ZOD: Do you need to be "smart" to code?
ZOD: Do you need to be "smart" to code?
Zen of Data Science #6
The Big Idea
Wanna know a big reason people fail at learning to code?
(or learning any skill for that matter).
They think they’re not smart enough…
But what does “smart enough” even mean?
If smart is based on school knowledge, then my 2.6 high school GPA wasn't doing me any favors...
But why do some people learn skills like coding, languages, graphic design, etc… while others get stuck and quit after a few weeks?
Surprise... It has NOTHING to do with how smart you are. (If you can read this email, you can learn to code.)
It's about the mentality you have going into it, and accepting that when you first start you're NOT gonna be good.
You need the tenacity to stick to your goal when it gets hard, and even when you don’t feel like you’re making progress.
So learning a new skill isn’t about intelligence or talent.
It’s about:
> Committing to a goal: Show up every day for 30-60 minutes and practice.
> Learning from your mistakes and looking for ways to improve.
> Repeating this process month after month, year after year.
There’s no magic trick to learning new skills.
Sure, there are good and bad ways to learn, and some methods work better than others…
But at the end of the day, it always comes down to two things:
Consistent effort, and perseverance.
If those two things are in place, the rest takes care of itself.
So that thing you wanna learn?
You ARE good enough.
You ARE smart enough.
Now get to work.
What I’m Learning
I finally finished my Master’s degree! 🥳
After a short break, I’ll start studying for the “Tableau Certified Data Analyst” exam, using this course on Udemy (if you’re interested).
Remember, you want certifications, not certificates. Anyone can get a certificate (think Codecademy, DataCamp, etc.)
But you actually have to study and take an exam for certifications, so they weigh heavier in your favor.
And while they aren’t guaranteed to land you a job, they certainly help.
Quote of the Week
“Education is the key that unlocks the golden door to freedom.”
– George Washington Carver
My 32nd birthday is coming up and I’m reflecting a lot on the past two years.
At 29 I was in a warehouse, no degree, trying to teach myself how to code.
At 32 I have a job in tech, and two degrees.
Education (and I don’t just mean formal education) can literally change your life.
Something Interesting
SearchGPT!
I’ve finally had a chance to try it out, and I’ve gotta say it’s pretty cool.
Basically Google on steroids, but as it gets better, I think it will really become a valuable tool for my fellow learners.
Have you given it a try yet?
Feel-Good Finds
The future of AI 😆
Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
– Josh