Why Choosing a Tech Path Based on Hype Is a Costly Mistake
In today’s digital world, few things spread faster than hype. Every day, new buzzwords dominate our timelines: AI, Web3, Data Science, Cybersecurity. On LinkedIn, X, and Instagram, influencers paint these fields as golden tickets to wealth and international job opportunities. It’s easy to believe that the secret to success is simply jumping on whatever is trending.
But here’s the reality most beginners discover too late: tech is not a sprint powered by hype. It’s a marathon fueled by passion, persistence, and purpose. When you pick a career path simply because “everyone says it’s the future,” you risk burning out before you even get started.
Think about it. In 2017, during the cryptocurrency boom, thousands of young people worldwide rushed into blockchain development. Many learned just enough to build smart contracts, only to quit months later when the market crashed. A few, however, remained, and those were the ones who genuinely believed in decentralized technology. Today, they are the founders, innovators, and experts shaping Web3’s future. The difference wasn’t timing. It was motivation.
Closer to home in Nigeria, we’ve seen the same pattern. One of our students once enrolled in a Cybersecurity course after his cousin convinced him that “hackers make millions.” He barely lasted a month. The technical details bored him, and the passion simply wasn’t there. On the other hand, another student chose UI/UX design because she had always been curious about how apps worked. Within weeks, she was spending her evenings sketching wireframes and experimenting with color palettes. That genuine curiosity pushed her through the challenges, and today she is earning as a freelancer on Fiverr and Upwork.
The lesson here is clear: if you choose a tech path only because it looks lucrative, you’ll likely quit when the going gets tough. But if you choose based on curiosity and alignment with your strengths, you’ll find the stamina to keep learning, even when challenges come.
How to Choose the Right Tech Career Path
So how do you avoid this mistake? Start by asking better questions. Instead of “Which course pays the most right now?” ask “Which tech field excites me enough to learn even when I’m tired?” Instead of “What are people saying is the future?” ask “What problems do I genuinely want to solve?”
Let’s make this practical. Imagine two beginners. One is chasing hype; the other is following genuine interest. The first spends six months hopping from AI to Web3 to Cybersecurity, never mastering anything. The second spends six months focused on web development, struggling at times but gradually building confidence. By the end of the year, the hype chaser has nothing to show. The purpose-driven learner has a portfolio, a skillset, and growing opportunities.
The Challenge for You
If you’re reading this, here’s a challenge for you: write down three tech fields you’ve been curious about. Then, spend just two days watching beginner tutorials for each. Notice which one makes you lose track of time. That’s your clue. Don’t ignore it.
The Big Takeaway
Tech is not just about earning money. It’s about building a career that you can sustain for years, maybe even decades. The ones who last are not the ones who chased hype, they’re the ones who chose a path that resonated with them deeply.
So before you sign up for the next shiny course, pause. Ask yourself: am I in this for the hype, or am I ready for the long game? The answer could be the difference between quitting in frustration and thriving in a career you love.
Continue Reading the Full Series on Tech Career Mistakes
This article is part of our “5 Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Tech Career” series. Explore all the mistakes and discover how to avoid them:
