Passion Project Pending
A podcast designed to empower you to recognize the opportunities available to you, through conversations with startup founders, self employed entrepreneurs, small business owners, content creators, freelancers and more.
Tune in to learn and hear a variety of anecdotes from creative entrepreneurs who create opportunities for themselves and take a thoughtful approach to business by providing a product unique to them and their experiences.
By @rosemadelene, a 27 year old data engineer & aspiring entrepreneur.
Passion Project Pending
Software Engineer Side Hustles: Part Time Roles and Content Creation
#50. Alejandra Thomas is a software engineer and content creator. She currently lives in New York City and works as a Developer Advocate for a startup, as well as a part time Web Developer for Mixed Change, an agency working with nonprofits. On top of this, she also creates coding content across Twitter, Tiktok and Instagram. I first discovered Ale while creating coding content on Tiktok myself. She uses social media as a way to connect with the broader coding community although she’s been able to monetize it as well at this point. In this episode we discuss
- Her background and journey to working as a software developer
- Origin story and relationship with her content creation
- What she does in each of her roles and what she likes/dislikes about each of them
- Whether she would consider doing content creation full time
- What a typical day / week looks like for her
- Her experience with Twitch streaming
- What she sees for her future in tech / content creation
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it started because I was looking for that kind of sense of community that I didn't have in my hometown. So it was really helpful for me, meeting other people in the industry and finding resources I like the people I work with . I think they're all amazing engineers. I love working with people that really know what they're doing and it inspires me to be like them. I think my biggest failure has been putting all my worth in my job. And then that really affected me physically and mentally at one point. I want to be able to go back to that exploration phase where I just enjoy things and, not worry about it's just going to make me money, Welcome back to Passion Project Pending, where I'm doing my best to document the chaos of entrepreneurship. After spending multiple years as a Silicon Valley software data engineer, I was laid off from my most recent role contracting for Apple and used the savings I had to give up my San Francisco apartment Move back home to Northern Michigan to live with my parents and spend all my newfound time trying to find a way to support myself as a solopreneur. I'm still figuring out what I want for a business and how to make money in the meantime. So I interview entrepreneurs to learn about their businesses and talk about my experiences to share the realities of entrepreneurship. I used to think it was this glamorous thing once you quote unquote make it, but it has looked a lot different for me. Thanks for tuning in and I hope you enjoy the show. Alejandra Thomas is a software engineer and content creator. She currently lives in New York City and works as a developer advocate for a startup, as well as a part time web developer for MixedChange, an agency working with non profits. On top of this, she also creates coding content. Across Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. I first discovered Ale while creating coding content on TikTok myself. She uses social media as a way to connect with the broader coding community, although she's been able to monetize it as well at this point. In this episode, we discuss her background and journey to working as a software developer, her origin story and relationship with her content creation. What she does in each of her roles and what she likes and dislikes about each of them, whether she would consider doing content creation full time, what a typical day or week looks like for her, her experience with Twitch streaming, and what she sees for her future in tech and content creation. I started a new tradition, recently where I ask each guest at the end, a question to ask the next guest. And so that's what I'm going to start with. last time I interviewed two girls, they each had a question. So, I'm going to ask you those questions. so what's the first one is what's the biggest failure that you've experienced that you've learned from or that has propelled you forward? I think my biggest failure has been putting all my worth in my job. And then that really affected me physically and mentally at one point. When, cause I was used to having jobs where everything was perfect. So I like associated my job and my success professionally with how cool I was or how amazing I was, and then I had one job where everything sucked. So that really brought me down. I think my biggest failure was that it was months where I had, I was depressed. I got like anxiety and I never felt that before. So I had to completely. start over from that and seeing my job differently. I think that was my biggest failure because I was out of it for months. It was hard. Yeah. Yeah. I definitely have experienced something similar. yeah, it's like hard to, it's hard to think about your identity outside of work sometimes when, you're really proud of where you got yourself. Yeah. yeah. okay. Thank you for sharing that. Second question. Knowing everything that you know now, is there anything that you would have done differently when you first started out? and that could be in whatever capacity you want it to be. Anything in life? Yeah. I would not take things too seriously, I think. You know, everything in regards to, personal life and relationships and then, even friendships, I used to be very, I was very easy. It was very easy for me to be resentful, even at work and things like that. So I would probably probably chill. Yeah. You know, it's not that serious. Yeah. Yeah. And things get a lot easier. You have a lot more energy for your life when you. Let the little things go. Yeah. Agreed. Yeah. okay. Thanks for answering those questions. now I'll get into the questions I have. So could you please give me and listeners, I know a bit, but listeners, a brief background synopsis of yourself from, childhood upbringing, career experience to now where you are today. Okay. hi, my name is Ale, short for Alejandra. I'm from Mexico. I was born and raised in Mexico and I had a really nice childhood. I have a younger brother. It's, he's eight years younger than me actually. so I was an only child for eight years. I have always been, I've always considered myself a very like the, I would say that I've had trouble before defining whether I'm more creative than practical because I like, Both areas, I've always liked, math and I always liked art and things like that. So growing up, I've always been a person that likes to try a lot of things to find what I'm really good at, or what's the thing that I genuinely love. And so that meant that, I did everything in, when I was a child, I did art. I did, I even did theater. I did, everything. And then when I went to college, it was the same dilemma. I've always had that dilemma, right? I've always had the dilemma of what if I'm more than one thing, I've always felt that I'm can't be put in a box because I like doing a lot of things. So when I went to college, I had that same issue where I wanted to do. Something related to my hobbies. Cause I had, but I had a lot, So I liked playing with computers, but I also liked learning languages. And I, so I was, I went for business, then I went for engineering and then I ended up doing another type of engineering after college. it's, I've always been like that. I would describe myself as someone that. it has the good size and it has a bad size. I think I'm very curious and very impulsive, when I get interested in something, I want to try it out, but then I tend to drop things. So I'll be when something shinier comes up, then I will follow that thing. Or, so it's been harder for me to commit to something. And that's what I've been trying to learn more of and trying to put that into practice as I grow older after college, trying to. Kind of settled down and try to take one thing at a time. But, oh, and I ended up in, so after college, I got a job in the States. That's how I moved to the States. I've been here for the last, this is my third year. I'm in New York city and yeah, I'm the same as I, the same thing applies to where I want to live. I still don't know if I want to live here. Maybe, we'll see where life takes me. yeah, I relate to a lot of that for sure. Like the technical math and then like creative stuff. And I've always struggled with the how am I going to really excel at either one of these if I'm constantly split between the two? And that always bothers me. but like only focusing on one and ignoring the other interests kind of sucks too. So. Definitely can relate to that as well as the, where do I want to live? so about like how you started in software engineering, what's kind of like your relationship with software engineering, your journey to starting that, and how'd you pick like which. Type or area to go down. Cause I feel like, like for me, like I found myself in data engineering because opportunities arose, I never really felt like I chose it, but I also felt like it was kind of hard to pick something before you were in it and knew what it was. like in industry. And, obviously there's different kinds, there's different like levels of experience. So how did you navigate that? I think that, that's usually the advice I give to, to just focus on something at the beginning. because you'll have time, right? You'll have time to figure it out. If you like it, if you like something else, that's the way I go. But the way I started, so I had a programming class in high school and they taught us Java. So for me back in Mexico where, I hadn't had, I loved computers, but you know, to play games or, you know, to play with it, I would remember that. I remember that if I had no internet, for example, on my computer, I would do things with PowerPoint, you know, kind of, you know, create things, but with the computer. So I didn't really know what programming was until that class. And it was just Java. So I was like, okay, this exists and it's really fun. And I was good at it, in my classes, cause I had two classes and, but that was, that was, The amount of stuff I knew, that was the limit. It, I didn't know that there was anything beyond that. So when I would, program for fun, I would use Java because I thought that was everything. And then I graduate high school and I think, programming is just a hobby. It can't be a job. That's what I thought. And I go into engineering. No, I go into business first. Then I switched to engineering because I didn't like, business. And in engineering, my school didn't have computer science, so I had to do