2025 Programmers' Guide: Balancing Tech Advancement and Side Hustles

The Dilemma: Tech or Side Hustle?

A great question! If it were in the past, I might not have an answer, or I'd choose one over the other. But now, my answer is: do both.

The mistake in this question is separating the two, as if they can't co - exist. The tough part is finding a unified direction.

The Misconception

Many people think that tech represents the workplace, while side hustles are something else. They believe that if you spend time leveling up your tech skills and become a tech expert or manager, you won't have time for a side hustle.

From a time perspective, there is indeed a conflict. However, we can solve this from the angle of direction. That is, your workplace skills can boost your side hustle, and your side - hustle achievements can support your main job.

I've observed some programmers who went on to start their own businesses. In fact, they were also successful in the workplace. Either they were really good at tech, or they got into management. Their tech and management skills, along with the company resources and connections they had, helped them in their own businesses.

How to Do Both?

In the past, it was really tricky because of time constraints. But now, with AI, it's easier. You just need to figure out the direction.

AI programming is super popular right now. It can improve your development efficiency and tech level, and at the same time, you can use it for side hustles. There's no contradiction.

For example, when taking programming gigs, in the past, it might take days to finish one project. Now, it could be done in a day or just a few hours.

You can also teach AI programming, create courses, and do knowledge - based paid content. Use AI programming to develop products, like various tools and websites. This is not only about leveling up your tech and product skills but also making money on the side.

Independent development is quite popular these days, mostly for overseas websites, apps, etc.

If you're really good at tech or passionate about it, you only need to solve two problems: product and business skills. Then you can nail your side hustle.

Product is easy to understand. Business skills can be simply broken down into: traffic, sales, and operation.

Traffic means getting customers. No matter what platform it is, online or offline, can you promote your product and get customers? This is a make - or - break issue.

Sales is about whether you can sell your product when customers come. Are you brave enough to ask for money? Do you know how to sell?

Operation is a broad term, including marketing, pricing, personal branding, storytelling, data analysis, event planning, etc.

The Importance of Business Skills

However, tech is not as important as business skills. Maybe many programmers or other tech - savvy people think tech is crucial. But let's be honest. Nowadays, except for the top - notch ones, the tech skills that most people have don't give them much say or unique value.

I'm not saying tech isn't important, or that there aren't people with amazing tech skills. It's just that most people's skills aren't up to par. In this case, it's more important to spend more time improving your business and product skills, making yourself a well - rounded person who can make money on your own.

I remember even before graduating, I often heard about the 35 - year - old crisis for programmers. How to solve it? One way is to keep climbing the corporate ladder, which can delay the crisis, but this path is very narrow. There aren't many such positions in a company, and even senior executives can get laid off.

Becoming a top - notch tech expert is a solution, but only a very small number of people can achieve this.

There's another way: go solo and do a side hustle. In my observation, although it's difficult, it's easier than the other two ways, and the path is much broader.

There are many things you can do, and it will improve your overall abilities. The ceiling can be high or low, and there's a lot of room for imagination, while the corporate world is quite limited.

The challenge is that you have to take risks on your own, and it requires high comprehensive personal abilities. You need to be well - rounded, have strong mental strength, and be proactive.

But I still recommend that all working people give it a try. It's not an option; it's a must.

Daily Reading & Writing by Xiaolu 2025.05.23 [Day 627]