The only constant is change

As a teenager, i’d skateboard and BMX, and my favorite brand was Volcom, actually it was Element, because of Bam Margera, but Volcom was a close second and I need to tie in Volcom to this story somehow.

Anyway, what I do remember about the brand, almost 2 decades later, is the phrase that they’d plaster on their t-shirts

“The Only Constant Is Change”

This quote stuck with me throughout my life, and the older I get, the more I reflect on it and have to accept it - for better or for worse

Heraclitus - weird name but ok - was the greek philosopher that coined this term, saying “Life is Flux” which as you’ll agree, doesn’t roll off the tongue so well.

Ok, but what does this mean for me?

Well, as you may or may not know, I make content on LinkedIn all the time - I really try help out developers and techies in general, Business Analysts, QAs, Product Managers etc.

One day, I wrote a banger of a post (at least according to me, not according to the impressions and comments from LinkedIn, according to them, it was below average and only got me half the usual impressions and engagement)

The post - as I am sure you have opened up to read - is about networking on LinkedIn, and the importance of it. To which I immediately got a comment from a connection and follower that soon unfollowed and blocked me.

Chris is a strong developer, I have no doubt, but he doesn’t understand that the only constant is change

He doesn’t want to change

He wants to be whatever he is, and for the world to adapt/change to him

He remarked how he tried my advice, and it doesn’t work - this I knew was BS, because I am right 100% of the time - but also because, he didn’t understand, that the only constant is change

1. He didn’t take my advice, he literally skipped 3 steps, it’s like going to the gym to bench 200 pounds, yeah, people can do it, but not before working their way up

2. Even if he did do all the steps, he didn’t change his strategy, he didn’t change the location of the people he was connecting with, the industries, the company sizes, the company technology stack

Chris basically said, well i’m in the gym, even though I hate it, why am I not fit and buff?

Ok, but now really what does this mean for me?

Well for you, this means, you must change with the times and right now developers have 2 massive headwinds

1. Tech layoffs, still going strong

2. RTO - Return To Office, going reallllllly strong

Basically, you have a weak job market and reduced opportunities, because of geographical restrictions

This should be enough reason to subscribe to my youtube channel where I give advice on remote work, networking and building the perfect resume

https://www.youtube.com/@bojan_najdov

So how would I handle these two massive headwinds?

1. LinkedIn

This is your go to, I mentioned in my newsletter last week, about the importance of LinkedIn as a platform - read last weeks Newsletter - but basically:

You have to widen your surface area there

1. Grow your network

   You have to connect with your peers

   You have to connect with their bosses

   You have to connect with their bosses bosses

2. Create content

   You have to either create your own content or take content from somewhere and share it with some of your thoughts

3. Engage

   You have to find people you want to work for, work with, or build a relationship with and start speaking with them

4. Updated Profile Profile

   Profile Picture

   Easy to access CV and Github

   Clearly written work experience

2. Twitter/X

So many company founders are active on Twitter - and they are so accessible, especially to people that can help them

That’s you

You can help them

Go find them, btw, did you know Twitter has a Job Board?

No you didn’t, you’re welcome

Just search the keyword and the location - you’ll get a nice list

3. Events

Meetups, free events, paid events

There is no escaping this, and events are great because they are so personal and real time

Don’t be afraid

And if you are, that’s fine, go to one event and say nothing but just be there. As you do more events, you’ll open yourself up and interact with more and more people

I screwed up my first event BIG TIME - i literally could have landed paying clients - but instead, because I was so insecure and scared that I was new in business, I pretended I wasn’t and that I didnt need more business

Most saw through this, and thought I was a con man, or had no idea what I was doing, so they didn’t give me any business

BUT

Let me tell you about the next event I went to, I networked, got referred to a recruiter, spoke with the recruiter, made them a website, for free, and 6 months later, they sent me a client that made me about $34’000 in profit.

So yea, events, they work, they’re great, and you should do them

Where do we end off?

My dear techies, we are in turbulent times, we are in difficult times - but difficulty creates strength.

We must change with the environment, we must adapt to the market - it’s not amazing news, but there will be those of you who take this seriously, and you will set yourself up for life because of it

Doing the above will get you

1. More pay

2. Remote work

3. More control of your time

It takes effort, its not easy and its not a quick win, networking needs to be part of your Modus Operandi, it needs to be part of you

Start now, start small and good luck out there - don’t be too hard on yourself