Betting on Yourself: Lessons from The Primeagen’s Journey

In a vibrant and heartfelt talk at a PHP conference, The Primeagen shared his life journey — riddled with challenges, self-discovery, and ultimately, growth. His story is not just about coding or his career at Netflix, but about perseverance, purpose, and understanding what truly matters. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Betting on Yourself

The Primeagen’s journey began with adversity. From being labeled “the worst student” in high school to struggling with pre-calculus in college, he was far from a “natural genius.” However, his determination was unmatched.

“I knew if I had time and determination, I could achieve anything,” he said. His method? Relentless focus. He tackled calculus by dedicating hours to practice every single day, transforming himself from the worst to the best student in just six weeks.

This mindset carried into his career. When he joined Netflix in 2013 as a junior developer among senior engineers, he dove headfirst into Groovy — a language he had never used before — and mastered it. His persistence led to key contributions to Netflix’s backend systems, earning trust and recognition.

Lesson: No matter your starting point, betting on yourself is a strategy that pays off. Time, determination, and the willingness…