David’s note: Dude, 11x your salary is insane! Congrats! You are a great guy setting a great example: Ambition + Goals + Persistence + Humility = MASSIVE SUCCESS! You’ve made your family proud!
Here’s my story on how I went from a beginner in the industry to Salesforce Certified Application and System Architect:
Background
When I freshly graduated from my university, I started out my journey in a giant IT company with a minimal salary that could barely support my life in a city like Bangalore (India). I went to Bangalore just because I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to be in the industry. I was staying in my friend’s home in a small room just so that I can bear the expenses paying a small amount. In fact, I had to sometimes borrow money from my dad just to pay my daily expenses and eat properly.
An Accidental Discovery
I had a very keen interest in learning about entrepreneurs, and other successful people who made it large. I was always inspired by their success stories until one day that really changed my life and my world. While browsing through the books in my company library, I found Behind the Cloud. That time, I didn’t know about Salesforce, in fact, I never even heard of the name anywhere. But, interestingly, it was a success story about a person who revolutionized the whole industry, Marc Benioff. I borrowed the book from the library and that was the first time I heard about Salesforce. After I studied about it, I became insanely curious to know how it works.
I started learning Salesforce, and boom! One day, I got a mail from which I got to know that there is a requirement for Salesforce developers in my company. I couldn’t wait to pick up my phone and dial the number to talk to the people involved. I got to know that they are holding a 1-week training for Salesforce and they would be selecting some of the candidates from them. I quickly got myself registered for the training.
I’m on the cloud!
After the training, I got selected for a Salesforce admin position in my company. After just a few months, I found myself as a Salesforce developer in the same company. My passion for Salesforce grew much stronger and I discovered SFDC99. I started learning Apex from SFDC99 and started studying for certifications. I was really fascinated by David Liu and his quest to help other fellow developers in the ecosystem.
Certifications
By the time I gained confidence, I already made an aim for myself to complete at least 2 certifications. Nothing comes easy and I’m no exception to it. So, the first year, I could only do 2. The next year I doubled the aim and completed 4 certifications and the next year following it, I completed 9 certifications. So, by this doubling strategy, I have already completed 15 certifications in total including Platform Developer II, System Architect, and Application Architect. I still remember, my first attempt to get the System Architect failed and I had to take the Integration Architecture Designer certification again with countless sleepless nights. So, by the age of 25, I already had 15X Salesforce certs.
Continuous challenges and motivation during the journey
I was a mere beginner sitting between a pool of highly skilled and talented Salesforce developers. In the beginning it was very difficult to even keep pace with the other experienced developers when I started out as admin. It was difficult to ask for a developer role when I got interested in coding and was merely few months old in IT company and Salesforce. But, my strategy has always been to take risks and learn new things. So, I never said no to an opportunity, in fact, I used to ask for immensely challenging tasks that sometimes I, myself didn’t know how to solve :p . But, I would sit overnight and not quit until I come up with a solution and implement it. This approach helped me to a great extent and yes, attracted a great series of certificates, awards and appreciations.
Great Opportunity
With the certifications and ever-growing knowledge, I tried for a challenging senior role in another company and immediately got an onsite opportunity to work overseas in Malaysia with a much higher salary package (more than 11X of my monthly salary in previous company).
Great Thanks
I owe a great thanks to David Liu for such a great blog and for inspiring me and my family who has always supported me in every decision I made for myself, and myself for picking up the book that day Behind the Cloud ;-)
Dipojjal
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Many congrats! :)
But why did you need to retake Integration Architecture Designer after not clearing System architect? Is there any dependency like if you fail System architect then you need to retake Integration Architecture Designer (which is the pre-requisite of System architect)?
Actually there is no specific exam for System architect. As soon as you clear all the pre-requisites for System Architect, you get that certification. So, for me, Integration architect was the last one, clearing which I would get the System Architect certification.
Way to go Apple, that’s a great story! Wish you all the success and happiness. Congratulations!!
Wow bhaya.. this is very inspiring and proud of u.. congratulations
Thanks a lot Nivi :)
Congratulations! Great going.My best wishes for future.
Thanks
You’re an inspiration, Apple. Nothing but good wishes for you. ☺️
#AProudFriend #CapsOff
Thanks a ton Garima. Thanks for the good wishes and keeping me motivated
Bhai meri photo bhi laga..
Thank you for sharing such a Motivational Success Story..!!
Real Kudos to you and David for going the extra mile..!!
wow.. Proud of you buddy, I really feel proud that we have worked together . All the best for your future, This is just the beginning champ.
Thanks buddy. I feel the same. I was really delighted to work with you all :)
Congrats Dipojjal….:)
Thanks Pooja.
That was very much inspiring. All the best bro
Thanks a lot
Heard work never fail.. Uplifting story!!!
Wow! Such an inspiring story!
Thats going to be 1 day!
Thanks Smita. Glad to see people are actually getting motivated by this story.
Way more to go, man.. Proud of you Jwaleeee…
Uplifting story!
That’s my brother so very proud of you little brother
Thanks a lot sis :)
Wow what an inspirational story.
Thanks Smita. Glad to learn that it inspired you :)