20% Vibes, 80% I’ll Figure It Out

I recently started building a billion-dollar app and realized I wasn’t even worried about the client app or admin panel since I could just plug and play React and Flutter for both. But, I’m not a backend developer — despite having worked on two backend projects — and I think of mobile apps as mini-backend developments because it’s all about interacting with services, local storage, etc

This billion-dollar app has that potential for a reason, so I dove into research and quickly realized there’s a lot to learn.

I have a personal philosophy: don’t pay for something you can figure out in 2 weeks to a month. And let’s be honest, when it comes to programming, picking up new technologies in familiar fields shouldn’t take long.

Still, as I started, I quickly realized that while I can figure it out, it’s also quite complex. But do I give up? Nah — I’ll figure it out.

The ‘I’ll Figure it Out’ Mentality

For this billion-dollar app, even though I’m familiar with backend development, I had never worked with gRPC or Kafka before. I didn’t even know what gRPC was until now. Two YouTube videos and an article later, I’m good to go. Last year, I had a project on Java FXML, which I had never worked with before. I thought about outsourcing it but couldn’t find anyone, so I locked in and figured it out.

You know that feeling when you’re faced with a challenge and have no clue where to start? That’s when you lock in the “I’ll figure it out” mentality. You start researching and follow two simple strategies: the Pareto Principle and learning from first principles.

You start researching and follow two simple tactics: The Pareto Principle and Learning from the first principles.

Also, remember: you can’t give up. It’s about moving forward despite uncertainty, knowing that with enough persistence, you’ll come out on the other side with a solution.

Learning from First Principles

One of the best ways to adopt this mentality is by thinking in first principles. Instead of relying on analogies or established processes, break things down to their core components and reason from the ground up. When you understand something at a fundamental level, you open yourself to creative solutions and unexpected outcomes. This approach works wonders in tech, where everything changes fast, and yesterday’s best practices may no longer apply.

However, sometimes, to move fast, it helps to follow best practices. It’s easier to replicate what others have done, so you can skip time-consuming tasks you might never revisit.

Learning Curve (80:20)

The learning curve follows the 80/20 rule. You’ll get 80% of the value 20% of the time if you focus on the right things. Master the fundamentals first, and optimize for speed and efficiency later. This mindset ensures you don’t get bogged down in perfectionism but instead stay nimble and adaptable.

Here comes the controversial part if you use X a lot.

You Can Learn Anything in 2 Weeks

Two weeks — that’s usually enough to get a solid grasp on a new skill or concept. You might not be an expert, but you’ll know enough to move forward. Whether it’s picking up a new programming language, understanding a framework, or mastering a tool, you can break it down, practice, and get proficient enough to be dangerous in two weeks.

Researching Skills

The main challenge when figuring things out is that in an unfamiliar domain, you often don’t know how to approach problem-solving. Research is a skill, and the ability to research anything is an even more importnat one.

A key aspect of the “I’ll figure it out” mentality is knowing how to research effectively. Whether it’s Stack Overflow for a quick bug fix or a deep dive into documentation, the ability to find, understand, and apply information is a skill in itself. You don’t need all the answers upfront — what matters is knowing where to find them.

Rinse and Repeat: Second Time is Better and Faster

The first time you tackle a problem, it might take hours. But once you’ve been through the fire, you learn, adapt, and move faster the next time. This cycle of trial and error is where real growth happens. You won’t just “figure it out” — you’ll get good at figuring it out.

Each iteration is a chance to refine your process and become more efficient. So don’t worry if you fumble the first time — that’s just part of the learning curve.

Bonus: Learning on the Job

Learning on the job often comes with a lot of imposter syndrome — the feeling that you’re a fraud and that sooner or later, someone’s going to figure it out.

Everyone’s learning as they go. Even experts started as beginners. Imposter syndrome is a sign that you’re pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, and that’s where real growth happens. Instead of focusing on what you don’t know, lean into the learning process. You’re not a fraud — you’re just leveling up.

Embrace it. If you can’t, it’s all just skill issue. Acquire that skill!

On Certainties and On Knowns

Life is full of unknowns, and that’s what makes it interesting. Sure, we’ve got some certainties to work with, but it’s the unknowns that keep us on our toes. It’s like being an explorer in uncharted territory — you have your map and compass (the knowns), but you’re always ready for surprises.

In the grand scheme of things, we’re all just figuring it out as we go. Some days you’re vibing, everything clicks, and you feel invincible. Other days, you’re in full-on problem-solving mode, tackling challenges left and right. But that’s the beauty of it — it’s the mix of both that makes life interesting.

So embrace the good vibes when they’re there, and when things get tough, trust in your ability to figure it out. After all, that’s what makes life an adventure worth living.