an, industrial systems engineering, but I did have some programming courses and, that's when I thought, Oh, I made a mistake. I could have been a computer science student and I could have done this thing that I really like, and that I really think I'm good at, for work actually. So I started just learning on my own and I already knew Java. So I thought, why not? So I focused on Java. I, started building like more complex stuff as I finished college. And then when I graduated, I just. Went looking for Java jobs. So that's how I guess it, I just got pushed to it because that's what was handed to me from high school. And I thought it was easy, instead of starting over. but then when I was in my job as a Java software engineer, we had to do a lot of, web scraping for the product that we were building. So I had to use a lot of front end technologies and that's how I started using Angular and I started using react. So I was like, okay, this is really fun too. And that's how I started exploring more. And I was like, maybe I need to be a front end engineer instead. I was like, should I stick to backend or should I go front end? And I then it just started, growing like how. Little of everything I started learning, I thought, then maybe I need to be a full stack engineer if I want to be like a generalist, and that's more where I've been angling to, because I think that being a full stack engineer gives you a little bit more flexibility in, you're always using different things. you're not stuck to doing backend or front end. So that's pretty much what happened with me, but I started straight with backend engineering and. it was all like circumstance. Yeah. Yeah. And so like, just to clarify, for honestly, myself and listeners, Java is that going to be like a Java software engineer? Is that going to be more of like a backend role? Whereas like Angular and react are like front ends, web framework vibes. Yeah. My, so when I was doing Java strictly, it was just handling microservices, you know, the infrastructure on the back. And then since we were doing scraping that we had to, with our microservices, with the Java that we, with the Java program, we had to navigate actually, websites to download, and parse the files that we needed to process. So we needed to implement. Something that could interact with a browser. So that's why I started learning and these websites were built with Angular and react. So you can use, you have to use those two to navigate with it or at least JavaScript. that's yeah. To answer your question. Yeah. React and Angular web technologies and Java, backend usually. Okay. So you work right now, full stock, right? So right now, so right now I do a little bit of everything. Yeah. But my title is actually a web developer lead. Okay. Yeah. Okay. okay. And then you also have something on the side. Is that web design? so no. So it's the whole thing, I think. So as a web dev lead, I do. I do coding and I don't really do a lot of design 'cause we have a designer. But Right. I do. Okay. Yeah. But you're, you have the side part-time thing, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. For nonprofits. Yeah. Okay. And yeah. What do you do for them? So I started two years ago after working, I would say for like Big Corps . Mm-Hmm., I. Started getting, you know, a little frustrated that my, that everything I did was maybe, you know, affect a button, affect a line of code, you know, and that was my whole sprint. So I wanted to do a little bit more impact because I felt, I felt like it took off, it took up all my time. Of course, you know, I finished my nine to five and I obviously didn't want to do it, have anything to do with the computer, I would have to, I would want to go out. I want to, Enjoy time away from the computer. But since I have a lot of passion and I really enjoy coding, it was, it felt like my time, I like, I was kind of wasting, you know, it, because before I would code for fun and I would do fun things. So I, that brought me to the, to a point where I wanted to use my skills for, for good. And I started searching for opportunities where I could do nonprofit work or, something on the side. I would, I was even, open to doing just volunteering, just doing a cool project that would be, A volunteer position, but I came across this agency that works for nonprofits. So they built, web apps or, GUI apps for nonprofits. And they were looking for a developer to work with them part time and it was paid. So that was really nice. And, what I do with them, I started with them two years ago. And what I do with them is it's pretty much that, we will get, I would, I will do about a project every month, more or less, sometimes more depends. And it's just supporting them with either, Maintaining a website or an application that they have that's old, or if they want to move it to, a different domain, or if they want to redesign it or, just anything related to their websites and applications. And that's what I do for them. Okay. Very cool. okay. And the agency, Is that called Idealist? Is that? No, Idealist is where I found it. Okay. But the agency is called MixChange. MixChange is an agency for profit. And, but we only serve non profit clients. I see. Yeah, and yeah, so makes change will work. For example, I don't know what nonprofit can I name? Maybe because we work, for example, for advocates for Asian and Hawaiian communities, right? So we will do a project for them, but they do pay us, they do pay us for that work. It's just it's