From debugging at a card table to leading from the director’s seat—10 years in tech taught me that growth is messy, learning never stops, and cargo shorts are business casual if you commit hard enough.
A production bug shows up and panic sets in. But fixing it fast doesn’t mean jumping into code instantly. Slow down. Breathe. Read the report. Understand the issue. You’ll fix it faster when you’re not guessing under pressure.
If you don’t know the problem, you’re just guessing at solutions. Before jumping into code, ask: What are we solving? Why is it a problem? Because no one wants to waste hours fixing the wrong thing perfectly.
The best devs don’t always have the answers—they have the attitude. “I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out” will take you further than faking confidence ever will. This post is a reminder that mindset matters more than mastery.
From slinging milk crates to writing code, from fold-up tables to a director’s chair—this is my journey through pain, doubt, and late-night Zelda sessions. Not because it’s special. Because someone out there needs to hear what’s possible.
