Salesforce coding lessons for the 99%Finally, Apex tutorials for point-and-click admins! Written by a self-taught Google engineer.
Salesforce coding lessons for the 99%
David’s note: This one hit me right in the feels! Ekalavya, look how far you’ve come in such a short amount of time. What an amazing accomplishment, you should be so proud of yourself. That is something you will always look back on and smile in your life.
Ekalavya, you are also a very sweet person! Is it wrong for a teacher to have a favorite student?
I’m posting this story in its absolute raw form: an exchange of emails that began in 2015 and later became a story that everyone can learn and be inspired from.
From: Ekalavya
To: David
Date: 2015
Hi David,
I have been working as an SFDC developer for the past year.
Still, I would say I am not that good in coding. This is what I feel about myself. I am not satisfied with my coding capabilities.
The projects I have been working on are related to config, and I don’t get the chance to dig much into coding. One thing I can say is, I feel I am very good at the config part.
But as a developer, one should be very good with coding right?! Now, my boss has a paradigm on me that, I am not sound in coding and hence they are making me work only on small projects with mostly config work. I feel very bad about myself for this.
My senior on my team always behaves towards me as if I am very poor in understanding and analyzing things. I can’t find what is wrong with me actually.
Please gimme some motivation, henceforth I prove myself that, I am awesome! They should feel bad for their criticizing behavior towards me.
Thanks,
Ekalavya
From: David
To: Ekalavya
Date: 2015
Hey Ekalavya,
Thank you for your email and story!
I’m glad to hear you’re dedicated to improving! I know how it feels to need to prove yourself – it can be very frustrating.
Here’s what I have done in your scenario. Note – it won’t be easy, but many years from now you won’t regret going for it:
Do this for at least 3 months and I’m sure things will be radically different for you soon =)
Good luck!
David
From: Ekalavya
To: David
Date: 2015
Thanks David. I will go for it from this moment. I’m glad to hear back from you, which I really didn’t expect. Thanks for giving your time for my mail, I really mean it.
You are awesome man!
From: Ekalavya
To: David
Date: 2017
Hi David,
This is the second time I am writing to you.
You have been inspiring me since the moment I found SFDC99. I am not sure if you remember me, but I have changed and improved a lot after implementing what I have got as reply from you for my first email to you. Saying “THANK YOU” would be simple one, but that is how I can express my gratitude for you. Thanks David!
David, I need your suggestion regarding one of the important moves to take in my career. I am planning to switch from my current company.
I have 3 offers in my hand as of now, among 2 were considerable. One is an offer from a multi-national company with a 40% pay hike. The other offer is from a growing, product based company with a 60% pay hike.
The former one offers a role similar to my current one ie. Salesforce developer, and the latter is not a development related role, but has a better pay increase.
I am finding it difficult to decide to which I should go for. If I go for the latter one, I wouldn’t be working on the things which I have learnt so far and no more Apex and Visualforce coding at all.
On the other side of the coin, I will get a chance to learn new things and get expertise in other Salesforce skills, such as release management.
The one question in my mind now is, “would I be able to go for developer role again in future?” If I want to come back to development, will my experience be considered further?
Please suggest me here. I will be awaiting your reply David.
Thanks in advance.
Ekalavya
From: David
To: Ekalavya
Date: 2017
Hey Ekalavya, thank you for the note!
At various points in my life I have chosen the lesser paying role in order to invest in myself and learn.
Knowledge is far more valuable in the long term than short term pay. After a few years you’ll be making a lot more, and, you’ll probably be happier too!
That said, you might be able to have the best of both worlds. Tell your potential employer that you have a stronger offer and see if they can beat it! In my experience, companies will respect you more if you do this. They will usually not retract their offer however different companies have different philosophies!
Anyway, long story short: money comes and goes. Knowledge is forever!
Good luck!
David
From: Ekalavya
To: David
Date: 2017
Hey David,
Yes, that make sense! Thank you for taking time to answer my email. I think one day I will send you my success story when all the items in my checklist are achieved and if its worth to share, I am striving to be better everyday!
#KeepInspiringUs
Ekalavya
From: Ekalavya
To: David
Date: 2017
I am so happy to write this to you!
Even though its not a big achievement, I still wanted to share it.
The people in my original job who did not consider me and my work before and had a blind paradigm that she couldn’t do it…. came to me today and asked me to come back with an offer of double pay.
Of course, I didn’t consider their offer now, coz I have committed to go for a lesser paying job. I still wanted to invest my time on learning more.
I always consider you as Dronacharya and me as Ekalavya. Ekalavya was an archery student who wished Dronacharya would be his guru. He made a mud statue of Dronacharya and practiced in front of it, day in and day out, meditating on his craft, taking inspiration from his guru, and eventually becoming a mighty archer.
You have inspired a girl from a very average academic background to someone who people are afraid of losing now.
Thanks David, thank you very much for everything =)
Yours Girly Ekalavya =)
Inspired by this story?
Read more success stories from other SFDC99 students!
Want to tell the world your story too?
Email it to sfdc99.mailbag@gmail.com and your story could be heard around the world!
Hi David!
Came across your website, lifesaver.
I am in the Salesforce testing role at a small company with very little to no exposure to insights in salesforce. I want to be SF Developer but here I get no exposure. Pretty relaxed work culture, no learning or challenges whatsoever and pay are high too.
But internally, I feel like a loser, they do not respect SF testers nor let them be exposed to business side of the real meaty stuff.
I am stuck here with high pay and no self-respect. I utilized some time and finished some of the certifications but I don’t get the real-time exposure here.
Should I leave this company and pay and search for SF Admin job instead OR should stay here and keep learning on my own.
If I were you I’d stay and learn. If your current role had zero involvement with Salesforce I’d say otherwise. The high pay is the icing on the cake. Use certifications as your milestones for making big career changes. PD1 IMO
Just what I need! This inspiration is what I am looking for !
such a truly Awesome story thanks for sharing …
Hello Dronacharya and Ekalavya,
After reading this story i want to become your girly Ekalavya2
Now i am in situation where girly ekalavya faced the problems.
Will follow your tips and become girly Ekalavya2 in 3months..I will post my success notes:-)
Thankyou,
Girly Ekalavya2
ha ha ha awesome! Can’t wait to read your story!!!
Very good Post
Such an awesome story, congratulations on your achievements
David’s Work is reflecting in the form of So many Ekalavya’s…..(Great inspiration Ekalavya )
Thank you!
This was amazing, Thank you for sharing…
That’s really Awesome! Thank you for sharing this.
That was really a touching one……
Amen! I would show my wife but she doesn’t have the patience to read it all LOL! I am the soft one in this relationship I guess!
and so the most patience person. Probably, that is the reason you have the capability and softness to enlight many people here…
Oh man, I should show my wife this comment. I am not considered a patient person in this house LOL
Awesome! Ekalavya and of course Dronoacharya!
Awesome! To say the least! Thank you for sharing such an inspiring story.