just lower rates because they're nonprofits. Okay, gotcha. Okay. okay. So you definitely balance a lot, probably doing both of those things. And then on top of that, you create content, which is how I found you. back when I created content as well. So I am curious if you could talk about. what made you decide to start doing that? And yeah, what's your whole journey relationship with the content creation part of how you spend your time? Okay. So how I started was back in that Java software engineering job that I had at the very beginning and. When they shifted me, actually, that was even before. So I was in that job and I had an industrial systems engineering degree. So when I started that job, sometimes it was very confusing, because I didn't have the foundation that my coworkers had. So for example, we would meet up and we would have to, do some system design, plan or structure. And I would just not know the lingo or I would just not know. What everything meant. So I was behind on my studies, I would say. So that led me to continue studying as I was, working in that first job. And since I was in my I was still in my hometown back then, I was in my hometown, and I didn't really know anyone because all my friends from college, we went for a different degree, we didn't really study. They didn't really care about programming. Uh, so, you know, I couldn't really talk to them. So I resorted to Twitter first and I created an account where I was, you know, I was actually a little ashamed. I didn't want my family or my friends to find me. So that's why I started tweeting in English, even though I speak Spanish. So I was like, this is the way no one's going to find me. So I just started tweeting about programming and just my journey, you know, learning and at work. And that really resonated with a lot of people. I started making a lot of friends on Twitter and then, that's when I started, when I was in that job and that I had to learn front end, then I also started, sharing that on Twitter. So I would share, videos of what I was doing or, little animations that I was learning to do or findings tools that I was using. So that really started from there. The first 10 months or almost a year, I only did Twitter because I was just, you know, it was a community. It was like a forum for me to chat with other people. And then I would upload some, I would do blocks. I would do technical block posts, about what I was learning. And then I thought of doing them in video form. So I had never used Tik TOK before either. Like it was, it was starting to get really big, right? And then I went on Tik TOK and I, you know, that's the story. And then later on Instagram, but it started because I w I was looking for that kind of sense of community that I didn't have in my hometown. So it was really helpful for me, you know, meeting other people in the industry and finding resources, you know, at the end of the day, it was like also a great opportunity for me to network and also help other people that were in the same situation as I was. So that's how it started. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. Yeah. It was kind of similar for me. Like I started on TikTok because I was like, this is kind of like embarrassing. Don't watch it. And none of my friends were, on Tik TOK or I like that they weren't. And so, yeah, I, I downloaded Tik TOK to start posting, so yeah, it was cool to see you. It wasn't what I expected. Cause I didn't go like looking for a community, but there were a lot of people who enjoyed the coding content that really surprised me. Yeah. Yeah. And then like younger people as well, like asking questions about my experiences, which also came as a surprise and felt really good to be able to like, I don't know, maybe help them. Yeah, totally. Yeah. okay. So out of all the things that you manage, so you have your full time job and it's a part time thing, and content creation. What, could you compare and contrast them? what do you enjoy about each of them? And then like, maybe not, not love so much in certain parts. Yeah, sure. So I would say that I'll start with my full time job, my full time job. I. I like it, because it's secure. I like it because it's secure. I think I don't enjoy some things, definitely. I like also, I like the people I work with. I really like that. I think they're all amazing engineers. So I really, if I need help, I know I can get help, right? And that they'll excel at it too. Like they, they, what they do is inspiring. also I think that I love that. I love working with people that really know what they're doing and it inspires me to be like them. the work is also good. I would say the only thing I don't like, and this is Maybe will come as a surprise, you know, in contrast to everything else. I don't like to kind of be, so I work at a small company, right? And then. I do a lot of like from facing stuff where like I am the face of the company. So I don't like that I don't like that you know i'm in every video that i'm in like I know that makes no sense because I do content creation and I do videos But I don't like it for my full time job I think I think looking at it from that where it's like expected and it's something that i've met that my success is measured by Then I don't enjoy it. It's like You know because I have to do videos and I have to do you know You All those things, like public speaking, I don't enjoy that. And then, my part time job, I love everything, I think. I really don't have any complaints. I