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#145 · Watch me send Upwork apps & generate leads (real Loom vids)

youtube ↗Mindset

What is your educational background and do you recommend studying computer science?

I studied behavioral neuroscience, not computer science. After my door‑to‑door marketing business shut down during COVID, I taught myself computer science using free resources like teachyourselfcs.com, books, and lectures, completing a typical CS curriculum in about six months. I found that self‑teaching gave me practical, applicable knowledge faster than a traditional degree, which often includes many irrelevant courses. While a CS degree can be helpful, understanding behavior and psychology has been more valuable for my work, and today you can learn everything you need with AI assistance.

educationself-taughtcomputer science

Related answers

youtube ↗Other

What is your tech background, which programming languages do you know, and what should I master to understand every concept of automation?

My tech background is basically nothing—I started with a PHP site built with absolute HTML/CSS positioning for a dementia assessment form, which crashed in front of an audience. After that I taught myself computer science using free courses like Harvard CS50, learning the fundamentals on my own. The takeaway is that you can learn faster by self‑studying than by formal schooling; focus on fundamentals and build projects to solidify concepts.

tech backgroundself‑learningautomation
youtube ↗Mindset

I'm in my fifth semester of a computer science degree. Should I drop out to focus on my business?

I would not leave college. If you’ve already made progress, don’t drop out. College offers valuable social experiences, relationships, and learning opportunities that you can’t fully replace online. While you can learn the technical material through courses at home, the networking and personal growth aspects are important. My recommendation is to use college mainly for the social side, and once you’ve built a solid foundation, you can start skipping non‑essential classes. Focus on the parts that add value and treat the rest as optional. This way you get the best of both worlds without sacrificing your education entirely.

collegedropouteducation
youtube ↗Client Acquisition

Andy asks: I'm a business student graduating soon, looking to help companies or get freelance jobs on Upwork, but I lack industry experience. What type of social proof can I use to stand out?

Yes, you absolutely need some form of social proof. Without it, it's hard to win because anyone can claim they can do something, but few can point to something they've actually delivered. The work you do becomes your biggest differentiator—far more valuable than flowery language in a proposal, which no longer matters now that AI can generate polished text for everyone. You don't have to build a project for a client to get proof. You can create something for your own business or a side project that adds value, then say, 'I built this for myself,' or 'I built this for an IT company.' It's really just about being resourceful. Regarding self‑studying computer science through 'Teach Yourself CS': I don't think it's still relevant, but I like the idea. I was reminded by a friend named Arturo that talking about the fact that you never took a programming degree resonates with people, so I'm going to weave that into my own content.

social proofcase studyupworkfreelancing