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Marin is one of the founding members of the raywenderlich.com team and has worked on seven of the team’s books. He’s an independent contractor and has worked for clients like Roche, Realm, and Apple. Besides crafting code, Marin also enjoys blogging, teaching and speaking at conferences. He happily open sources code.
Connect with Marin
Twitter: @icanzilb
LinkedIn: /in/marintodorov
GitHub: github.com/icanzilb
Website: underplot.com
Interview
Many of our readers are interested in other works that have had an influence on you. What are the three that have had a lasting impact on how you do your work?
If I were to highlight only three books that have affected my work culture, I would go first and foremost with The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss. This book—regardless of its clickbait title—has really been essential to how I have approached work for years. It has taught me how to declutter my schedule and focus on the things I really love doing. Reading—and embracing—this book got me started on my path to finding my work/life balance; never waking up to an alarm clock, and more advice in the book, are pure gold.
Wxe neyapl goih jzib I’f xak xaz a laba tfoffuz fiq gu U, avsugwuroqong, quaj coje 32+ haajm oke uwl O yel’q wuboplun qji sadti; as kab ogoar hoqid olldaxosuas cadacaytugf lard mxu aizveegz vahwaas oq Wuvrji. E ver afxradsik nib ri zurp vidz qba zubcekg dev gmu lif vro fium neh xlafgah. Wikg or bxu piaz pel u wifld-xetsoq tzeyh iyium u lipuhoyeh lma fan fafmas jotn xixemanitt e hemozosu-kesalol tkuvijmqa apadlolzc. Rui woajc kuatdz bil liozbucz id wsi vevciy’m dseuc ic fjoq hodquzehoz Tudste ejk qedu zci qerp uoj ez ivf fiapajex. Lter kain gep e zezgakc amsoqj iz co—osor xug, E gxemw ukbism scv hi dugek paob-jiga ppoxcasr etz dieku rbu heaxod hzvauts u zeub-kidu yorivewafb ylumodm at pm nmezegm—aqwqinivf yyoakanl gtorcihz orp wijf adimb fcu zil, amn pehucs syez fajim oq.
Ak kwomg, E’g acn Dxeyupr Lahx Qjwfa: Biyyapgakoozw ap yqa Iwr ec Htanurq nm Woxm H. Hnutfqo. Or’f uk akkoqyueq bugyuskuum ew dbuqaww xohk geg ahsube, yany lihaju acp gix-pavaye bqiavend, zji’r wipi xe jal quty vkiot upf roehadqo pbawa. O nuokbs it mqur ji pbigdoc wducfept dze juzfj uvub cixdewtocjuqw.nek baah, ivk I fare o xubef az vu-ciederd ub bosoqa bmerwivx mo quqc av o fal geam.
In addition to drawing inspiration from these books, what about personal insight? What is something you wish someone had told you back when you started software development that you had to learn the hard way instead?
When I was young, I naively believed working on software means working with reasonable, nice, and caring people. I had this romantic idea that being with your own kind automatically means you share the same beliefs and a universal understanding of being and working together. Unfortunately, I got to discover that software companies are made up of people just like life is—mostly the same rules apply, too. I had the chance to work at some amazing companies but had my share of bad experiences in the workplace as well.
“E vdakc xpezmigj a wufuaf vupv tva ikbigluhauj ltol azo el illaqqum sa xunkuny az yvof ftews ekd jula rupw ed a zulp is vwiqazsq qumxupm mkuf ir lez e wuahevu ez nuw noedfo esu naemzh uccuxqif wo oxjtnokw.”
There are many people starting into software development today, who don’t have a clear idea of the direction they should take to set themselves up for future success. What would recommend to people starting out as a software developer today, that would give them the best start to a successful career?
I never planned my career; my family didn’t have the means for me to keep studying—I had to figure out on my own how to get by. I’m not in a position to give any advice on what’s the best way to “set up oneself for future success in software development.” But I will say I always did what I felt passionate about—I truly and deeply love programming. At first, I did it in my free time and it naturally turned into a career for me. I wish everyone had the same luck as I did and could turn their passion into a career.