love also the people I work with. I love the causes that we support. I love the projects. They're always You know, they're for a good cost. And then on top of that, they're always very fun. They like to do a lot of, you know, you never know what you're gonna get. sometimes it's really, you know, Oh, just move this WordPress site to a different, you know, provider. Or maybe it's, I don't know. Just fixed typos, you know, it can be anything, but usually and very occasionally you'll get projects where like animation is really cool. So you get to play around, with new things, the designer is really good as well. So she always comes up with really cool stuff to implement. So that's always nice. Just a quick break in the episode to talk about the second hand shopper's best friend, which is called Benny. It is a Chrome extension you can add to your browser for free that suggests second hand alternatives available on different resale sites to whatever item you are looking for. I have been using it for a couple months now, and it is incredible how accurate it has become in matching to the same items as what you're looking for. So if you're looking to shop more sustainably, but don't always have the time to thrift or sift through everything available on Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, et cetera, et cetera, then Benny is your new best friend. Just click my referral link in the episode show notes and happy shopping. And then I really like that I get to work that part time job at my schedule. So usually the way I work with them is they'll come up with a project for me and then they'll say, how many hours do you think this will take you? And like, when can you have it done? So there's, it's like all async. So I just work on my time and I'll be like, okay. Here's the structure of what I'm going to do and here's how long it's going to take me. And then I just do it and just communicate, whenever I need to. But other than that, it's I get to pretty much handle it all on my own. And so I really like that job. And then, content. I think content is similar to my part time job, as in that, the way I see it, I see it, I don't like seeing it with pressure, you know? I started it for fun, and that's how I want to keep it. I think for me, it's also a creative outlet to, you know, the fact that it makes money is a huge bonus. But I did content for like a year without making a single penny and that was fine by me, you know, it was fun It's a hobby and it's I don't have you know I don't like looking at it under like I'm gonna post every single day or I'm gonna I have to make a video or I Have to get to 50, 000, or I don't even worry about how much likes I get for me. It's It's just interaction and it's fun. It's like an outlet and I like, I really like it because I can do it whenever I want and there's really no expectations and it's just really nice. Yeah. Yeah. Sometimes I feel like the best content comes from people who aren't like forcing it or like to a certain like, um, benchmark or something like they're genuinely just doing it because they want to. I think that definitely comes across, but knowing like all the things you balance, like what does a typical week look like for you? Like how do you fit in all these things? Do you just like create content when you feel like it? Yeah, usually unless I have partnerships. So if I have a partnership, then yeah, I do have to have a structure and, add it to my to do list. Otherwise, it depends on how I'm feeling during the day. So for example, a day for me, my, it's work, right? So the hours that I do have, To work are early in the morning. So I start very early in the morning That gives me also that gives you the illusion that you have more time, right? So it's like I start very early in the morning because my team is in europe So to meet like all my meetings are From eight to ten or seven to ten sometimes so I do the meetings and by ten i'm usually done with meetings Then I can do some focused work and usually I will do Focus work from 10 to like three and that's it. So my full time work ends at three. Then I usually go to the gym or, you know, workout, eat everything, come back. And if I have a project, for the nonprofits, I will usually do an hour or two. I'll do an hour or two, but not every day. That's the thing. That's also something I like, you know, that let's say that this is a day that I did do that. So I do two hours or one hour. for the, for nonprofit work. And then, I don't know, it can be seven and I'm like, should I do something? You know, if I still have energy, then I will occasionally like scroll and see if there's a trend. This is usually when like my day is swamped, then I will do just a trend with where it's like a video that's just less than 10 seconds. just to show people I'm alive, I'm here, and then I'll do a trend and do something funny. And that usually takes me like an hour because it's just a 10 second video. but if I have a, if I want to post something specific or I want to do, something more, what's the word more produced, like more production, then I will usually do content in the weekends. So I will do either Saturday or Sunday. I will think about, you know, write down what I want to create and then just record it. And on the weekends, I don't usually do any other work except content if I have to. Okay. