Techie, someone who is obsessed with everything about technology, either an Apple or Andriod fanboy, but not both, someone that wants a Tesla. Synonyms: nerd, geek, hacker, programmer, developer, technologist.

Last Thursday, I attended a Brown-bag meeting at TalentQL organized by TIIDELab, a software development training program in which I am currently enrolled. I got to listen to people who are creating amazing products and changing the world one line of code at a time. After being on the software development journey for over a year, getting motivated, giving up, beating myself up, and finding motivation to continue, I took a few notes that I'd like to share with you on why everyone should be on the software development path and some key things that'll make their journey (especially those starting out) in the field easier.

1. Look for opportunities to volunteer; volunteering has recently become a thing that should not be mentioned as so many software developers chase after that big pay check or FAANG companies to work for. When you volunteer, you meet a community that you can tap into and network with people who can help you advance your career.
2. Get yourself a mentor; mentoring can reduce a three-year journey to as little as a year. It will help you get more opportunities faster.
3. Prioritize your mental health at all times; techies have a habit of locking themselves away in a dark room with bright screens, coding away and alienating everyone. Don't sacrifice your mental health to code. Maintain a healthy balance between family, loved ones, and other interests. What would you do if coding was no longer an option?
4. Build and ship live projects that you can show off; knowing how to code is one thing, but knowing how to set up a scalable project is quite another. Don't take on too many tasks while learning; instead, focus on that 70% and give it your all, leaving 30% for other things.
5. Make a list of your short-, medium-, and long-term goals and work consistently to achieve them. This will assist you in remaining accountable and evaluating your progress.
6. Develop your skills as a developer with depth. This statement continues to ring true for me. There aren't many developers with depth in the tech space; if you have depth and understanding in your skill set, you'll be indispensable.
7. Money should not be the primary motivator; instead, focus on learning and mastering your skill. You can use this as leverage to negotiate any amount.

The world is a jumble of problems, and only those with the ability to solve them thrive. The goal of software development is to solve problems and make life easier. Why does everyone require some knowledge of software development? If you see yourself as a problem solver just as software developers, you will approach any situation differently and more methodically. Making the most of what you have and coming out on top or successful.

This is the fourth week of the Hashnode #4articles4weeks writeathon. It's been a fantastic journey writing weekly articles, and I intend to incorporate it into my weekly schedule.

I hope you found this week's blog interesting. Have a great time and a wonderful week! Remember to like, share, and comment on your thoughts.

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