In a previous Hackennoon article, “you cannot build the future while being trapped in the context of web2 thought”, we explored how the hanging on obsolete methodologies can prevent us from really innovating in the web3 space. Today, I want to develop this concept and approach another critical trap that many developers fall into the endless pursuit of hackathon certifications and trophies instead of building significant products and systems.
I recently came across one of my former favorites, The last dragon – An American martial artistic film of 1985. It inspired me to write this play. The parallels between mastery martial arts and becoming an alpha engineer are striking, and I believe that the lessons are universal.
The certification treadmill
As recruits in the world of technology, we are often told that the path of success is paved with certifications. Need to prove your value? Be certified. Do you want this promotion? Another certification could help. Do you feel unsure of your skills? There is also a certification for this.
Don't get me wrong, certifications have their place. They provide structured learning paths and can help newcomers acquire fundamental knowledge. But at some point, they become a crutch, that is to say a way to feel as if we are progressing without taking real risks.
I recently reviewed the 1985 martial arts film “The Last Dragon”, which follows the journey of a young martial artist from the master's student. What struck me is how the protagonist, Leroy Green, reaches a point where his traditional training alone cannot take him further. To really become “the master”, he must venture beyond the dojo and apply his skills in the real world, faced with real challenges rather than controlled exercises.
This is parallel to our trip as a perfectly engineers.
Hamster hackathon wheel
Likewise, hackathons offer enormous value to recruits. They offer networking opportunities, expose us to new technologies and give us a taste of pressure construction. Prices and recognition can be validated, especially when we are not sure of our capacities.
But like certifications, hackathons can become a series of short sprints in the comfort zone that never ends in a marathon. We build evidence of concepts that rarely evolve in products. We optimize for the criteria of judges rather than solving real problems. We chaach the dopamine of the construction of 48 hours or a month instead of kissing the long work often little glamorous to build something substantial.
The state of mind of the Alpha engineer
What distinguishes an alpha engineer from a perpetual recruit? This is not the number of certifications or hackathon trophies. This is the will to:
- Build for the impact, not validation: Alpha engineers create solutions because they identify the problems that deserve to be resolved, not because they need external validation.
- Kiss the long game: They understand that significant work often takes months or years, not days or weekends.
- Appropriate: Instead of waiting for permission or perfect conditions, they take responsibility to give life to their vision.
- Learn through construction: They recognize that the deepest learning comes from the creation of real systems that solve real problems, not from the study for the next certification exam.
- Build their own “hive”: Just as bees do not need authorization to build their honeycomb, Alpha engineers do not wait for external validation to create value.
The transition from the recruit to Alpha
So how do you make this transition? Here are some practical steps:
1. Audit your motivations
Ask yourself honestly, why do I continue this next certification or hackathon? Is it because I really need knowledge, or am I looking for validation? Does that make my career and my impact progress, or simply give me the illusion of progress?
2. Start building something real
Choose a problem that is close to your heart and you commit to building a solution, not proof of concept, but something that people can really use. He must not be revolutionary or supported in adventure. You just have to be real.
3. Embred coherent and supported efforts
Adopt the state of mind that real growth comes from the day after day, making progressive progress on something significant. Taken yourself out of the Sprint-Crasth-Sprint cycle of hackathons and certification collapses.
Do you surround others that build real things. Not only talk about the construction or collection of identification on construction, but really the creation and shipping of products. Their energy and examples will make you move forward.
5. Redefine success
Your inheritance as an engineer will be defined by what you build and the problems you solve, not by certificates on your wall or hackathon t-shirts in your drawer. Start measuring yourself with this standard now, not later.
Build your own inheritance
In martial arts, there is a saying “belts are just something that holds your pants.” The real measurement of mastery is not the color of your belt, but your ability to apply your skills effectively when it is important.
Similarly, in engineering, hackathon certifications and victories are only external indicators who may or not reflect your real capacities. The real measure of an Alpha engineer is the body of work they create, that is to say the systems they build, the problems they solve and the impact they have on users and communities.
As in “The Last Dragon”, where Leroy must find “the gleam”, that is to say an internal source of power and confidence, your trip to the status of Alpha engineer is to develop interior capacities that no certification can grant. It is a question of strengthening the confidence necessary to create without constant external validation. It is a question of developing judgment to know what problems deserve to be resolved. And it is a question of cultivating the persistence of seeing difficult challenges until completion.
From validation to value creation
Web3 transformation does not occur at Hackathons or in certification programs. This occurs thanks to the dedicated work of manufacturers who create new systems, protocols and day by day.
If you want to be part of this transformation, if you want to go from the recruit to Alpha, it's time to stop preparing and starting to build. It is time to obtain his diploma in the collection of identification with value creation. It is time to go from the search for validation to innovation.
Your inheritance as an engineer will be defined by what you build, and not by the identification information that you accumulate. Alpha engineers know it, it's time for you to do it too.
Now go build something that matters.
Let's go!
