Mentality >>> Talent

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When people ask what the hardest part of learning to code is, they expect me to say the syntax, the logic, or the algorithms. But it’s none of those.

The hardest part is mental.

Imagine this. You are on your laptop facing another error message after spending hours trying to fix a bug. You have two options. Either quit, or keep going. If you have those choices enough time, one will always eventually win out.

For me, I kept going. For others, they quit.

And that is where the difference lies.

Learning tech isn’t just about acquiring skills; it’s about building resilience. That’s the real, unspoken requirement.

You need to be able to tolerate being uncomfortable. To not have the answers. To feel behind. To look “dumb” sometimes. Because guess what? Everyone even the people you think are “naturals” have been there.

When I started, I used to think every failure meant I wasn’t cut out for this. That I just wasn’t smart enough. But over time, I realized the people who make it aren’t always the most gifted, they’re just the most persistent. They’re the ones who came back after falling. Again and again.

Your ability to succeed in tech doesn’t rely on whether you’ve coded since childhood or have a CS degree. It relies on whether you’re willing to show up even when you feel defeated.

So the next time your code breaks, take a deep breath.

This is the work.

This is the skill.

And every time you choose to keep going? That’s you getting stronger not just as a developer, but as a person.

Keep showing up. That's what really separates those who make it from those who don't.

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