Building Things That Matter
What drives a builder? It’s not just the code, the frameworks, or the late-night debugging sessions. It’s something deeper.
The “Oh Wow” Moment
I live for that moment when someone tries something I’ve built and their face lights up with genuine surprise and delight. That “oh wow, this is amazing” reaction-it’s pure magic.
Recently, I built a chat analysis app. Nothing revolutionary, just a simple tool where friends could upload their conversations and see their most-used emojis and words. But watching my friends discover patterns in their own communication, seeing them share laughs and insights-those moments reminded me why I fell in love with building in the first place.
Simple, Effective Solutions
The best things I’ve made aren’t the most technically complex. They’re the ones that solve real problems in ways that feel effortless to the user.
I love making stuff that makes people think: “Oh wow, this is so convenient.”
It’s about creating solutions that save time, spark joy, or just make someone’s day a little bit better. The technical complexity should be invisible-what matters is the human experience.
The Y Combinator Mantra
“Make stuff that people really want.”
This simple phrase has become my north star. Not what I think is cool, not what uses the latest tech stack, but what people actually need and desire.
When you’re building something people genuinely want, everything else becomes easier. The motivation comes naturally, the feedback is honest, and the impact is real.
The Community Connection
One of the things I love most about the coding space is the community aspect. There’s something beautiful about mentoring students, holding meetups, organizing events, and making sure real value is provided.
It’s not just about the individual act of coding-it’s about lifting others up, sharing knowledge, and building something bigger than yourself.
Giving Back
Making landing pages for teachers who shaped my life wasn’t just about the technical work. It was about giving back to the people who made a difference, using my skills to honor their impact.
When you can use your abilities to help the people who helped you, that’s when technology becomes truly meaningful.
The Fastrack Story
Building Fastrack with friends was a turning point. It put our names on the map in Pakistan and got attention from countless executives and companies. But the real victory wasn’t the recognition-it was the proof that we could create something that mattered.
Working with friends, combining our skills, and seeing our collective vision come to life-that’s the kind of collaboration that makes the long hours and technical challenges worthwhile.
The Passion Principle
My advice to anyone starting their tech journey: Whatever you’re working on, be passionate about it. Your passion should be to the point of madness and craze.
When you’re truly passionate about what you’re building, everything else falls into place:
- You don’t struggle with motivation
- You naturally put in the work required
- You push through obstacles that would stop others
- You create things that resonate with people
The Real Magic
At the end of the day, the magic isn’t in the technology itself-it’s in the human connections it enables. It’s in the problems solved, the smiles created, the time saved, and the possibilities opened.
Every line of code is a small act of creation. Every bug fixed is a problem solved. Every feature shipped is a gift to the people who will use it.
The real magic of making is that it connects us-builder to user, problem to solution, idea to reality.
Beyond the Screen
As the Cursor Ambassador for Pakistan, I’m passionate about bringing revolutionary development tools to local developers, making sure the next generation has access to cutting-edge technology that can accelerate their building capabilities.
Whether it’s introducing AI-powered development tools or mentoring students who remind me of my younger self, the goal is always the same: enable more people to experience the magic of making.
The Fire Continues
The bonfire of creativity burns brightest when it’s shared. When we build things that matter, teach what we learn, and help others discover their own passion for making, we keep the flame alive for the next generation of builders.
What will you make today that might just make someone say “oh wow”?
The magic is in the making. The making is in the sharing. The sharing is in the caring.