My First Decade in Tech, Before Turning 18

It's surreal to think that my journey in technology, which has now spanned nearly a decade, began before I could even legally drive. At 14, the world of tech wasn't about venture capital or valuations; it was about the pure, unadulterated joy of making things work.

My first "pot of gold,"as I called it, came from a Telegram community. It wasn't just money; it was validation. It was the market telling me that the skills I was honing in my bedroom had real-world value. This is the first lesson I'd offer any young builder: validate your skills in the marketplace as early as possible.