[wwwarsame]

By learning to code, my desire is to get to a stage where: a. I can converse with tech people who have been at this their whole live, b. gain the proficiency to build the mvp, c. become a team member with attributable skill set when company is formed, etc. Hiring someone is inevitable down the line, but I need to create the map for him/her to paint first.

I agree about the different skill sets. I am working on getting a mentor who I can learn from when it comes to all of the latter stuff you've mentioned.

[joelhooks]

I did this "the long way" over the last 8 years taking it as a marathon more than a sprint. In my mid-30s I learned to program, studied business and economics, and switched careers from being a 3d animator to a software consultant. Continued studies on technology, business and marketing - inspired by Paul Graham and subsequently HN - via a series of amazing "virtual mentors" over the last several years (Amy Hoy, Brennan Dunn, Nathan Barry, Patrick Mackenzie).

This combined experience and study has lead to owning a successfully bootstrapped business. We don't have investors, we have a wonderful audience, and we just hired employee #1.

Stack those bricks! Every one counts.