How to become a 10% developer?

Imagine:

receiving 6 figure offers from random people on Linkedin;

being able to get x2 salary increase just with one message;

working at any time of the day when you want.

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That’s the reality for 10% of developers, and you can be in this 10% EVEN WITHOUT EXPERIENCE.

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Why it’s so important to be different?

What first company is going to get in your mind if I’m gonna say „phone”?

Most of you will say: „Apple”.

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While Samsung, Oppo and other companies are competing with each other, Apple just controls the whole market.
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There is „iPhone” and there are „other Android phones".

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And everybody wants something cool, not just another "phone".

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Same with companies.

They want the best developers, who look and feel different.

They don't want another dev who completed a couple of Udemy or Codecademy courses and built an e-commerce website or calculator 😅.

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NO!

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There are thousands of people like that, just like there are thousands of Android phones.

But you have to be Apple.

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You have to be different, and you won't have to compete with all other devs, you will complete on a higher level, where you have plenty of jobs.

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Being different DOES NOT mean being a genius or super smart ❌.

You can be an average developer, but still feel different for companies.

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SO LET'S BREAK DOWN ON HOW TO BE DIFFERENT!

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🚧 Step 0: Different Mindset

What differentiates Elon Musk, Mark Cucumber, Bill Gates and other successful entrepreneurs from average people?

They eat the same things, they sleep and look the same.

I assume they even have the same SH*T.

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But they WENT through a different path.

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While everybody else was studying in university, finishing it, working for the company, getting a 3% raise every year, marrying and watching TV in the evenings, Elon, Mark and Bill WERE DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.

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If you want to have the same results as everyone else, you just have to do the same thing that everyone else is doing.

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If you want different results, you need to do DIFFERENT THINGS.

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It doesn't mean that you should throw away your degree or other things that you've accomplished.

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But start doing unique and new things that other people are not doing.

And the best day to start doing it was yesterday.

The second best day is today, so don't hesitate.

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🛣 Step 1: Different Learning Path

You gonna say: "Okay, Andrew, I want to be different, but what should I actually do?"

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To be a different developer, the first thing to do is to learn differently.

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And it's fine watching some tutorials and repeating after everyone else when you are just starting.

But at a certain level, you should stop watching Udemy courses.

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What you can do is:

• Build big unique projects (We talked about it in a previous email)
• Collaborate with other people who are on the same path as you
• Learn extra things, besides the standard tech stack for your role

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🔎 Step 2: Different Job Search

If you followed the step one, you are already in 10% of devs.

But, nobody knows about it.

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So you have to show companies that you are different.

And it's actually quite easy to do, but most people are scared of being different.

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Well, if you are scared to make some extra effort to get a cool job, but not scared to have a sh*tty life - it's your choice.

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But if you are ready to fight for your life here are some things that you can do, to let companies know that you are different:

• Apply for jobs, NOT through the 'Apply' button.
• Use VIDEOS (demos of your projects, video CV, video intro, etc.)
• Highlight the experience that you've gained building unique projects in Step 1

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And the last, but not least thing is your POSITIONING.

Because you've built a cool project on your own in Step 1, you know stuff.

And you CAN DELIVER value.

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So say it, make the recruiter feel that you are DIFFERENT,

and not just another CS graduate with outdated university knowledge.

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🧑‍💻 Step 3: Different Work Attitude

Most developers just do what they have to do.

They are not working badly, but it's hard to say that they are smashing it as well.

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If you don't work remarkably, you won't be remembered =>

• you won't be invited to the next big project
• you won't be mentioned during performance reviews
• you won't have arguments to negotiate promotions and better conditions
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Working hard is 🥁 HARD.

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But the good news is that you won't have to work super hard forever.

Do it for the first couple of years to build a reputation, gain experience, make connections and good money.

After that, you will have so much leverage, that you will be able to work less and make more.

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By leverage I mean:

• Money that is invested somewhere
• Experience that allows you to complete hard tasks fast
• Reputation that allows you to negotiate better conditions

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So DO MORE, FASTER and BETTER than everyone else.

Especially on your first job!

And it will be hard not to build a great career.

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I've seen a lot of absolutely average people, who build insane careers, just by working hard, I truly believe in it.

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Conclusion

Being in 10% of best developers, helps you to make more and be confident about your future.

To get in 10%, you have to learn differently, look for jobs and POSITION yourself differently.

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When you get your first job, you have to work like 10%, that will help to build a great reputation, which you will be able to use in the future to get better conditions for yourself.

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