The Real Reason You Still Don’t Have a Tech Career (And How to Fix It)
Most people fail at tech before they write their first line of code.
They watch coding videos. They bookmark tutorials. They ask which programming language pays the most.
Years pass. Nothing changes.
The problem does not lie in their intelligence. The problem lies in their thinking.
Technology rewards people who solve problems. It rewards people who build things. It rewards people who train their minds to break complex systems into small steps.
A tech career does not start with code.
Most people try to learn code before they learn how to think. This is backwards. And it’s why most people fail.
If you had asked me four years ago what it would take to land a job in tech, I would’ve led you astray.
Back then, I too fell for the glam and glory of landing a career in tech, when really, I should’ve focused on my problem-solving skills and learning to think like a programmer.
What I’ve learned since has changed the way I approach my own projects, and what I choose to focus on these days (e.g., thinking like a programmer, system design, architecture, etc.).
A tech career is so much more than coding, I’ve learned the hard way.
Tech Pays for Structured Thinking
Most people view programming as a technical skill.
They see syntax, frameworks, and tools. Developers see something else. They see questions.
Every line of code answers a question.
How do I store user data?
Why does this function return the wrong value?
How do I make this page load faster?
How do these two systems communicate?
A developer spends most of their time asking better questions and testing possible answers.
This explains why strong developers often come from unexpected backgrounds. Writers, musicians, engineers, mathematicians, and designers succeed in tech because they already train their minds to analyze structure.
Programming simply turns thinking into instructions a computer understands.
When you understand this, the barrier to entry looks different.
The challenge no longer involves learning tools (like React, Python, APIs). The challenge involves learning how to think.
The Three Thinking Habits of Developers
Most developers share three mental habits. These habits matter more than any programming language.
1. Decomposition
Developers break large problems into small pieces.
Take a simple idea like building an online store. At first glance, the task looks overwhelming. But developers do not approach the problem as a single project. They break the system into parts:
User accounts
Product catalog
Shopping cart
Payment system
Order history
Each part becomes a smaller challenge. Each challenge turns into a series of steps.
Suddenly, the impossible project becomes manageable.
You already use this thinking pattern in other creative work.
A writer breaks a novel into chapters.
A musician breaks a song into melody, harmony, and rhythm.
A filmmaker breaks a scene into shots.
Developers do the same thing with software.
They decompose the problem.
2. Iteration
New developers believe professionals write perfect code on the first attempt.
The reality looks different.
Software development runs on iteration. Write a rough version. Test the behavior. Find errors. Fix the errors. Improve the structure. Then repeat the process.
Writers revise drafts.
Music producers remix tracks.
Software engineers refactor code.
Each field rewards people who accept imperfection during the first pass.
Progress grows through cycles of improvement.
If you avoid iteration, you avoid development itself.
3. Systems Thinking
Software rarely exists as a single program.
Modern applications consist of systems. A frontend interface runs in the browser. A backend server processes requests. A database stores information. APIs move data between services.
When something breaks, the issue often hides in the connection between components.
Developers train their minds to see relationships. They ask questions like:
Where does the data come from?
Where does the data go next?
Which component controls the behavior?
This type of thinking extends far beyond programming.
Writers build narrative systems.
Musicians construct harmonic systems.
Businesses operate through operational systems.
Tech simply forces you to see these structures clearly.
Why Many People Stall
Many beginners focus on the wrong questions.
They ask which programming language to learn. They ask which framework companies prefer. They ask which course promises the fastest job.
These questions focus on tools.
Tools do not produce careers.
People stall because they spend months consuming information without building anything.
They complete tutorials.
They watch lectures.
They collect notes.
Then they start the next tutorial.
A person learns programming through friction.
Errors teach more than explanations. Broken code teaches more than lectures. Projects teach more than videos.
The moment I became comfortable building my own projects, I ran into a lot of headaches, and there were no tutorials to save me. I spent a whole week on a bug, and it was as simple as assessing what I had written and what I was expecting the code to do.
Turns out, it was a typo I missed.
Afterward, I realized a developer grows when problems force them to think.
The Thinking Shift That Changes Everything
A single shift changes how you approach learning technology.
Every problem becomes a project.
Look at your daily life. You track expenses. You manage writing drafts. You organize music ideas. You monitor habits.
Each problem represents an opportunity to build something.
A budgeting tracker.
A writing dashboard.
A music library organizer.
A habit monitoring tool.
These projects do not require large teams or venture capital.
They require curiosity and persistence.
Every project trains your thinking. You begin asking better questions. How should the data store information? What triggers each action? How does the interface respond to user input?
Once your brain adopts this pattern, learning new tools becomes easier.
Because tools exist to serve ideas.
Train Your Brain Like a Developer
You can begin training your thinking today.
Try this simple exercise.
The Seven-Day Builder Challenge
Day 1
Write down three problems in your daily workflow.
Day 2
Choose one problem.
Day 3
Break the problem into smaller steps.
Day 4
Sketch a simple solution on paper.
Day 5
Build the smallest working version.
Day 6
Test the system and fix the errors.
Day 7
Write down what you learned.
This exercise does not require advanced programming knowledge. It trains the habit that developers rely on every day--the habit of building solutions.
Even if you aren’t into tech or programming, you can apply the same steps to build something in your field, whether it’s a painting, a short story, a track, or just the way to approach problems at work.
I think everyone should learn how to code, but at least learn to think like a programmer to better solve problems in your daily life.
The Real Starting Point
Many people believe a tech career begins with code.
The truth looks simpler.
Your tech career starts the moment you stop consuming and start building.
Over time, your projects grow more complex. Your thinking grows sharper. Your skills grow deeper.
Eventually, companies pay for this ability.
Not because you know a specific programming language.
But because they know how to think. And in technology, thinking is the most valuable skill you possess.
P.S.
Most people stay stuck because they keep consuming without ever building.
If you want to stop spinning your wheels and start making real progress, my Learn Any Skill in 10 Hours system gives you a repeatable way to do it.
When I’m painting I usually just go by feel and adjust as I go but I can see now how much stronger my work could be if I thought through the structure first. Even something as simple as planning layers, colors or focal points ahead of time is basically the same kind of thinking you’re describing. I’m going to slow down and be more intentional with how I build things instead of just reacting in the moment. Thank you for sharing this interesting perspective Idris Elijah and Happy Friday to you!
I’ve spent hours tweaking sounds, re-recording vocals, organizing sessions…feeling like I’m working but not always actually building anything concrete. Breaking things down the way you described with melody, drums, structure and even release strategy makes it feel a lot more real and doable. I’m going to start treating my next song like a small system instead of this big overwhelming idea. Finish it, release it, learn from it, then do it again instead of sitting in endless revisions. Thank you for pushing me to move instead of just perfect Idris Elijah and enjoy your weekend!!