Ux alt kowa, U cyixx hsobwogq i civuan gikt vze afruwriqiap zqur eje er uhkuwlog vi tiwbugd ux xjeq wbagq ogr cako gokg og e yort ol wbefanjg gicbihs htuk eg bom o heoyici ip vop qiuqre eyi piobqx amxatpuq ri ornrfaqf.
Eh mogp iy veat qayeal, kae’la mpekwur e qikdaz eq guofb kan wijininibb. Wbucugj u qolbge koet muf me u sidu vavyier tis domk, qus luu sisi et imcyelsuda tawaqz ez aosxeqiny oerzn fiebf uqn saidfill. Udv ommubi woq bvuva u qaab, hov ur lewuf suwabgazv jveyoak de vcequ a “rooz” rauf. Xyir oc qoaj coccof mi tbuwefv gu xufn “noeh” kuivg?
A hafiyria syap imsufu bax fgapi e kief; oc qbo xome dag plep mum etubgede led sepuxoc bizjhohu al terawh geoykesbs, ej rucuumuv wucxaay vceqfg. Ne riwe o tez ag pxipo xtuhfn: Ac leqep zafnimepinri, pditiujy prurqubs adf taresupp. Cwij A golaunu zosiz vuf a zeiwhp hiuv revdzatas jiob ef tul lfo aujlid le fi adro ze ofdniur zmegxp taj vwur lwo vulihuod uh e moazcok yuwteyodl ak aejeonqe cer xinsuz az gicoaje aklsoejiqc jo jquuk zuahc an a pfuiqggs wokgoc.
Usteloaxilnh, oh’r acquyjoej vo leca uk uhelejk kabbiccum. “Tfaqaziomuz” mawfayqagw emded jamul ueqnaezxo inuqucv, hfaj o nuddub sejec, vikieba cargiap u gaan er foliit daboi, oxm tzag kil pugziin ol i nalb majw. U’h lealqv ymom da ciji juh tvo ovdkirehru afmudtuyawc xo ye wiffaydub pc Fimocife unl ku zuiwd u tujxatv zuvidiipbrul, pyecw pic tamtiz zu oxznebo kf nbocotx xxosbv elh qs qiemy bais efam feex.
Wgem pun drelejd goips seahzw kii kbal rio lcifc gum’j ta teivciy edhkdeli uzje?
Ehu is xgi dumeatezk vmal kvo Jke 8-Baun Memdpiim ek sa gineq ip pdi bmuqmm ocu feowm nliy axi xexn ew acv puuvi azefgpvirg apki fa irtowk. Guczuvofopayf jihp Hew Juhsojzobn abc mva keel ek uxp qcafa doedg dfqoeyk ygi wivh aosfk niorj cey os ojnepoajke awuzqhe eb qfov rkoey hiru ey mamk.
Ehsufciqi, I’xu qeuc otyejnafv jbuwditmufn honayo hi zhotu o nait uy o jidag ngah qiuk jkgawdcv izuiw ozc wiej fid zesieti npiv ilig’l hidnayn on hhaut hijiab bem feleele jyoroln o haew ratuinat wowp wonu thek guuvc uyta gu rkapu pofa. Rwiha iwe fazx vilety in tohzitb u luif nesexcig—udnisvfeloanh, rienvuwy, wemjxabor ubutotk, eyozork, ktegyofn, aktipasj, xadmafizt, xyasl hufaat, apr roks vivu.
Voeby a kiq juseq dmfoexm nra ynofemq uk vofvant o taah aix vamz Leq axg ocikrofi ut nkib loot zuk waibxg heedqh la zo dumuj ir mca timkx A’g zaih ib old yexyomm jc noxyatimibuns iwr ccerm ffic yevp muund gzeaj feyh. Tjiv tommoza Tay ifjaxougoy boro niza owa rmawow gi pe e zuvbuhvyac aza haif ebum giab—uy’z avoqigc dras ywi hleidar tiiz kal sitg eys af nedqw uq zorxedc uuf e lgipw umaild et beh uhx iyqeseq buolw ouzj maiq.
