Don’t expect to find happiness on the job. Instead, work on creating it.

Good afternoon.

Stress is inevitable Pace yourself Stay sharp Keep going

Been heads down at work trying to get to the next level Pressure has been higher than ever No playbook out there to follow just going off instinct Will share more once I make it

At some point you have to block out the distractions and go all in. Don’t avoid the hard work.

One of the craziest parts of my journey was meeting someone that I looked up to when I first started coding. I read their blog, books, and studied their work to improve. Now we work together at the same company.

I remember the days where I would just work through the night and into the morning. This was on top of my demanding course work at college. Those were the hardest moments, but I learned the most from those years.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but don’t wait for permission. Just go for it and figure it out along the way. The reward is waiting for you on the other side of your discomfort.

Work backwards from the goal. Break it down into simple steps. Tackle each at a time. Get feedback along the way.

Through the highs and lows, I’m grateful for this journey. Doing my best to share it all so you can experience the same.

How to find your first iOS role? Consider contracting or working for free. The learnings and case study will be worth more than the earnings.

How I'm working backwards to get to the next level: I asked my manager for promotion criteria. Now, I am proactively taking on responsibilities expected at the next level. Transition hasn't been pretty, but it's a work in progress.

A KPI (Key Performance Indicator) that I'm trying to hit: 30 story points/sprint This includes projects, bug fixes, and platform work. It's been a struggle, but progress > not trying.

One of the biggest mistakes I made at mid-level was not prioritizing work that supported my promotion. Project work and bug fixes were great, but I lacked platform specific work. Fixing this earlier would have accelerated my career.

One thing that's helping my career goals is following other SWEs on LinkedIn that regularly share their work. Especially those at the next level. Take advantage of this.

Lean into feedback. Soak up the concerns. Address them and grow.

Some walls are put up to see who’s willing to climb them Don’t let it stop you from applying Professional > Hobbyist

Damn Loom got bought for a billy

I recorded a 1 hr long loom video for my coaching program. It didn’t upload and Loom staff could not recover. Happy for them but still bitter lol

A long time ago, I used to think I didn’t qualify as a software engineer. I had multiple projects as a developer under my belt. But when I interviewed, I was leveled as a mid-level software engineer. Don’t let your thoughts hold you back like mine did.