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Any time I hear any kind of "hustle" style advice, it's almost immediately worth dismissing. If you don't know Chinese, and you try to read Chinese, you won't be able to do it by just trying really hard

A simple advice from a fellow coder, don't try to learn a programming language aimlessly. Sit down , figure out what you want to build ( after you have understood the basics) and then learn how to build it and that's how you learn coding.

I have been programming for 35 years. I am an EXPERT at learning. I completely agree everything Andy said in this video. Two concepts in the video are key for career-long skill growth, (1) keep a list of the concepts/skills you want to develop, and (2) use your study time to focus on your weakest skills. I'll add (3), whenever you start a project with a new team intentionally look for the "thing" that is the team's biggest problem. This "problem" could be a legacy system that we have to integrate, or an unfamiliar new tech, or a troublesome relationship with a key stakeholder, etc., etc. etc... Then, become the "subject matter expert" on that problem. Taking the initiative to become the go-to-person on what was a big headache issue will advance your career.

As a piece of advice for beginner developers: Don’t code without taking breaks. It is pretty overwhelming and causes dangerous health issues. Also it increase mental fatigue overtime. At least I have experienced with it. Therefore, I take 30m break after each 90m of coding.

"Take a Break" - Ok, story time...I was racking my brain on a Calculus homework problem and I JUST COULD NOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO IT...I finally got so frustrated that I went over to the couch and just plopped down on it. The moment my rear hit the cushion, the solution popped into my head. It wasn't until I stopped thinking that the answer came to me. It was quite a cool experience

Thank you. Some takeaways I get: Deliberate practice Attack the weaknesses Understand your energy Understand your mind Focused sessions Sleep and take rest for a creative brain

I also recommend embracing the struggle when you're trying to figure something out that you've 'learned'. Spend 5-10 minutes really trying to recall how to solve something you've seen or feel you should know before going to look it up. This will strengthen your memory and improves your learning.

I seem to learn best in 45 minute bursts. Then I can practice in longer burst and as long as I'm practicing the same thing (no matter what it is) I retain. So to repeat, I learn "new" things in up to 45 minute bursts and reinforce things in longer bursts. Great video. Everything you mentioned I have experienced as truth. At least for me. Thanks!

This literally applies to everything. Twitter has gems of advice, but most of them are pretty garbage. Work Smart, Not Hard.

Well said! Been coding for 11 coming on 12 years now learning new stuff regularly and I can confirm this is 100% true. Coding for practice and coding for work are two very different things. Deliberate practice accelerates progress. Nothing more I could add to this. Great video Andy 🙌

This was actually a huge relief. I'm always worried about not doing enough, or quick enough but this advice really put my mind at ease. Quality over quantity.

I just wanted to thank you for giving realistic guidance for those of us wanting to work in tech. There are _way_ too many snake oil salesmen on KZfaq, and I appreciate channels like yours that keep the advice practical and the expectations reasonable.

These principles apply to learning just about anything. I’m going to implement some of these strategies while trying to learn 3D modeling.

What I love about the video is that you can apply the points mentioned to so many other topics.

This was really good advice dude..better than so many channels I have seen. Really appreciate it. Thanks Andy 💯

I've been watching your videos for the last couple of years, Andy. And I honestly have to say that this is the best video you've ever made. Thank you so much for this great piece of wisdom!

Sir I just started the 10000 hours thing after reading the books just few days back ... thank you so much for your guidance this really means a lot me

Thank you, Andy. I always appreciate your coaching content.

Always great advice. I am glad that I have you as a coach!

Thank you for the advices. One thing which is hard is when you must learn to much different kind of things in a short period of time. The mind can’t record too much differents sorts of hard concepts and paradigms when we study. And also because we should use each new knowledges just right after learning them to get theses knowledges.

I found this super super helpful!!! Especially the part about going to search for interview questions around your weakness. That made a lot of sense 🤯 Thanks so much!

I think something key to note is not everyone learns at the same rate. A skill one person is able to grasp in one month might take you six months or more. Every learning experience is unique to the individual, it's about finding what learning pattern works best for you.

Thank you for a video with actual substance and practical advice!

I'm learning in a bootcamp and struggling with my JS skills, especially in APIs. I'm glad I watched your videos because they really help me a lot! Cheers!

Consistency is key and motivation can be wrecked by a lack of patience, but yes, technique & approach are what converts consistency to success

Andy, you are a great teacher! This video really motivated me. Thanks!

SO TRUE! Have to get out of your comfort zone and going head on with your weakness. Which is hard~

My drum line instructor used to say, "Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect." And I felt that.

Yup. I eventually figured out after thousands of failed kick flips, that I was not practicing deliberately. Never got one right 😆, but years later I got a lot better at bike tricks, due to more focus and deliberation - not more repetition.

