What advice would you offer your younger self?

You have a career and you have a job
If your job don't fuel your career, leave
Learn, always, never stop
don't be arrogant, there is always someone, somewhere better than you
Your boos is not your friend

Don’t take things to serious. Have fun, do your best, enjoy the ride!

Take a break from time to time.
Some rest can have a bigger impact than those late nights.

I would tell my younger self to socialize more...

Learn what market compensation is and consistently ask for it (or, if you don't, have a very good reason for taking a pay cut). Don't leave money on the table. You're worth it. Allowing yourself to be underpaid isn't going to get you brownie points with your employer.

Programming/engineering skills are important but will stop getting you promoted after a while. You need people skills and the ability to relate to non-engineers to be successful at a staff or above level. Fortunately these are teachable and learnable, and you're probably better at them than you think.

Don't sell yourself short and assume that you won't make the cut at prestigious companies.

Take that small step from thinking that Bitcoin was a cool idea back in 2009/2010 or so and actually buy some. 😉

Most of what I write is advice I'm giving in disguise to my former self, very much including the two last ones on not being naive about money :)

• “What is your current salary?” is a red flag that you don’t want to work here - DEV Community 👩‍💻👨‍💻
• Q: What is your salary expectation? A: I don't have one, make me an offer! - DEV Community 👩‍💻👨‍💻

There will be a time in the future when you will have a family. That should not stop you from innovating and solving world problems. It might seem overwhelming and sometimes you feel like giving up but don’t. I did not and so should you.

I wouldn't give myself any advice, as the process in which you acquire wisdom is just as important as the wisdom itself.

Career

1. Never start job interviews without having an idea about salary negotiation
2. Don't take it too serious.
3. Try to invest into your career outside of your current job (e.g. side projects)
4. Invest time into explaining your parents, friends, partner what you're doing at your job. They should broadly understand it.

Life

1. Don't think twice about opportunities. Take them!
2. Find hobbies different to what you're doing at your job.
3. Invest into friendships, spend and enjoy any moment with your friends. Tomorrow everything can be different.

1. You are you, don't compare yourself to others.
2. Don't follow the trending, learn the basics.
3. Do projects, even if you don't feel you can complete it (the whole point is that you do it)
4. Ask Questions

"If you are not ashamed by your last-year-self, you are not growing". I wish I have learned this earlier in life.

Ignorance does not equal stupidity. Don't be afraid to ask questions and express ideas. It's not possible to know everything - you will never be a complete expert in all dev topics - and nobody else is either.

"buy dollars"

not kidding.

Ignorance does not equal stupidity. Don't be afraid to ask questions and express ideas. You will never be an expert in all dev topics and neither will anybody else. There will always be something you don't know.

don't be patient
...
you understand?
...
DON'T BE PATIENT.
don't let others slow you down.