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For a different perspective, I'm a self-taught developer, designer, and business consultant who left college after a year and didn't even begin learning to prog

For a different perspective, I'm a self-taught developer, designer, and business consultant who left college after a year and didn't even begin learning to program until 21. I'm 29 now, and I pretty much feel that the world is my oyster. Clients who attended Ivy league universities pay me large amounts of money to solve their problems (they never ask where or whether I went to college, just whether I can fix their problems), I have a huge number of valuable connections (including investors and people who know plenty of investors), and I feel generally highly respected for my achievements and skills, which aren't really even that impressive on the HN scale. If I wanted a full time job (I don't), I could have my pick of dozens of great companies. I honestly believe that straying from The Path, as you put it, is why I'm in a good position now. It's been challenging at times, but it ensured that I didn't just settle for whatever inertia threw my way. If I didn't make something of myself, no one was going to give me a free pass based on the prestige of my degree, so it forced me to make something of myself, and instead of ending up with some safe and boring post along The Path, I've learned skills that allow me to make my own Path and walk it on my own terms. I think I'm a better person for it.

pwr 12y ago
I'm really interested in how you managed to start out on yourself. Care to share your story? When I was 19 I managed to get a developer job at a medium-sized german dating site. I'm 22 now, still working on the said dating site, so my experience is pretty niche and limited and so are my connections. I'm actually pretty strong programming-wise (PHP and JavaScript professionally and Clojure(Script) and Go on the side.) But I completely lack any experience with business and design other than reading HN and blogs. My goal is to get into freelancing/consulting the way patio11 describes it: make thing-X which will make/safe client-Y Z-amount-of-money. The challenge for me is: - how to get experience in making thing-X without having the connections to get client-Y - how to get client-Y without having the experience in making thing-X
- monort 12y ago
  If you don't have non-compete clause, you should try to use your niche experience to build your own dating service.
- danenania 12y ago
  What worked for me is simply learning as much as I could and keeping an eye out for opportunities to turn pure tech engagements into more business-focused and value-based projects. Once you start looking, you realize they are plentiful. Even just being a good programmer who can evaluate features and prioritize based on business value puts you way way way ahead. If you're reading a lot of patio's writing, you're probably on the right track. It can take some time to make the transition, but it will happen if you keep at it.
n_n 12y ago
I'm in a similar situation right now. 22 and just finished college and I want to hone my programming skills for the next 10 years. May I ask how did you get into the position you are in today? How much time did you spend programming a day? What was you approach (work through a book, or pick a project and execute in language x)? Did you have a side job while you were teach yourself programming? Your response will be much appreciated.
n_n 12y ago
I'm in a similar situation right now. 22 and just finished college and I want to hone my programming skills for the next 10 years. May I ask how did you get into the position you are in today? How much time did you spend programming a day? What was you approach (work through a book, or pick a project and execute in language x)? Did you have a side job while you were teach yourself programming? Your response will be much appreciated.

pwr 12y ago

I'm really interested in how you managed to start out on yourself. Care to share your story? When I was 19 I managed to get a developer job at a medium-sized german dating site. I'm 22 now, still working on the said dating site, so my experience is pretty niche and limited and so are my connections. I'm actually pretty strong programming-wise (PHP and JavaScript professionally and Clojure(Script) and Go on the side.) But I completely lack any experience with business and design other than reading HN and blogs. My goal is to get into freelancing/consulting the way patio11 describes it: make thing-X which will make/safe client-Y Z-amount-of-money. The challenge for me is: - how to get experience in making thing-X without having the connections to get client-Y - how to get client-Y without having the experience in making thing-X

monort 12y ago
If you don't have non-compete clause, you should try to use your niche experience to build your own dating service.
danenania 12y ago
What worked for me is simply learning as much as I could and keeping an eye out for opportunities to turn pure tech engagements into more business-focused and value-based projects. Once you start looking, you realize they are plentiful. Even just being a good programmer who can evaluate features and prioritize based on business value puts you way way way ahead. If you're reading a lot of patio's writing, you're probably on the right track. It can take some time to make the transition, but it will happen if you keep at it.

n_n 12y ago

I'm in a similar situation right now. 22 and just finished college and I want to hone my programming skills for the next 10 years. May I ask how did you get into the position you are in today? How much time did you spend programming a day? What was you approach (work through a book, or pick a project and execute in language x)? Did you have a side job while you were teach yourself programming? Your response will be much appreciated.

n_n 12y ago