Staying Highly Motivated in Your Programming Journey
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Chapter 1: My Programming Journey
Every programmer faces obstacles that can lead to feelings of demotivation and even job abandonment. I want to share a bit about my own journey.
During my studies in web programming, I never envisioned making a living from it. In fact, I didn't take on any freelance projects that year; I was simply focused on creating personal projects.
Isn’t that odd?
Fast forward a year, and I managed to land a few straightforward projects through friends and later via LinkedIn. This kept me quite busy. Shortly after completing those, I was offered a 9-to-5 internship, which I felt compelled to accept due to my limited experience.
Throughout this period, I gained significant knowledge in various technologies like Next.js (which I learned during my internship), Handlebar.js, TailwindCSS, and more.
However, I soon took a break, which turned out to be disastrous. I found myself forgetting many programming concepts, needing to review technologies, and even struggling with syntax. This experience highlighted the importance of consistency for success. To achieve this, it's essential to be deeply passionate about your work.
Section 1.1: Cultivating Passion
We all understand that pursuing a career we enjoy leads to success. Yet, many of us struggle to find that passion.
Ask any programmer, actor, influencer, or entrepreneur about their feelings towards their work, and most responses will likely be negative. I once heard a podcast where a famous Bollywood actor expressed dissatisfaction with his career, a sentiment echoed across various professions.
If you're a beginner or intermediate programmer, it can be tough to stay motivated. Therefore, it's crucial to cultivate a strong desire to pursue your work regardless of your passion.
Section 1.2: Financial Motivation
You read that right—money drives my motivation. It empowers me to put in more effort, create greater value, and achieve better outcomes.
While I make sure to save and invest a portion of my earnings, I also enjoy the freedom that financial stability brings. It allows me to live the lifestyle I desire and pursue experiences I cherish.
Thus, the motivation to earn more is a significant factor in my drive.
Chapter 2: The Power of Networking
Interacting with successful individuals has been invaluable. I follow remarkable people on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Medium, many of whom serve as role models.
Engaging with these individuals allows me to learn from their journeys, mistakes, and achievements. Their stories inspire me to strive for a similar life, fueling my motivation to succeed.
The first video, "Why You Can't Stay Motivated when Coding (& how to fix it)," discusses the common challenges programmers face in maintaining motivation and offers practical solutions.
The second video, "Why is staying motivated in tech so difficult? (And how to fix it)," explores the hurdles in the tech industry and suggests ways to overcome them.
Section 2.1: Exploring Side Hustles
Honestly, I don't enjoy programming 24/7, which is why I've sought out different side projects.
Programming involves crafting software in languages like C, Java, C++, or Python, and to get hired, one must excel in coding and data structures. Not being fond of this led me to explore web programming instead. Crafting websites by writing a few lines of code is enjoyable for me and serves as a fulfilling side project.
I also ventured into writing about technical topics, which I found engaging. These side hustles are all technology-related and enrich my professional life.
Let's Conclude
I've shared my journey and motivational strategies that have propelled my career forward.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you found it insightful.