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Well, that sounds, that sounds doable. yeah. Yeah. Okay. That's cool. yeah. So with content creation, Yeah, like, how is that going for you? you do partnerships, what kind of, what kind of companies or products or brands will you typically partner with? And, Yeah, would you ever consider doing that full time? And if so, why or why not? I don't think I would ever do it full time, because I think it would change the way I see it. I think, for me, It would be like, then I think a switch would happen where I'm like, yeah, I need to post today and tomorrow and every single day. I need to post a story. I need to post, a tweet. And right now it's so relaxed that I love that. I, I also don't set goals for myself as in like, Oh, I want to make X amount every month. I think that I did for a little bit was like, if I could make enough for rent every month, Then that's good because I am putting hours into it. I also think that, as much as it is fun, I'm also putting hours into it and yeah, and I do like to be rewarded for that, so sometimes I do think as long as I get rent and that's, that's like plenty for me, but the companies that I usually work with, I. I usually only accept to work with companies that have products or offer services that I have used or that I would use. Or that I know that the people that follow me could use, I don't really, I don't really also do affiliate marketing where it's, where it's like, I put a link and then I get money if they buy something, I only do that for Amazon for my setup. I've done that, but I don't really do like a video where it's I'm going to give you a discount and I'm going to get 50 bucks for every person that signs up. I don't really do that. I really like to recommend things that I. That I believe in. So that's like my, my, my way of going about partnerships and it's, what's been working is it works really well. I think that also another thing that has worked for me and, really establishing, money from content is long term partnerships. So I really try to Excel when I'm, when I get reached out to buy a company. And then they usually come back and then they'll come back with saying, Oh, now we want a six month, a partnership, like a three months. So that that's always good. You know, I may, I may not do like partnerships every week or so, but a partnership, with a brand for six months. And that is a really good deal. Usually yeah. if you're able to make rent with that, that's so good. I know. Like, that's phenomenal. what a, yeah, what a relief that must be. and I agree with what you said, I think it's amazing that you, only do it when you're, like, really feeling it and you don't do it from this place of, Intense, let me reach out, yeah. and that probably draws a lot of people. Cause I feel like that energy is like perceived, but like you said, it's still time out of your day, like, Oh, like, yeah, like maybe you enjoy like editing the video and like everything, but, or like creating the video, but then you like have to edit it and do all these things like from experience. I know that can be. That can be tedious for sure. Yeah. Yeah. okay. And like with all the different things, like I know you walk through a typical schedule or week. do you ever find it to be like too much with I don't know, like social life or things that fill you up? Or do you feel like you have a pretty good, situation figured out now by now? I actually think that I'm getting ready to step out of it. I think that I've been doing all these three things for the last few years. Another thing about content is that it also gives me, some sort of security over what if I lose my job, if I lose my job, at least I know that money will be coming, because I'm doing this thing. So I'm not, I think that I'm ready to let something go. I think. I'm not, I could leave my full time job, which would leave me with content and my part time job, which would still be, plenty, or maybe find a full time job that's just lighter and then switch my, contributions to the nonprofit agency. Like lower to maybe just volunteering because I don't think I would like to leave that like on its in its entirety, just like lower responsibilities and a full time job would be really nice. and I think I'm ready for that. I think that I've been doing a lot for so long, where I was like trying to build a foundation of Getting savings and everything, you know, and, you know, also helping my family. And now I think I'm in a position where I can relax and enjoy more of, of everything, you know, I've, I've done a lot of traveling to, you know, it's not like I've just, it's people, I think it's. The idea that I'm just like in my computer all day, but I do, try to work out. I try to, socialize a lot, make friends and whatnot, spend time with my family and travel. But I think that sometimes it's just, I really need to enjoy things a little bit more rest, you know? And I think I'm ready for that to not feel that pressure of, Oh, I was already doing three things. So I need to stay doing three things, you know? I think. I think I'm ready for that moment to let something go. Yeah, I feel that. Well, I mean, that's amazing though, that like you have worked so hard and like built a good foundation, like that's got to feel like so good. yeah, just like knowing multiple things could go wrong, but I still got myself and can provide. That's That's amazing. but yeah, I wonder, like, you're ready to step down, maybe create some more free time for yourself. Yeah. Even though like you are ready, do you find that like, how do you think about that transition? Cause you, you have been doing a lot