It is Never Too Late to Be Who You Might Have Been – Becoming a Developer at Age 36
I did it. At age 36, after over a decade working as a lab technician, I made a monumental career change and became a full-stack JavaScript developer. I now work for an innovative tech company in sunny Portugal, collaborating with brilliant colleagues in an environment that embraces challenges and nurtures growth.
Everyday, I get to expand my skills, contribute to an amazing team, and feel a genuine sense of fulfillment. I‘m fortunate to work with exceptional people striving to advance the local tech scene. The journey has made me more confident, proactive, and eager to give back to the community.
While I‘m thrilled with where I am today, it was a long road to get here. Allow me to share how I transformed from an unfulfilled employee into a motivated achiever – and how you can too, no matter your age or background. Because as George Eliot wrote, "It is never too late to be what you might have been."
You‘re Not "Too Old" (Or Young)
A common myth is that you need to be a certain age to make a drastic career pivot or achieve lofty goals. But plenty of people prove that idea wrong:
- At 17, Michael Sayman created an app that saved his family from bankruptcy, leading to him becoming Facebook‘s youngest employee
- Mark Zuckerberg co-founded Facebook at 19
- Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was 35
- Ray Kroc started McDonald‘s in his 50s, as did Coca-Cola and KFC‘s founders
Even in their 90s, some people take up skydiving! Clearly, age is just a number. As Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can‘t, you‘re right." Don‘t let an arbitrary number limit your potential.
What‘s Really Holding You Back?
Be honest – are you fulfilled in your current job? Do you feel like you‘re making a difference and exploring your full potential? I spent over a decade as a lab technician and while I didn‘t hate it, I had lost my passion. The main thing keeping me there was the steady paycheck. Or so I thought.
In reality, fear and complacency held me back, not finances. I made excuses about needing to support my family or not wanting to "waste" my degree. But as the saying goes, "Don‘t ask a horse where it‘s going. Ask yourself."
We often wait for some external sign to make a change, but rarely does life work like that. You have to take the reins and steer your own course. No one is coming to "save" you – your future is in your capable hands.
Check Your Privilege (and Gratitude)
Let me acknowledge my privilege in being able to make this kind of career change. I‘m lucky to have been born in a developed country with ample opportunities. If you‘re reading this, chances are you‘re also fairly privileged with internet access and free time to learn new skills.
Still, it‘s easy to focus on what we lack versus what we have. The Dollar Street project is an eye-opening look at global living conditions. Most of us are better off than we realize. And you don‘t need much to get started on a new path – just an internet connection and the drive to learn.
So while I don‘t want to diminish the real challenges many people face, I do want to encourage those with the means to take advantage of their fortunate circumstances. Be grateful for what you do have and use those gifts to create the life you want. Because "you don‘t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great."
Escaping Your Comfort Zone
Growth happens when you push yourself past what feels comfortable. Staying in your routine and never trying anything new may feel safe, but it won‘t get you to the next level. You have to put yourself out there, take strategic risks, and do the hard work to progress.
Yes, you‘ll probably suck at first when learning a new skill like coding. That‘s normal – great developers aren‘t born that way. Mastery comes from hours of frustrating practice.
But the magic happens outside your comfort zone. Coding boot camps are effective because they thrust you into an intensive learning environment that forces you to stretch your limits. You can create those same conditions for yourself by carving out focused study time.
Remember, a ship is safe in harbor, but that‘s not what ships are built for. You weren‘t made to stay stagnant. The world is full of opportunities if you‘re willing to set sail.
Befriending Failure
Speaking of discomfort, let‘s talk about failure. At some point, you will fall down in your journey to a new career. Probably many times. But failure isn‘t something to be feared or avoided – it‘s necessary for growth.
Famed inventor Thomas Edison had a great perspective on failure. When a reporter asked if he felt discouraged by all his failed attempts to create a lightbulb, Edison replied: "I have not failed 10,000 times – I‘ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work."
Failure shows you‘re pushing yourself, being innovative, and learning valuable lessons. If you‘re not failing, you‘re not aiming high enough. Or as Elon Musk puts it, "Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough."
Embrace failure as a stepping stone to success, even if it stings in the moment. When you get knocked down, get back up. True strength comes from persevering, not from never falling.
Cultivating Optimism
Beyond being tenacious, you also need to stay positive through the ups and downs. Optimists have a different lens on the world that sets them up for success:
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They keep their eye on the prize. Optimists maintain a clear vision of their goal and believe they will achieve it, even if the path is long. That conviction keeps them going.
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They look for the lesson or opportunity in challenges. When things go wrong, as they inevitably will, optimists don‘t assume the world is out to get them. They get proactive and ask, "What can I learn from this? How can I make the best of this situation?"
