowing these basics. But, if you want career where you work on interesting problems and are highly compensated, there are 3 skills you're going to need which we'll explore and learn practical ways to acquire them.

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI

William Ray is a YouTuber, coder, and recent bootcamp graduate.

We discuss how he went from a background in behavioral health to freelancing in the tech industry, overcoming addiction, the challenges of the job market, and the importance of time management.

William shares his experience of learning Java and Vue, the significance of building a network, and his innovative approach to finding freelance work.

Connect with Will here 👈

Send us a text

Shameless Plugs

🧑‍💻 Free 5 day email course to go from HTML to AI

🤔 Got a question you want answered on the pod? Drop it here

Apply for 1 of 12 spots at Parsity - Learn to build complex software with AI integrations.

AI Bootcamp - for software developers who want to be the expert on their team when it comes to AI