Imagine you landed your first remote job as a software engineer.

Your first week:

• Some video calls.
• Talks with managers
• Getting familiar with the systems

Then it's time to do some work...

You sit down at your computer at home...

Get your first task...

And get stuck...

Then the feelings start to creep in.

Should I know what I'm doing?

How long do I keep trying?

Should I message people?

Now what?

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This is a situation many new developers find themselves in at their first job.

This situation is common.

Recently at my job, I heard it from an intern:

They struggled when working from home

They felt like they didn't learn much.

Isolated in their own environment:

• No conversations to overhear
• Nobody can see them struggle
• No way to see who isn't busy at the moment

So when can you work remotely?

Because let's be real – Remote work is dope.

However:

It is a luxury

A tool for skilled people to deliver their skills over remotely.

As a tool for building your skills? it's not so great.

Here are 3 mental frameworks I use to decide whether to get better or cash in my skills.

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Skill Cycles

Growth comes in cycles:

-> Learn as much as possible (sacrifice rewards)

-> Execute your skills and cash in (sacrifice learning)

School is a good example of "sacrificing reward" to upskill

Selling your time to buy a lifestyle is "cashing in"

Trying to earn as much as possible can cost you long-term.

Cashing in the little skills you have at the beginning of your career is a bad idea. You will earn less, and struggle more.

The better approach is to get a hybrid (or in-office) job and treat it as a learning opportunity rather than a learning opportunity.

(Obviously, don't get exploited and don't work for free in 99.9% of cases)

When you view early opportunities through the lens of maximizing learning instead of maximizing earning you make different choices.

I took a job that I knew paid well below market average early in my career because I knew it was the best learning opportunity for me at the time.

If I was trying to earn more it would have been an annoying gig.

But since I was trying to learn I had a blast and made some lifelong friends.

Contagion

Say what you want about in-office work.

(To be honest – I don't like commutes either)

But there is one massive benefit of being around other people.

Energy

and energy is contagious.

Spend months surrounded by smart people who are fired up about building software – It will be hard to learn nothing.

In fact, if you pick the right environment (and disregard earning potential) you can have a blast learning new skills with smart people.

I did it early in my career, had a blast, and learned a ton.

Keep this in mind when picking your first gig.

Pay attention to the energy of the team – It matters.

Earning Luxuries

Something my dad said to me growing up:

Rest is earned

Remember being on summer vacation as a kid...

Sitting around passing time...

Nothing to do... but rest?

And somehow you were suffering?

Bored out of your mind?

How is it possible to rest and be miserable?

That's because rest is earned.

Luxuries are earned.

Working your ass off to buy something you want is way more enjoyable than knowing you could have anything you want.

Humans love the feeling of reward.

Without struggle? There is no reward.

Reward (n): a thing given in recognition of service, effort, or achievement.

Earn your luxuries. Don't cash in too early or it will cost you.

Remote work is one of those luxuries.

The more skilled you are at software development.

The more enjoyable remote work will be.

If you cash in too early? It might not be that great.

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You might read this and say "Companies should just support us with better remote systems and this wouldn't be an issue"

And you're right – some companies have way better systems than others.

Systems that would make it easier for a beginner to start remotely.

But no matter how many systems you have in place:

Video calls and chat messages can't match being in the same room as other people.

It's up to you, but keep this in mind when picking your first gig.

Think of your career as a slingshot.

You pull back the slingshot in the short term by learning as much as you can.

Then fire the slingshot by earning as much as you can.

Spend time pulling back the slingshot and picking the right targets to aim for.

Select the right about of power for your targets in life.

Think long-term.

It will pay off.

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Thank you for reading this week's newsletter.

I appreciate all of you who read to the end.

Email me at swdlodonnell@gmail.com with any questions

Check out my free course if you are learning to code

Book a free 30-minute call with me if you want to chat or have any questions.

Until next week!