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These are some of the qualities that I’ve observed in no-coders who have built successful products and work as effective operators at high-impact companies.
1️⃣ They’re excited to learn
No-code opens opportunities for people without a traditional education or background in development to build things that work. What this means is that you don’t need to learn programming languages to build an app or a solution. However, you do need to learn to use no-code tools to build something that works.
The learning curve in no-code is far less steep compared to that of programming, where you need to learn the syntax (how to write sentences in the language), and also the logic behind the algorithms (how to make the program do what you want). When you use no-code tools, the focus is on the logical component, and the syntax is visual, so you can always see what you’re building.
Successful no-coders are excited to learn new tools because they offer new opportunities and newer ways to build things.
2️⃣ They find solutions
A recurring quality in all popular no-coders is that they incessantly pursue all avenues to find answers to their questions. How do I build this? How does this work? Why is my solution not working? How can I make this better? From idea to execution to improvement, successful no-coders are always on the look-out for answers.
The way they find answers is also noteworthy. They don’t wait for structured learning programs or teachers to hold classes. They get their hands dirty and find answers in asynchronous content: documentation, youtube, log investigations, google searches, you name it.
Successful no-coders want answers and they will find them.
3️⃣ They don’t wait for someone
When you wait for someone to build it for you, you give them the power to make all the decisions. Traditional development relies on coders who understand programming languages to build and make improvements, leaving non-technical people waiting for a developer to help them for any tiny change or improvement. Successful no-coders realize this, and therefore work very hard to be self-sufficient. They work hard to learn to use tools so they can quickly jump in to build new products and make improvements to existing solutions.
Successful no-coders exemplify the DIY spirit— they don’t wait for someone to build for them, or to solve their problems.
4️⃣ They have a build-first mentality
What is a build-first mentality? It is the difference between seeing something and saying something, and seeing something, and doing something about it. What do you do when you come across a problem that can be solved? Do you focus on the problem or get building on the solution? Successful no-coders are motivated to build solutions that add value, however incremental. Through building these solutions and putting in enough reps, they learn new ways of building things, get a ton of practice, and become the best problem-solvers in the world.
Successful no-coders come across a problem, and get excited about building the solution.
5️⃣ They want to experiment
Not everything we build will be successful. In fact, it is from our failures that we learn the most. No-code makes it easy and minimizes the costs of building, so if your experiment doesn’t work, you can quickly pivot to another tool and try again. Successful no-coders are excited about these possibilities, and therefore are very excited about experimenting around with new ideas constantly. It is through this spirit of trial and error that they are able to find answers, build solutions, and teach their followers the best practices.
Successful no-coders are excited about experiments, and they always have a ton of ideas at any given time.
6️⃣ They ship quickly and iterate
It follows from the spirit of experimenting that you should be able to learn from your tests, observe what can be improved, and execute on these iterations— and also be able to do all this very quickly, and multiple times. This is where no-code trumps traditional development every time. Successful no-coders know this, and grab this opportunity to launch quick MVPs of ideas, get feedback from their early users to validate their solutions, make quick improvements, and continue to add more value through their work.
Successful no-coders will not waste time before launching a quick MVP, but will also continue to make improvements to their products.
7️⃣ They build in public
Building in public can mean many things. It can be as big as building your startup completely transparently, being public about your revenue and other statistics. Or it can be as simple as announcing your intention to learn a new tool to a small group of friends. Whether you build or learn something new publicly, you declare your intention to the world. You are able to attract help and early supporters who can show you the way when you’re stuck, and celebrate when you reach your milestones.
Successful no-coders attract believers, supporters, and teachers who will impact their journey by building and learning in public.
