The Skill That Took My Career Further Than Anything Else

19 Nov 2025 #career #coding

As a junior coder, I made the mistake of only focusing on mastering syntax.

I thought we were artists writing code to frame in a museum. But we write code to solve problems. Even the code you write for fun solves a problem: boredom and curiosity.

If you don’t experience your code firsthand, put yourself into your end user’s shoes. Think about their problem, why they’d pay, and how your code solves it.

A sense of curiosity, desire to learn, and inspiring mentors helped me grow. But nothing compares to product thinking: imagining being a product owner who codes. That’s the most valuable skill.

I wish someone had told me that earlier. As a junior coder, I ignored product thinking, teamwork, and clear communication. Those skills make us stand out as coders. And that’s why I wrote Street-Smart Coding: 30 Ways to Get Better at Coding, the guide to the lessons I wish I’d known from day one.

If you want to grow faster, grab your copy of Street-Smart Coding here