It's very great to learn from someone who has worked many years in that domain. You will learn the mistakes that you should not do. Learn Earlier or Keep Struggling. Thanks for the telling the great authors in your video.

This video is great! Your examples on identifying weaknesses is clear and comprehensible. Nothing like those other videos that just tell you to strengthen your weaknesses, but it's completely vague.

Your video gave me great insight into my life that had nothing to do with coding or computers. Thank you.

Great video! I'm teaching myself to code while working another job and this was super informative. I also love playing Rocket League and often coach & help lower ranked friends get a better understanding of the game so this was a perfect analogy for me to understand!! Thank you!

You gave me and your viewers great advice for any type of skill. Thanks for doing this for free!

Related to this topic, this is the best video I ever seen. Thank you! 💙

Thank you Andy, Your channel help me a lot. Now I'm learning web development skills to change my career from a musician to a developer :D

I'm going to use that interview question strategy to figure out C#. Thanks, Andy.

The information you shared in this video is pure gold! Thank YOU 🙏 ☺️

See, I started learning with python. After Learning the syntax I went off to KZfaq to watch people apply python to certain tasks and problems. From there I began building my own. From there other languages were cake to learn because I had a fundamental understanding of how programs work.

Totally agree. Practice doesn't make perfect; Perfect practice does.

I'm following everythign with projects and all. Watching everything. Where have YOU BEEN. I guess I found you at the right time. Great videos

Excellent video 👌, sleep is very important, take breaks and being in a fasted state is great for maintaining effective study sessions.

Great video Andy! Really enjoyed this one!

Thank you so much for emphasising the importance of rest, Andy. ☺ So important ✌🏽

I know I’m a year late for this video, but considering that I’m at the beginner stage of coding I’m happy to have come across this video. Thank you for the advice!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: OUTLIERS - MALCOLM GLADWELL 1:00 PEAK - ANDERSON ERICSSON 4:15 ULTRALEARNING - SCOTT H. YOUNG 5:55

One of the best videos you did so far!

Love the book references, added all to my read list! Amazing video

Thank you so much, Andy! Excellent video!

I'm a final year software dev student, I still struggle with the simplest things, your advice has been insightful. Thank you @Andy Sterkowitz

Thanks for the video! It felt genuine and is much appreciated!

I have a masters degree in educational psychology. I think everything that you've said in this video is pretty spot on. One of my personal pet peeves is when people say practice makes perfect. It does not. Perfect practice makes perfect. You can spend 10000 hours practicing something the wrong way and at the end of the day all you've done is gotten really good at doing it wrong. If you want to get better, as you say, you must practice what it is you want to achieve. Great advice, thanks for the video.

This video is awesome - I needed to hear this really bad today - I can't sleep for more than 3-4 hours, and I really need to work on breaks as I tend to work hard for 45 mins then my break goes for like an hour or more :/ - really need to be more disciplined - thank you for the wonderful video Andy!!!

This video wrap's up everything for 2021. Well done Andy 👍

These are great elementary principles for studying and improving. I mean elementary elementary both literally and figuratively. I have kids in elementary school; their curriculum suffered tremendously during the last couple years due to remote learning and excessive closures. We have been employing some of these techniques to make sure that my kid doesn't fall behind in their expected knowledge and understanding in math and reading skills, such as identifying weaknesses, and practicing the hard skills that are out of their comfort zone, and targeted practice, at home in addition to what they do at school. My point is that these are basic study principles that can easily be leveraged to improve any skill. Great insight!

The information is valuable and straight to the point. Thank you so much!

I needed this. Thank you Andy🙂

Thanks man I have learned a lot on this. Ill apply this not just in studying on how program but other things as well.

Much appreciated video . I am stating to learn programming right now and it is really hard but all I can see and dream of is being a great accomplished programmer in some near future . It’s all I want and all I aim for . Thanks

Very useful recommendations here. Thanks a lot Andy. I'll save the video so that I can come back to it later.

Great video...as a veteran developer even I need to remind myself to step off the pedal from time to time and take a break

Thanks for explaining why you recommend this approach!

Excellent suggestions. I learned a lot. Thank you!

That was very informative . Thank you !!

This video was amazing! You quite rightly support the debunked theory of the 10K hours to mastery and introduced so many concepts that it took me years to find out on my own. I can attest that the style of deliberate practice works. At some point I was working with a more senior colleague with a CS degree who was determined I wasn't to succeed and prove that he was some sort of a member of a master race I didn't belong to. I had no real coding skills then but did much of what you described and slowly built myself up by tackling my weakness one by one. I still have a loooong way to go but I managed to prove that colleague wrong so big point scored. Subbed!!!

In my opinion, this is your best video by far... thanks for this contribution Andy.

Thank you for the video, I think it really is usefull, not only for programming. It also makes me remember a saying (I think by a Rugby coach) that says "Practice does not make you perfect, it just makes you consistent, which means you need to focus on what you practice.

you are awesome man, thanks for all of you great advices!!!!!

