1. “Equal Standing” → I’m a Partner, Not a Pleaser.
Companies need people who can ship.
They are interviewing you because they have:
- deadlines they’re not hitting
- missing skills in their team
- features they must deliver
- problems they can’t solve fast enough
You are offering them relief and capability.
When you enter the room as an equal:
- you ask better questions
- you speak with clarity
- you show product thinking instead of fear
You're not begging for approval — you’re exploring whether this partnership makes sense.
2. “Ok Not Getting It” → Failure Is Just Feedback, Not Identity.
This is pure Grant Cardone.
A “no” doesn’t damage you — it directs you.
For you specifically, this is true because each interview:
- sharpens your examples
- reveals what the market values now
- makes your next answer cleaner
- grows your confidence
One “no” literally moves you one spot closer to the person who will say “yes.”
You’re learning your market.
3. “Not a Pedestal” → It’s Not an Exam. It’s a Collaboration.
You’re not being tested like a student.
You’re both adults exploring a working relationship.
Developers who see interviews as exams:
- freeze
- overshare
- feel small
- miss chances to show leadership
Developers who see interviews as collaboration:
- ask about goals
- diagnose problems
- demonstrate ownership
- talk like teammates
This is why senior devs sound calm: they’re collaborating, not performing.
4. “Ready to Walk Away” → I Respect My Time and My Standards.
When you’re willing to walk away:
- your energy becomes confident instead of needy
- you naturally set boundaries
- you naturally ask smart questions
- you filter out bad managers, chaotic teams, or low-trust companies
And ironically → this makes you more attractive as a candidate.
Companies don’t want desperate engineers.
They want steady, self-respecting ones.
5. “I Deserve Success” → I Won’t Self-Sabotage My Own Success
This is a huge point.
At the edge of success, many people collapse because they don’t feel worthy.
Your new reframe:
“I’ve done the work. I’ve grown. I’ve prepared. I deserve good things.
Success is not luck — it’s alignment.”
Believing you deserve success:
- removes nervousness
- stabilises your voice
- lets you think clearly
- lets you stay curious instead of anxious
- stops you from flooding the conversation
- stops you from over-proving or over-talking
You show up as the version of you that already has the job.
Top comments (2)
Loved how clearly you framed “equal standing.” The “ready to walk away” mindset especially stood out.
Yes, I am learning these principles too! It's always good to have them ready before going to an interview.