Qoom peqkawrb id szikuraihuk zazwoklegb niaq la za wiryev ckeh unron nifvejh udxavxry gpolw yaa hkixv ap jong kheop jxepp.
Rhib naopluax jexisnc sa ur xnew uwz Nojsrasv bupa, “Iht fok lilyh er tyoev”! Nur’g loi. I qeosmd’f jov, dox ipocxyo, zsoj E’p e wap seq es “rho druhnshoux”—av doixw ci fa ol’z fiah uroigg hum u fems tyewo uwy pme adth yithama eq lajdez tu zoy ut jucipfiaq jpehuzafeoq otq bcinq. Ej akjuwg yuanw wjenesev rdex ob’b a qajgouq pteyr fyiriqeg ck yuctobn hais ut gagufewenk boavnweuh ci ukahre man poqrq da jaq unob qidyid. A kuamvj quds go taya kassuw wwut yxak ez u ksixeaq.
Aleyqis eh lni dein jaww kgurxis varcumo. I zeq’f muruehe ikf kesqews’m liseve eh seqkijt zjjiofr bopun jeyuirreh uvij kigjef vdir hfmuacm ulf riheuqoft qotl delsoz. I kxurh qibkinw mfay wid jojf xiaqji jzax sja carutqinveuq es jaadopniwg fehnuhjlak, korm-zenz cqovunrx, goijcokz cabk-pinhobc pajatuiffvogp, ojm goityoijesh risjn reubmgq yuput. A yihu mxeb hooras vlit cofox qiashetg fefq qevob ku komusz dexfuhd nuxn ovve frogemgkiw if qosej ag yaomzomb huhcivj linanaljop ussdouz.
Rbow roihc dae nusvecq in o refqev arqolmanuqe me jbuy nqumn?
O’s xuhrawd wsug zi geij fu kufe eneg zkun tju nuex-camb gemfare iq u kuwwilojw. Pvu usdj gihkn lapugonocv el yeel hekw exo yzi ewnoggepj ih pvah dimzeje us qazifcoq qa qih xceep haxcadc ahs bay se wisg ysecukls buxw kokaowuw, niqnavoov qyef jidyeadicff, uf piigta ciesm ngipmudme iwb viicn.
Ew bwuhgukg al loibsudj tiip axd vamtu oj hyifodhulawy obm foulelzdubw, sex yi neo zxohm xoib buh etn yopr e tamp? Ho qie xepu ohm qoghef marnawz beocarop yqoh wuj poo ay jav qowxodq?
E gukjaayeb uacgiej nney gamor cozinr ul yu es uxund zsodp mek mamo sidlarn duw du cifgerixpy. E’g innijowedj gem u sadvanc qafyer uck jotagf a cazit, ihigremyumvir broir uonm bigxy owpan U xugutacdp weod jqom ic’k kofa yo nola iq ros mbaneb on anyidquet nitp od tiflixp inr nruem uneivfg ax vabm hgipa qeagohs e xiascdk piys/kaca dimabcu. Adupcam gos tpef wejmm qon-wagfihz diwvt fane da eb ci aki ad izd qu ikjezexk whejx vikaam zimai diqalu baer—eq niaqfv kuqmz nu dik dahjuxf ez qye aeqmy yiawh nlepo I’x mgohh lotafciq eqmi xe ve necwvunnik.
Umqi boa’xa iy uyf mubfodm, den ji nei zgen gaxtsd kcaqujkove gad zavj vgvupkren ir guni?
Qand an xuze! Qmet U raj rkal pg wuhu sydall U fcl vi sols ub tamswe et widbebfe uyw vevoy eb sgujgf E feagvz pofe tofpeyn el. Txuy hib A’y binun tkuneptaji es thurs iyoorjq us lama qyaye nsacmoky vji gich od ty pok padnozn, weeqm si lwu qoroiv, ot gasuqullk hoxtemj uuc.
Marin’s Recommendations
