IMPORTANT: This is the last week you can book a free 30-minute call with me:

https://calendly.com/swdlodonnell/career-guidance

After Today (August 12th, 2023 @ 11:59 pm PST) coaching calls will be:

• 1 Hour Long
• Cost Money To Book

If you have been wanting to book a free call today is your last chance.

Enjoy the newsletter!

____________________________________

There is a problem that you will face over and over again.

Every once in a while you will want to learn something.

The reason you want to learn it is because of the opportunities it unlocks.

Learn to code = Build an online business

Learn to code = Land high-salary jobs

Learn to code = Valuable skill

But there's a huge problem when you're new.

What exactly do you mean by "Learn to code?"

The less specific you are – The harder it is to do anything.

I'll learn C++!

Oh, but then I am learning old tech...

I'll learn C#!

Oh, but then I can't build websites...

I'll learn JavaScript!

Oh, but this forum says to stop using JavaScript...

The dilemma of being a beginner:

When everything = opportunity

Picking one thing = high opportunity cost

This is something we all know.

It's why "settling down" with one partner when you're young is hard for some people. Settling down is for older people because... there are fewer options.

Few Options = Low Opportunity Cost = Easy decisions

The Problem

This paralyzes beginners.

Way too many options.

Way too many opportunities.

Most people have the discipline to get things done.

The hardest part of all things you will ever do is getting clear.

80% of "hard work" is finding the right things to do.

20% of "hard work" is to do the right things.

With that in mind, here are 3 things that helped me when I started writing code.

#1 Start Small

Smaller commitments sting less.

Instead of saying "I'm going to decide to learn JavaScript"

Try some thing like "I'm going to build a slideshow in JavaScript"

You get benefits here:

• You're not fully committing to JavaScript for life
• You have a quickly achievable goal
• There are no strings attached

Once you build your slideshow, then you can decide if you want to build something else.

But there was little commitment, you might have some fun, and you probably learned something.

#2 Put On The Blinders

Have you ever seen horse blinders?

They block a horse's peripheral vision during races.

The goal is to eliminate distractions (options) so that they are only left with one thing at the top of their mind:

Go Forward

I'm not saying you have to wear leather blinders.

(unless you're into that I won't judge)

But deciding that you will ignore all other options for a moment can be incredibly useful for making progress.

"Today I will make a JavaScript slideshow because it is the only thing I am allowed to do"

Saying things like this to myself has helped tremendously when it comes to starting and getting things done.

Eliminate the other options from consideration.

#3 Feedback > Perfection

It's a cliche nowadays.

"PeRFeCtionIsM iS KiLlInG YoUr ProDuCTiviTy!"

Yeah yeah, we all know...

But what should you do instead?

Just do something.

Instead of finding the perfect thing to do.

Find the next thing to do given what you've done.

"I didn't like JavaScript so tomorrow I'm trying Python"

There is next to no cost for trying things out with computers.

Didn't like it? Delete the folder and move on.

We are wired as humans to judge before we do.

In the real world, consequences aren't as reversible.

But computers aren't the real world.

You spent the evening building a JavaScript slideshow and didn't like it?

Try something else.

____________________________________

Tl;Dr;

• Pick a small and clear task (i.e. make a slideshow with JavaScript)
• Ignore all other options until you're done
• Pick your decision based on that feedback

Just get going.

_________________________

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!