Bartender to Salesforce #Dreamjob!

David’s note: What an incredible career turnaround in just six short months! I hope readers on the fence will get that extra push from your story – in another year you’re going to be a superstar! I can tell you’re very wise too because you realized learning the admin side first is key to becoming a good developer. Keep us updated on what happens next!

Hello David,

I don’t know if this is another SFDC99 success story yet or not (David: it is!). But I’d like to think it’s an SFDC success story in the making, inspired by your work on SFDC99.

I don’t have a business background, and I don’t have a degree. I am a humble bartender, or at least I was until a couple friends of mine decided to push me into the world of Salesforce via Apex. They are both Principal consultants of a prestigious firm and have been touting the virtues of being an Apex developer to me for a couple years now.

In October 2014, I finally decided to dive in and see what their fuss as all about. I immediately fell in love with the Salesforce platform! My primary goal at the time was learning Apex. I found your website, I bought the Head First Java book, and started building triggers and test classes (many were not useful or successful on the first build).

After coding for a while I realized I didn’t actually know how to be a good administrator, I hadn’t truly delved into the platform’s declarative potential. So I reset my developer expectations and started working through all the Developerforce.com workbooks and the Trailhead modules, and any other tutorial I could get my mitts on.

A few weeks ago, I obtained my 201 and 401 certifications. Step 1 complete.

As luck would have it, there is a new Salesforce HQ located a few miles from my home. As even luckier would have it, I have a couple customers/friends who actually work there and have experienced my learning saga every step of the way. One of them referred me for a Tier II Support position, to which I gladly applied (no expectations). And after some rather grueling interviews, this lowly bartender has been offered an SFDC #dreamjob! This is only Step 2. Becoming a developer is now a natural progression so long as I keep my sights on that goal.

I am sharing this with you because your website and enthusiasm has empowered me to think outside of myself and realize that we all have the potential to achieve our dreams. I look forward to your next set of tutorials and to keep you updated as I realize my goal of becoming a true Salesforce Developer. I mean to persevere!

Thank you so much David, you are an inspiration and a guiding beacon to anyone looking to expand their future with Salesforce. I only hope that if you share this story it will inspire others to look past their doubts and realize that anyone can change their future if they have the desire. Luck may have got my toe in the door, but my desire kicked the door off its hinges.

Best Regards, and Thanks again!

Joshua Gates

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