Don’t Learn To Code
Learning to code is the same red herring as getting funded by big name venture capitalists. We know that VC goes to less than 1% of startups founded. Most startups just aren’t going to be big enough to meet the economic requirements of VC. What’s more, most exist outside the networks that have access to such people in the first place.
But that does mean that only “fundable” ideas are worthwhile pursuits?
Of course not.
For example, I don’t need a million dollar exit to change my life. Building just one so-called lifestyle business that cash flows 5 figures per year would be more than enough to change the trajectory of my financial future. I’m sure the same goes for most people.
How many people who have tried to heed the cry of the learn to code movement have gone on to do so in a meaningful way? By meaningful I mean by actually learning enough to either build the business they’ve been dreaming about or change career paths.
The problem, just as it is with our fascination of funding announcements, is that we tend to focus on the wrong thing. Code, like an investment, is merely a means to an end — what matters is that we build.
Instead of learning to code, we should focus our efforts on learning to build: Building products that solve problems; Building businesses where there are actual customers that exchange currency for value; Building skill sets that enable us to pursue our dreams without getting permission first.
I know what you’re saying. “If I don’t code, how can I possibly go out and build that thing I've been thinking about?”
My response is simple — if your boss asks you to send a message to a client, do you go wire up an email server? Or do you simply open up GMail or Outlook?
When you need to analyze production numbers from last month, do you program an integration to the ERP system? Of course not. Many systems have a nifty “Export to Excel” button that downloads the data for you, which you double click and open up in the spreadsheet application.
Technology is the great equalizer. When thinking about how to get from point A to point B, look around and see how you can stand on the backs of those who came before you. Don’t recreate the wheel because that is a waste of energy and resources, and more importantly, a waste of time. The previous examples may seem silly, but they raise a significant point. Creating value in the Information Age, as in any age, only requires knowing how to leverage the tools at your disposal.
“What matters is what we build.”
Most immigrants who come to America do not need to be as fluent in English as a native speaker in order to succeed. They simply need to be conversant and establish a foundation that allows them to communicate.
For underrepresented groups entering the tech space, the same is true. We do not need to be code linguists to move the needle. We must simply learn enough to be conversational.
Before I continue, let me be clear that I am certainly not saying we should not be encouraging people to pursue these careers. I’m a firm believer that we need to increase the pipeline of minorities who are exposed to STEM and see a pathway to the careers for themselves. Organizations like NSBE, SWE and Girls Who Code, et al. are all great examples of work being done to make this happen.
My point is aimed at those looking toward the sky with dreams of founding their own companies right now; those thinking about participating in this structural shift in the economy, today. If you dreaming today, then I have good news for you.
The time to make strides toward those goals is now. That author who couldn't get published by a major outfit a few short years ago can now publish her book, by herself, using the largest book distributor in the world. Rappers and singers are no longer looking for record deals. They simply need you to subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them on Instagram.
They are building their brands, their audiences, and their businesses without jumping through the hoops of the industry establishment. They simply take action using what they know and figure out the rest. The beautiful part is all they need to get going is a vision, some initiative and access to software that someone else has already built.
This is also the reality for aspiring tech entrepreneurs. You do not need a technical cofounder or to spend thousands hiring a development shop. Power your creations with modern software platforms.
There are dozens of tools that allow non-programmers to create things on the web. Need a good looking website? Try Weebly or Squarespace. Do you want to create a blog? Wordpress is hands-down the most recommended platform. Selling online? There’s Square and Shopify. You can collect information from people with form builders like Wufoo or Jotform. Send marketing emails using Mailchimp or Mad Mimi and get paid with Stripe or Paypal.
I think you get the picture.
I have used these and many more over the years. I have also spent hundreds of dollars and hours attempting to learn how to code, to no avail. The main issue issue is the visual disconnect between the code being written and the actual product.
Enter Bubble
Fortunately, I have found a solution and it is called Bubble. Think of Bubble as Weebly or Squarespace for dynamic applications. With it, I can create fully featured applications in a fraction of the time it would take to read Learn Python The Hard Way.
I can build sign-up and login workflows (with password recovery to boot!), create action dependent notifications, and display rows of user generated content — all while controlling 100% of the look and feel of the app.
For those of you who know how to do this — or have tried in vain — you know this is no nominal feat. The product that Josh and Emmanuel have built will help unlock the new middle class.
When I discovered Bubble almost two years ago (thanks Product Hunt), I was so excited that I violated a personal rule and sent an email with the subject in all caps.
As annoying as it may have been at the time, it was — and is — very true. Since then, I have tinkered with it and seen the improvements that the founders continue to make.
Launching Build, Don’t Code
This prevailing excitement has inspired me to create Build, Don’t Code. As with any software, Bubble has a bit of a learning curve to get over. Initially, I did not have any ideas that led me to really test the product and figure things out. It’s sort of like Excel in that regard — it’s hard to learn without a promising use case.
I am now confident that I can go from concept to napkin sketch to functional app — I grok development now, even if I don’t have to open up a command line to actually do it. Bubble has allowed me to (finally) connect the dots.
Helping others achieve this feeling is the mission of Build, Don’t Code. Using tutorials, I will show how to build applications using Bubble. Some of these are familiar, others are things that have been in my “Ideas” folder for years.
My goal is for those who complete the courses to learn enough to grab the reigns and build the future they have always wanted.
