Unlocking Potential: A 30-Year-Old Developer's Journey to Success
Written on
Chapter 1: Meeting the Mentor
In a twist of fate, I found myself interviewing someone my age who was making three times my salary. Surprisingly, he also appeared to possess three times my level of maturity. Today, I introduce Mr. Andrew (a pseudonym at his request), a 30-year-old developer who has carved a unique path in his career.
During our conversation, Mr. Andrew described himself in these words:
"I am an average developer, and I’m not being modest. Give me a day, and I can find at least ten developers who outshine me. Yet, I earn more than 90% of them. Today, I will explain how income isn't solely dependent on expertise."
This interview could be one of the most enlightening pieces you read before the year wraps up, offering insights that may prove invaluable in your future endeavors. I took away two critical lessons that I believe you will appreciate as well. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the story.
No more small talk… let’s get into the real narrative…
All You Have to Do is Ask
My mother often reminded me that if you never ask, you will never receive. As Mr. Andrew recounted his success story, those words echoed in my mind, and soon you'll see why.
Mr. Andrew works as a full-time freelancer, collaborating with both local and international clients, primarily startups. He shared:
"In the early stages of my career, while all my developer peers were landing jobs at major firms or earning impressive salaries, I found myself at the bottom of the income ladder. It wasn't that I lacked skill; I simply struggled during interviews. That’s when I shifted my focus away from large corporations to smaller companies and startups. I cherish my freedom and rarely take on full-time roles. To date, I’ve collaborated with over 40 startups, gaining experiences that big companies could never provide."
He continued, "Most startups face financial hurdles, and this impacted my pay. Once, while working with a startup, the founder called me into a meeting and revealed he couldn’t pay me anymore because their investors had pulled out. I had already received 75% of the agreed sum, but there was still $15k owed to me. However, he desperately needed my help to complete the project, which was a SaaS product. He proposed that if I finished the work, he would give me $1 for every subscription until I reached $300k, plus the $15k once he secured funding."
Faced with no options, I chose to accept his offer. He quoted, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." I assisted him for another month and successfully delivered the project. Four months later, I received a call from him, and he paid me $15. However, the real surprise came a year later when I began receiving royalty payments, which I had completely forgotten about. The amounts started small—$27 in the first month, over $250 in the second, and eventually $500 in the third month. Today, I earn over $2000 monthly from that venture. This was just the beginning of a transformative journey.
Chapter 2: The Power of Negotiation
After that experience, I realized I could increase my earnings through royalties or similar arrangements. The first step I took was to consult a wise entrepreneur friend who offered me some of the best advice I had ever received.
He advised me never to compromise on my regular salary but rather to leverage negotiation techniques for better compensation. He taught me two critical strategies:
Ask for More Than They Can Offer
This is an age-old negotiation principle. To utilize this approach effectively, you must have the upper hand, which usually means having nothing to lose. For instance, imagine a startup wants to build an e-commerce platform with a $30k budget. If you can complete it for that amount but will barely make a profit, you know the project is complex enough that they won't find anyone better than you. This scenario is what I call having "nothing to lose." In such situations, I aim to negotiate for a fee that reflects my worth.
Don't Leave Without Something in Return
With the upper hand established, you can carefully persuade them to offer you additional benefits. If the startup can't exceed the $30k budget, and you know they value your work, this is the perfect time to propose a royalty agreement. Royalty arrangements are mutually beneficial: startups avoid upfront costs, paying developers only when they start earning, easing financial pressure. For developers, these deals can yield returns far exceeding traditional compensation.
The mantra I took from my friend was clear: Never leave the negotiation table empty-handed.
The Reality of Royalty Deals
You might wonder how many royalty deals I've secured and whether it’s as straightforward as it sounds. The reality is that landing these agreements is challenging and not common. Out of over 40 freelance projects I've undertaken, I've only managed to secure five royalty arrangements. Out of those, two haven't generated income yet, while three bring in between $7k and $10k monthly.
I also faced setbacks, losing at least 20 potential projects during negotiations. However, the techniques I've learned not only facilitated these royalty deals but also helped me secure an additional 10–50% on each project. That's why I don't regret the contracts I missed out on.
A single interview-to-article process often takes 10–15 days! Your support through likes, comments, and shares means the world to me! And since developers thrive on caffeine, how about treating me to a coffee? BuyMeACoffee ☕
The first video offers an inspiring story about making $100,000 a month at just 16 years old, illustrating the journey of a young entrepreneur navigating the world of finances and success.
The second video chronicles the transition from being broke to earning $100K at 22, sharing key insights and side hustles that fueled this remarkable transformation.