for a long time. It sounds like, so like what do you see yourself like doing with the extra time? I can join it. Oh, we're going to fantasize. Yeah. Um, I want to definitely split more, split my time more between here and Mexico, I think definitely from, for starters. And I also want to do more hobbies. I think that, I'm in my mid twenties and then, I, all I do, my hobbies, when I talk to people, all I am is a computer nerd. Cause that's what the content I create for. It's also software engineering, and then I do software engineering on the side. And then I do software engineering full time. I think that I want to explore other things. I want to go back to, I was telling you at the beginning, like I, I would do everything, I would do volleyball. I would do basketball. I would do jazz. I would do dancing instruments, blah, blah, blah. And I want to be able to go back to that exploration phase where I just enjoy things and, you know, not worry about it's just going to make me money, you know, because I used to think that a lot about everything I did, but like, should I put time into this? Because it's not going to give me money. Well, I already have money now. I want to just enjoy things, you know, learn new things, indulge a little bit more and, new. new adventures and I think hobbies. I think that's what I want to do. I feel like a lot of, I feel like the people that I admire the most. They're like really good at their craft, right? And they can make money out of it. But they also like, that's not their whole identity, they also have, I don't know, they're a great cook, or, they, I don't know, they do, they can make clothes, they know how to make clothes, or they crochet, I don't know, I want to have something like that. And I feel like I don't. So I feel like all I do is tied to a keyboard and it's great. the things I can create, I am really proud of, but I am still looking for, you know, more things that I can do. Yeah, totally. Yeah. That sounds nice. the hobbies for sure. And not approaching everything. Like, how do I make money from this? I totally, like a much better feeling. but yeah, I, I'm curious, so you feel like more stable now, like you could do that and take a step back, how do you determine what is enough for you to do that? you're like, Oh, I'm at this place where I feel comfortable, like financially, you know, step back. Is it that you'll just be able to take a step back and still cover any living expenses and travel costs. And then also have that free time. Is that why like you feel comfortable taking a foot off the gas? Yeah, I think so. I think after a few months, you know, kind of settled down because last year I traveled a lot. So I didn't really, really have like a home base. Right. So I was traveling a lot. I was in Mexico. I was in the States. I was, you know, in Canada, I went to Asia, like I traveled a lot and then I was in need of like having just a place. And then I got a place. And I'm in my apartment and I now know like what my routine looks like, I know what my expenses look like, you know, after six months, like I know how much money I need, and how much money I already get, so it's I am able to make that decision of what things are not necessary for me, like mandatory for me to have, like I can, I can actually let go of things to let others in. And I think that's the position I'm in right now, like I can see that I live very, comfortably right now, but at the cost of being tied to my work and my computer, but I know, and I've determined by now that if I'm not tied to it, I can still live comfortably, like nothing is gonna, I feel like we have that fear and I have that fear all the time of Oh my God, what am I going to do without benefits? What am I going to do? You know? But even I've even like looked into that and I think that, you know, it's all going to be okay. and I feel like that foundation that I built and then the fact that I do have other sources of income can definitely help out. I think it's scary, but yeah, I think I've spent the last months figuring that out, that I can make things work. yeah, definitely. Yeah. I, yeah, I'm just always curious about how people view their finances and like stability. Yeah. okay. I do want to ask you about Twitch before we end. Oh, right. Um, yeah. Experience with Twitch and yeah. How does that factor in to everything else? Like, what does that like give and take from your life or maybe just give? Yeah, so I started Twitch because I work from home and I've worked from home for the last three years. So I've never had that really like the office experience or anything. And then I started doing Twitch because I could live stream myself as I worked and then co work with people. Like if they're also co working, working, sorry, or they're studying or something join. And then we do like productivity, We do like productivity sessions where like we work for 40 minutes or 30 minutes and then we rest for a little bit and then we chat. So it's like a sense of community, but also you get your work done, you know? And it was, uh, I started that and it's been really fun. it's like two birds, one stone because I'm doing my work. I'm actually doing my job, but I'm also, I also get to interact with people that already follow me. Or, that find me and that really want company, I don't, I, Twitch is the same as how I started with content. I don't really see it, you know, I didn't really start because, oh, I want to get sponsorships there and I want to, you know, make a lot