I am going to assume this means how to start Coding. For me, my number 1 recommendation is freecodecamp.org.

There are a ton of places to start but the biggest thing is, education creates a window! You really won't know where your passion in tech may be until you get your feet wet a little bit and actually understand what things actually do! So spend a bit of time and get to Javascript. That will be your real taste of what programming can do. From there you can determine if you like designing, problem solving and doing backend work etc.

Hope this helps!

Thank you very muchDanny Thompson

Hey Girish. LOVE this question.

IMPORTANCE. Say this with me, not joking. Say it out loud. IMPORTANCE. When you disregard that project, you have mentally said "This isn't important" and you have prioritized WHAT IS important.

When you are ready to come back to it, mentally you are asking yourself "Why waste my time with something that isn't important?" So you disregard it.

You need to have a purpose for whatever you are doing. MAKE THE GOAL SO BIG and so attractive, that it never loses its importance! Make it so big that you get excited by the idea! if you do that, you will never disregard a project again.

IMPORTANCE! Hope this helps.

Thank you <3 Danny Thompson

Hey Faith! Love that name! That would also be my advice! Have Faith in Faith!

You are about to make some HUGE moves, some giant leaps and some life changes. Have Faith in Faith. Believe that you are incredible, because YOU ARE! YOU ARE VALUABLE! So just know that when you are entering and walking into these interviews!

To network, Be direct and walk with purpose! Don't walk into a conversation by accident! If you walk into a conversation, make an impact and give them a reason to NEVER forget who Faith Kovi is!

If you message someone, don't start with a Hi. Have a purpose for being there "Hi I saw that you posted a job in XYZ. Here are 3 reasons why I think we should have a conversation." Or "I see you are a developer working in the MERN stack. What tip could you offer someone who is interested in exploring this tech stack?"

Hope this helps!

Danny Thompson Wow, thanks a lot for this. Very helpful, just what I needed. And this is like a wake up call.

Hey Juan! Thank you for coming to the AMA!

The biggest challenge of being a community leader is the organizing and prioritizing everyone's needs! Can't tell you how many times I have wanted to do a meetup but thought "maybe this won't help this section of people grow!" For example, if I have a ton of Javascript developers, a meetup on wordpress may not be as valuable as a meetup on react!

So maintaining that balance is a real challenge at times. especially with the goal of keeping everything entertaining, engaging and educational!

But once you figure it out and figure out how to balance helping out each section of developers at a time, then it is truly a beautiful situation! That is also why I like doing meetups every two weeks. So if the first meetup isn't for a group of developers, the second one can include them! this way we never lose anyone.

Hey Shivam! Thanks for coming to the AMA!

I think it really depends on what Shivam wants! What do YOU want? Do you want to be a web developer? Do you want to work in the frontend? The backend? What do you want?

When you know the answer to that question, and really ask yourself that. Then follow that path.

Only you know what you will be happy doing. Discover what that is.

Danny Thompson I just love web development but I trapped in the cage of college that is equally important.

Hey Roshan! Thanks for coming out!

I know exactly where you are Roshan, I was there too! This is where the rule ABB and CCC come in!

Always Be Building and Code Code Code! The only way you will get to the ability of making a static site is by making static sites! Don't make a static site. Just go make a nav bar. That's it. go make the nav bar. Now, make a header image. Then, make a place for text. Next to that, place an image. Now make a footer!

NOW you have a landing page! Keep doing this. get comfortable with the process. When it doesn't act the way you want, research it.

Take your time, there is no rush here. We need you to be great, not fast. Take your time and understand WHY things are happening.

Hope this helps!

Also, don't forget to listen to Danny's interview on CodeNewbie. The interview is inspiring, you will learn tons of things from the interview as I did. Here is the link:

codenewbie.org/podcast/how-to-get-that-first-codi…

Roshan Aryal Danny Thompson

Hey Fred! Thanks for coming out to the AMA!

I think whether you are able bodied or disabled, Development and programming is a PERFECT field! The only thing you need to be a good developer is the ability to problem solve.

Wordpress is a tool, just like any other tool. I have nothing wrong with it and it is a good way to freelance!

The only trick with freelancing is you need to be able to source your clients. Other than that, you can use whatever you want to solve whatever problem you are trying to solve!

Hope this helps!

Hey Vamsi! Love this question!

I always say, to be a developer is to be on a lifelong journey of learning. Every year something new changes! Something new is introduced!

One way I learn is blog articles but the other is by following people that I consider "leaders" in this space. For example if Kent C Dodds or Dan Abramov say something about React, I can pretty much take that to the bank!

Hope this helps!

Hey Bolaji! One of my favorite accounts to follow!

I have yet to meet a professional in the industry that HASN'T had impostor syndrome at one point or another! I get it all the time, especially right before a code review I get it REALLY BAD!

Impostor syndrome really comes from the fear of being exposed as a fraud or being outed. I think once you recognize what it is, you can become comfortable with it.

Now Impostor Syndrome and I are friends! It sees me, I see it. We don't get in each others way and we recognize why both exist. The understanding is the big key. Understand WHY it has shown up and you can control it.

Hope this answers your question!

Thanks for the kind words Danny Thompson :)

Thanks also for the amazing response, it sure answered my question and I hope it helps others looking for a similar answer. 🙏🏾

For your first job, I would say apply anywhere you can get experience! There is so much that you don't know about development and you will not know it until you actually land a job in tech!

I am very against Accenture and companies like that BUT if that is your option as opposed to an unpaid internship, I would really have to debate it.

I hate both of those options but the reason why I am not a fan of companies like Accenture, they really put you in a position where you are stuck. So I would avoid them as much as possible.

