Section 1.1: Refining My Offer

After my initial tweet didn’t yield much, I received a few responses, including some who booked time to chat. One of these conversations was with a web developer from Austin, where we shared our experiences.

This made me reflect: my invitation to chat was rather vague—simply "Let’s talk. About anything!"—but why would anyone take time out of their day to converse with a stranger about anything at all?

I had been contemplating a few questions regarding my Twitter presence: Why would anyone want to follow me? What value could I provide?

Through trial and error, I discovered a passion of mine that I often overlook: I have a knack for getting people to open up, ask questions, and pursue their aspirations. Rather than labeling it "coaching," a term that has become clichéd, I decided to focus on my true interests.

I’m also deeply passionate about programming. I view it as a valuable skill that can change lives for those willing to learn.

To attract attention, I began sharing tech-related content, researching popular hashtags, and incorporating them into my tweets. My follower count began to grow, albeit slowly, but engagement increased significantly.

I revised my offer to focus on my technical expertise and invited anyone interested to "discuss tech."

The response was astounding. I utilized Calendly for scheduling, allowing individuals to choose a convenient time, and integrated Google Meet for our discussions, giving them the option to use their camera or not.

I limited my availability to 12 hours each week, ensuring I could focus on both my work and the conversations.

Section 1.2: Initiating the Conversation

Now that I had a steady stream of conversations, I needed to consider what topics to discuss. Surprisingly, I felt a bit anxious during my initial calls. However, I quickly adopted a relaxed approach, starting with casual questions like, “Where are you located?”

I expected to connect mainly with people from the U.S., but I was pleasantly surprised to receive bookings from individuals in Canada, India, Russia, Ireland, and the UK. It was truly eye-opening!

I asked if they had any specific questions. Sometimes they did, and I aimed to respond clearly. Other times, we simply discussed our backgrounds. Some conversations revolved around product ideas, software tools, tech stacks, or predictions about the job market in the next 5-10 years—admittedly, I can’t say for sure, but pursuing programming seems like a wise choice!

This experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who has reached out.

One individual asked me, "What are you selling?"

"Nothing," I replied. "I have no products to offer."

He seemed skeptical. "What’s the catch? Why are you doing this?" he probed, anticipating a sales pitch.

I regret to inform you that I'm not here to sell anything; I'm doing this for my own benefit as much as yours. I genuinely want to engage with others and foster connections.

Ultimately, I wish someone had offered this kind of support when I was starting out. I longed for a mentor who could relate to my struggles—someone who had spent countless nights wrestling with programming languages or configuring Linux, grappling with job rejections due to a lack of a degree, yet still persevered.

Someone who could demystify feelings of inadequacy, especially as one's skills improve.

It’s truly gratifying to share laughter and smiles during these calls, leaving both parties feeling uplifted.