If I could give every aspiring developer just one piece of advice, it would be this: be relentless. Not the smartest, not the fastest, not the one who knows every language under the sun — just relentless. The road to becoming a developer isn’t smooth for anyone. Even the most naturally gifted coders hit walls, get stuck on the smallest bugs, or question if they belong. The ones who make it through are the ones who refuse to quit. That’s tenacity, and it’s one of the most underrated skills in tech.

Why Tenacity Matters More Than Talent

When people think about what makes a great developer, they picture someone who can instantly understand complex algorithms or memorize syntax effortlessly. But the truth is, the best developers are the ones who get knocked down and get back up — over and over again.

Learning to code is frustrating. It’s humbling. You’ll stare at error messages for hours, Google your way into 15 open tabs, and question your life choices more than once. But every time you push through, every time you refuse to walk away from a challenge, you’re building more than technical skills. You’re building resilience, problem-solving instincts, and the confidence to face whatever comes next.

Tenacity Is a Muscle — and It Needs Support

Here’s the thing: tenacity doesn’t appear out of thin air. It grows when you feel supported. It thrives when you know it’s okay to struggle — that struggling is part of the process, not proof that you don’t belong. That’s why one of the pillars of my People Over Code methodology is creating an environment where developers can struggle safely.

I’ve seen it firsthand as a mentor and instructor. Support builds tenacity. When students know they won’t be belittled for not knowing an answer, they take more risks. When junior developers feel safe admitting they’re stuck, they ask for help sooner instead of silently spinning their wheels. When people feel seen and supported as learners, they become more relentless problem solvers — because they know the struggle isn’t a reflection of their worth.

Why Belittling Kills Tenacity

Unfortunately, too many developers — especially those from nontraditional backgrounds — encounter gatekeeping and condescension early in their careers. They’re told they aren’t “real developers” or made to feel like asking for help is a weakness. That kind of culture doesn’t breed tenacity — it breeds self-doubt and imposter syndrome.

In my teams and in my classroom, there’s zero tolerance for that mindset. My job as a leader isn’t to test how much someone can suffer before they quit — it’s to help them develop the internal strength to keep going, no matter what. That’s the real test of a developer, and it’s the kind of resilience that lasts far beyond the first job.

Tenacity + Support = Developers Who Thrive

If there’s one thing I want the developers I mentor to remember, it’s this: you belong here — even when it’s hard. Tenacity isn’t about pretending coding is easy. It’s about facing the hard days with grit — and knowing you’re not alone in doing it.

As a leader, my goal isn’t just to teach code — it’s to build developers who believe in themselves enough to keep going when it gets hard. Because it will get hard. But with the right support, every single one of them can push through and succeed — not in spite of the struggle, but because of it.