of money. What I wanted to get out of this was, That like consistency for myself too, to stay accountable because people are going to see me working and I, they're going to see if I'm on my phone or anything, right? Like it keeps you accountable. And then it's also like a way for me to chat with people, like as if they were my coworkers. And then the other thing is that, the added bonus to that is that I get some money out of it just from viewership. And then it pretty much covers my coffees for the month. So that's awesome because I love getting my coffee outside. So it's yeah, so it's it's great. I think that's been really fun. I really enjoy it. And the other thing that, that I was telling you, when to do it, like you have that choice, you don't have to necessarily do it every day. There's like, no, one's keeping count, you know? And that's the reality for like also con, like content. Oh, I think a lot of people are like scared of that to start because of that because they're thinking that everyone's keeping track of what you're doing and what you're posting or when you're posting, but nobody really does like life happens for everyone. And then when you show up, that's nice, but if you don't, then. They probably won't notice. yeah. Yeah. Yeah, every time I've had a relationship with content creation, and I'm currently working on it now for the podcast, I feel like I put these, aggressive commitments on my own plate. No one cares. And I feel like it's just, too much. But it's just a good reminder. Like, literally no one cares. It doesn't matter if you miss a day or a week or whatever. Yeah, exactly. And kind of that vibe of like, if I'm not, if I'm actively not having a good time, what is the point here? Like, why is that a good thing? yeah, it's hard to strike a balance, but, I want to ask you if you have advice for aspiring software engineers before we wrap up, I think I covered it with that same thing, to focus on something it's very easy. To get overwhelmed, especially now, especially with like AI to, to kind of want to do everything and want to know everything, but that, you know, I started a job, my first job, I knew Java and then spring boot, which is like a framework. And that was it. That was all I knew, and I had built a lot of projects and then you learn on the go, right? As you go, you start learning all the tools that you need for that. I think that's my advice to focus on something. Become like really cover the fundamentals. I think that's a huge mistake that software engineers make that they don't cover fundamentals. I made it, I don't recommend doing that. So cover the fundamentals and then you can explore, you know, you don't have to be, you also don't have to be married to a programming language very early on in your career or a tool you can always change. And I think that's another thing that we are very scared of thinking that it's going to get too late. But it's not. So I think that there's always like a lot of resources. There's also always a lot of tools for you to continue learning and continue. Changing your path. That's my recommendation. Focus on one thing at the beginning. Amazing. Thank you. Okay, and then what is the question you have for the next guest? I didn't think of anything You want to ask them it can be any Really? It can be just any level of depth. It doesn't have to be like the they had They had really deep questions though. I know, but that's okay. That's the beauty of it. it's different. So can it be anything that like, what show they're binging on right now? Yeah, that's my question. I'm asking that because I'm binging Vampire Diaries. Oh my gosh, I literally did that a year ago for the first time. Really? So good. I know, I'm in season 3. I think I like, I broke off around season 4 or 5, like I haven't seen that. Oh really? Have you seen it all? are you? No, I never have. I'm trying to, I'm gonna try. yeah. I was literally re watching it, so that's good. Yeah. Oh, okay. So you did finish it once. No, like I, I think I watched like season one through three or four in high school and then last year I just got on this kick. Where I was like, last time I was done, and it wasn't getting old. eventually. I know. Yeah. Yeah. I know. That's what I'm binging right now. Stefan or Damon. Although it's probably determined by now. Oh, I know. I know the ending though. I know the ending. But, I'm a Stefan girl. Really? Yeah. I really don't get why everybody loves Damon. He's so toxic. Yeah, I know, but he's yeah, he really is. He wants to fix him and help him. Yeah. Yeah, that's so true. maybe that speaks to your, secure attachment style, but, Yeah. I also think that, I would never, because I do have a brother, and I'm like, when Damon killed, Jeremy, I'm like, how would you go from and move on from that and be like, yeah, I love you, I want to date you, you know? I think dame and girlies need to, I think it says a lot, need help, not what I'm thinking about it, yeah, that's a really good point, yeah, but oh my god, it's so fun, I love it, I love it, I watch it when I'm eating lunch or when I'm, you know, killing time, I love it, it is. but yeah, okay. Those are like all the questions, but thank you so much for your time today. And it's really interesting hearing about your experiences. So thank you. Thank you for having me. I hope that I make sense with my answers and that they help you in some way. Definitely. Definitely help me. And yeah, definitely gonna help listeners. So thank you. Of course.