Loved the rocket league bit haha! As soon as you brought it up I knew you'd be talking about aerials. I think competitive games can provide a great analogue for skill building. They provide tangible feedback on your improvement (generally thru a ranking system) and it's done on a short timetable.

Andy, thank you so much. You always give the best advice. I started to read a book about Data Structures and Algorithm and it's been a nice read, as an absolute beginner it's the best resource I have found.

Fantastic video my man. Keep them coming.

Thanks Andy, this was one of your best videos. Very informative! Mentioning the books was a plus.

You know that motivation feeling that suddenly goes all the way through you at 3 AM? For some reason it “broke” for me today, this night I had completely no motivation to even try coding my own web project, but now is 10 AM and I’m full of motivation

one of the BEST advice videos I have ever seen!!! #welldone #respect

Keeping your room clean is pretty solid advice though. Not just you physical room but your surroundings and mind. Now i’m going to watch your vid.

Man, those camera settings for rocket league are wild 😂 great advices btw. I am very new at programming and still learning but this was very helpful. Keep up the good work!

Great video 👍...would definitely follow this approach.

Great content at the right time for me. Thanks boss...

Thanks as always - really great advise..

Moonwalking with Einstein is another book that complements your video, Josh Foer actually worked with Anders Ericsson on his journey to mastering his memory capabilities. Great video! I learned a few things from you, thank you!

I am currently trying to learn coding online and I am struggling in understanding the courses... but I was able to point out my problems really quickly and this video just reassured me that I was on the right path minus the sleep lol. I should definitely try to take some break especially after some struggle. I was unsure on my method but this video just gave me a boost of confidence. Thank you

I watch this specific video and practiced over something which is hard for me to learn I ended up learning it within one day . when I learn it in school it takes 3 months, after all, I didn't get to learn anything. one random day I watch ur video changes the whole game for me. thank u

You had me at Rocket League! I love that game! Putting that aside. I actually wanna learn to code and 've found your videos super helpful. Thank you

Fabulous advice. Thank you!

Handling frustration is important with any learning effort: understand you will fail, but it's a necessary failure and not an end in itself.

Nicely done Andy!

Thanks for the realistic and pragmatic info.. Liked and subscribed.

Thanks.. This is a great video, and very helpful

Great channel, in fact God sent, subscribed first time

Great stuff. Thank you for this video.

Thank you Andy for the very helpful advice! Here are my notes with only the main points: First Principle: Deliberate practice 1. It requires clear and well-defined goals. Laser focus on what skills are you trying to improve. Eg. Understand what the problem or the question is asking. 2. 100 percent focus and attention. You have to go into very deep into thought. Really analyse your code which will require you to have long periods of thought and concentration. 3. Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Practice things you are not good at. Taking that knowledge you learnt and apply somewhere. Second Principle: Identify a weakness (For Speed) 1. Just practice only the part you need to master and then get back in the game. Similar to what I do in my dance lessons. Attack our weaknesses directly. 2. See a complex problem as an opportunity to attack the problem head on. Once you clearly identify the problem like not understanding a concept, then a) you make note of it (either an apple note or google document) and list out all the weaknesses you run into and you want to regularly update and drill them when you have time. b) you can run through drills repeatedly. You can search in Google, and see what questions pop and run through those. It's going to allow you to work on different problems in different contexts over and over again. Eventually your understanding will get better. Third Principle: Manage your energy levels effectively Must treat your brain and your mind like an athlete treats their body. Just like athletes would never put 100 hours of training per week, neither should you. Athletes know the secret to success is short, but high intensity training sessions with very long periods of rest. If you want to maximise every ounce of effort you put into this, it is critical to manage your energy levels effectively. Things that work for energy management are a) 7 - 8 hours of sleep per night, b) take regular breaks, don't study for 6 hours at one go (we can actually problem solve and be very creative when you are not active thinking), c) regular moderate exercise. Thank you Andy for the super valuable advice! 🙏 ❤

Truly helpful video. Thank you kindly.

great advice for just generally progression in something

Thank you, Andy.

Great video, thank you. I learned from this video.

Thank you for this!

I just spent the last day and a half practising shine sparks in metroid dread just to defeat the Escue boss and can totally see the parallels with learning C# Linq, Python list comprehensions, bit shifts and ternary operations. Hard, focussed graft will give you a muscle memory level single use BFG weapon to draw out when you need it that you can slap a problem down like a 'finish him!' move.

I'm a data science consultant with a background in business systems engineering. Being on the data side notwithstanding, you really need to be a learning expert, which comes from focus. Deliberate practice or deep work is the defining characteristic.

Really great advice I will try to apply it as I just started learning to code I’m 2 weeks in already 🙏🏼💪🏼