Researcher Shawn Achor found that just three minutes a day of focusing on the positive aspects of your life can significantly improve your outlook and success rates. Keep a gratitude journal to remind yourself of all the good in your world, especially when times are tough.
Dig Deep to Find Your "Why"
On especially difficult days, you need a compelling reason to keep going. Your "why" is the engine that will power you through obstacles and doubt. It‘s what gives you a sense of purpose and makes the sacrifices worthwhile.
My original "why" for becoming a developer was pretty weak, and I almost gave up as a result. I was more focused on running away from my old career versus running towards something I truly desired.
Luckily, a good friend reminded me of the impact I could have and the life I wanted to build. He helped me reconnect to a meatier mission. Without him, I likely would have thrown in the towel and forever regretted it.
Take the time to really clarify your "why," whether it‘s providing a better life for your family, satisfying your curiosity, or helping others through technology. Find something that deeply resonates with you. As Steve Jobs said, "If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don‘t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you."
Prepare to Be Called Crazy
Another challenge of chasing an unconventional path is that many people will think you‘ve lost your marbles. When I announced I was quitting my stable job to become a developer, my parents were less than thrilled:
"You‘re leaving a good paycheck to chase a dream? What about your kids? Be realistic!"
They weren‘t trying to be harsh – they were coming from a place of love and concern. But their limiting beliefs about what‘s possible aren‘t mine, and they don‘t have to be yours either.
True innovators and barrier-breakers are often misunderstood at first. As Apple‘s famous "Think Different" ad put it, "While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."
So if everyone immediately "gets" what you‘re doing, you‘re probably not being bold enough. The greatest leaps forward seem wild at the time. That doesn‘t mean they‘re impossible.
Let Books Be Your Mentors
Thankfully, you don‘t have to go it alone. There‘s a wealth of wisdom and support available, if you know where to look: books!
I think of books as magical time-traveling devices. They allow you to consult with the greatest minds of history and learn from their decades of experience and insight. Many prolific leaders and innovators like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet credit their success to being voracious readers.
You can gather invaluable lessons on business, technology, psychology, and beyond through books. I devour over 50 books a year and my only regret is not starting sooner.
Build a habit of reading a little bit each day – it really adds up. As Warren Buffet says, "The more you learn, the more you earn." Feed your inner student and let your curiosity run wild.
Craft a Safety Net
All this talk of bold leaps and new adventures is exciting, but let‘s get practical too. While I encourage you to dream big, you also need to plan wisely, especially if you have dependents.
Don‘t just rage-quit your job tomorrow without a strategy or savings. Trust me, the stress of instability will crush your ability to focus on learning.
In my case, I gradually built up an emergency fund so that when I did leave my job, I had a cushion. I also waited until I had been accepted to a coding boot camp, so there was a clear next step.
Even then, things didn‘t go exactly to plan and my funds ran lower than expected. I had to get creative and take some contract work for a while after boot camp ended. Having a financial buffer allowed me to focus on my studies as much as possible and weather the inevitable road bumps.
So start planning your finances and timeline now. Cut any unnecessary expenses and build your skills on the side until you‘re ready to fully commit. Don‘t let impatience for the dream prevent you from laying a practical foundation.
Start Small, Aim High
Fortunately, you don‘t need to be a genius to build an amazing new career or life. But you do have to be relentlessly committed to learning, growing, and taking action – even when the going gets rough.
Most of us underestimate ourselves and our capacity for reinvention. You likely have way more potential than you give yourself credit for. You just have to start, and keep starting, each day.
Of course, no one creates a massive change overnight. It‘s okay to begin small, as long as you hold fast to your big mission. Amazon launched by only selling books. The Airbnb founders couldn‘t afford their own rent so they rented out air mattresses. Tiny dominos can topple great walls.
So focus on taking small, consistent steps towards your goal, knowing they will compound. Stay the course and keep showing up for yourself. You never know how far those seedlings of effort will blossom – but I‘m willing to bet it will blow your mind.
Continuing to Grow & Give Back
Even after landing my new job as a developer, I know I‘m still at the start of a long journey. I have a huge amount yet to learn and build. But I now have the confidence of knowing I can tackle hard things and adapt to new challenges.
And I feel a deep responsibility to share what I‘ve learned with others who are facing similar struggles. Together with some friends, we‘ve started leading coding workshops for other aspiring developers. Helping them work through challenges and seeing their breakthroughs is incredibly rewarding.
No matter what stage you‘re at, find ways to give back and share your gifts. Not only will it deepen your own understanding, but it allows you to be part of someone else‘s transformation.
We‘re all forever students and teachers in this life. Let‘s keep our minds open, lift each other up, and enjoy the adventure. The world is waiting for you to make your unique mark – it‘s never too late to start.