Hey Mohamed!

On an average day, I look at what tasks are available. Grab one. do it. go to a bunch of meetings. lunch. a lot of slack messages. a lot of research to solve a problem, then end the day.

To get into freelancing, it really just boils down to finding the customers! The number one way to do that would definitely be networking! If you get the customers, you are a freelancer!

Building my brand as a dev, showcasing things I have built. Talking about code. Leading a community. These are the things I did. I was leading a community of developers before I even got into tech! Just make sure you know what you are talking about.

Hope this helps!

Hey Harvey! Thanks for asking this question!

I think if you have already decided where you want to be, then you don't need to worry about anything frontend! There are front end developers, there are backend, then there are areas that have NOTHING to do with websites! You can work in everything that has nothing to do with a frontend. Just make sure you have really learned a deep level in the languages you are trying to specialize in and you can pass a hackerrank questions. You should be in good shape then.

Hope this helps.

Hey Anisat! Love this question!

Many people think speaking is just about the actual content but it is SO MUCH MORE than that. Can you captivate your audience? Can you make them hang on your words? Can you actual get the points across so they keep remembering what you have taught?

People get bored, they stare off, they day dream. How can we combat that?

So a really interesting subject can help! Keeping the talk interactive can help. So I would work on making a couple streams and seeing if you can hang on to your audience. Even if there is only 1 person watching. Ask for feedback, ask for tips. A stream is a similar thing to a zoom conference.

But the most important thing. BE AN AUTHORITY on what you are talking about. When you speak, it should be obvious you are well educated on that subject. If someone challenges an idea or asks you a question contradicting something you said, you should be able to articulate your point.

Speaking is a lot of fun but a lot of work goes into it. Just make sure you can be an authority!

Hope this helps!

Danny Thompson Thank you so much Danny!. Definitely helpful.

Hey Utkarsh!

Personally I think the most efficient way is to give a take home assignment. I literally just had someone I was helping to get a job, really great developers. Tons of experience! Even made an app that is in the app store with 30k downloads and a 4.6 rating. Failed a hackerrank assessment and the employer went dark on them.

The hiring process is flawed. I think many companies are realizing that but some still try to stick to the idea that they need to be like Google! lol

I think a small little project that they code at home will show their coding abilities and will be the best judge. Can they finish a task that they are assigned. Just don't give them an insane task.

Hope this answers your question!

Salary negotiations is something I LOVE! I think there is a real art to it. First piece of advice, reinforce your speaking points! "I need a raise." OK why? I need a raise because I spearheaded this project and executed in a timely manner. I continue to be a team player over and over again. etc.

Also, don't show your full hand in one go! SO MANY PEOPLE DO THIS! If you can present 3 points in one go and I disprove one, it is almost as if I disproved 3 and shot down your argument. Instead present 2, keep one in reserve as a backup shot!

BE COMFORTABLE WITH SILENCE! After you express your demand, shut up and look them in the eye. Many people will outsell themselves and out speak themselves and almost turn it down for themselves. Be direct, be stern but be open to speaking.

Hope this helps you get that raise you need!

Danny Thompson Danny this is wonderful information, I definitely overdid presenting all my points at once.

I actually learned from that and keep a notion section off all the "credits" my manager gave me during the year... Bit anal about this, but I feel else there is no real way of convincing them you deserve a raise.

Hey Subha! Thanks for coming out and talking with me!

I will never say "Don't go to college"! There is a ton of value in going to an educational institute. But what I WILL say is You can absolutely reach your dream in tech without that expensive piece of paper.

It is definitely a hard road, I won't sugar coat that. But it is absolutely possible.

You will NEVER know it all. When I first started learning HTML, I learned it then moved to CSS. I learned CSS! I started learning javascript and.... well it's been several years and I am still learning Javascript! lol

To be a developer is to be on a lifelong journey of learning. I think the earlier people realize that, the more comfortable they become knowing they have to keep learning! Some think there is a point they will reach where the learning stops. It is endless!

So don't worry if you don't know something. BE WILLING to go research and find out about it! Come back with the right answer!

Hope this helps!

Thank you Danny Thompson. At times I feel lost. Tensed about my future! Your answer motivates me.

Hey Jatin! Thanks for coming to the AMA!

To market yourself effectively, you really need to stay true to who YOU are. Don't try to be something you are not because it becomes tiring trying to keep that up. So make your posts about things that you like. Also make sure you use linkedin effectively if your goal is to land a job!

The biggest key on communication is to actually talk. Some people are afraid and think they will be judged on their questions. Trust me, no one knows it all. So actually speak up, discuss ideas and learn from that situation!

Hope this helps!

Hey Steve! Thanks for coming to the AMA!

To increase reach on social media, the biggest thing is staying true to yourself. Many people try to be some image they are not and eventually it fizzles out. When it does, they lose the ones they gained along the way! BE YOU! You are incredible! Talk about the things Steve is into! But make sure you are very consistent and you finish the thought. Your tweet should have a beginning, a middle and an end! Leaving a tweet unfinished will kill your growth.

Linkedin, I have an entire series on this on my youtube channel! youtube.com/DThompsonDev people have literally sent me tweets showing a 500% growth IN A WEEK! So definitely look into that. Linkedin is a place where it is completely OK to toot your own horn and talk about all of your accomplishments! They want to see that there. So do it.

The biggest key on communication is to actually talk. Some people are afraid and think they will be judged on their questions. Trust me, no one knows it all. So actually speak up, discuss ideas and learn from that situation!

Thanks for asking these questions and I hope it helped Steve!