Tales of Tech and Failure: Unplugged Insights into a Software Engineer Career
I hope you learn from my mistakes, as I share my unfiltered journey.
As I stood on the brink of graduation in a quaint coastal town on the Pacific side of Mexico, my journey through college felt like a leisurely stroll. Majoring in Computer Science, I breezed through most of my coursework with ease, rarely burdened by more than a scrap of paper in my bag. Books were a rare sight, but you'd often find me lugging a guitar around instead. It wasn't that I graduated with honours, quite the opposite. My mantra back then was that anything beyond a C+ was mere vanity. This philosophy led to heated debates and even rebellious clashes with my instructors and even the principal, putting my academic future on the brink of expulsion. Yet, despite the turmoil, I was content. I had been itching for years to venture out into the world, conquer industries, and make a name for myself.
Fast forward two decades, and here I am, toiling away for Big Tech in a foreign land. It wouldn't be accurate to say I've carved a legendary niche for myself or that I've ascended the executive ladder to great heights. Some might argue it's by my own design while others would point to missed opportunities along the way. Nevertheless, I find immense fulfillment in my current circumstances. My bucket list has seen numerous ticks and there are still a few productive years left to leave my mark on the industry. Having worn many hats in the tech world—freelancer, full-time employee, consultant, contractor—I've traversed the landscapes of two giant tech corporations, medium-sized companies, and the vibrant realm of small startups. I've even dipped my toes into entrepreneurship with a couple of co-founded ventures. My roles have spanned the spectrum, from software developer to architect, designer, sysadmin, QA specialist, and even the occasional stint as a business analyst. My career has carried me across borders as I've worked in two different countries and embarked on work-related journeys to countless others. What I possess, above all else, is an unquenchable desire to impart my experiences, the wisdom passed down by my mentors, and, most crucially, the tales of failure and the valuable lessons they've taught me. I count myself privileged to have collaborated with some of the world's most brilliant engineers and remarkable human beings. I'm grateful and humbled by these experiences, and most importantly, I'm eager to make a difference in your career.
Why, you might ask? Well, I'd willingly part with half a kidney to have had someone share with me what I now know, that rainy day when I packed my bags ready to embark on my journey to another city. But since I have both my kidneys intact, consider this book my gift to you, a roadmap through the terrain of a career that's been rich with adventure, learning, and the occasional misstep – a guide I wish I'd had in my own humble beginnings.