When I started learning web development, I wasn’t chasing passion or prestige. I was chasing responsibility. I didn’t grow up with a safety net or a roadmap—just pressure, determination, and a belief that if I didn’t change my direction, nothing would change at all.
Seven years later, I have created Smash Code, a remote software house with a 15-member team, serving global clients, while I work as a Top-Rated freelancer on Fiverr and Upwork, hitting the 100k benchmark.
This is how it happened…….
Early Reality Checks
I’m Ismail from Faisalabad, Pakistan, born into a middle-class family. By the time I was in 6th grade, I was already aware of the financial strain at home. I remember asking my teacher a simple question: What can I study for one or two years so I can start earning quickly and support my family? The answer was discouraging—F.Sc, B.Sc, Master’s, then a job. That timeline felt impossible to me.
I wasn’t willing to wait a decade to become useful. I believed, and still believe, that where there’s a will, there’s always a way.
After matriculation, I discovered web development as a high-paying skill. At that time, I had zero knowledge, no Wi-Fi, and only a basic computer course behind me. I began my research using a mobile phone with limited internet, trying to understand what “web development” even meant. Still, I knew this could be my way forward.
Finding Opportunity, the Hard Way
I later discovered Aptech Institute offered web development courses, but the fees were far beyond what I could afford. For a moment, it felt like another dead end. Then something unexpected happened.
Saylani Welfare Trust visited our college and announced a free web development program. It felt unreal. Out of 4,000 applicants, only 600 were selected—and I was one of them. That moment taught me something I still carry today: opportunities often appear when quitting feels easiest.
I started the course with a Core 2 Duo laptop, 2GB RAM, 80GB hard drive, and no internet. I was juggling college, tuition teaching, and working at my father’s shop. Focus was a luxury—but consistency wasn’t. By Allah’s grace, I finished among the top 14 students.
Ironically, when certificates were to be awarded, my name was missing due to a management error. It was heartbreaking. But instead of walking away, I kept attending weekend classes for another ten months—without a single break. That phase taught me discipline without applause.
Rejection Builds You—or Breaks You
After finishing the course, I applied for jobs and failed interviews. That’s when reality hit: I wasn’t market-ready. I took a bold step—paused my studies for an entire year and repeated the whole course again to sharpen my skills. My parents supported me silently, and that support became my backbone.
During this time, I coded up to 16 hours a day. I joined another institute, built nearly 50 functional websites for practice, and crafted a portfolio I was proud of. Still, interviews went nowhere. One company didn’t even open my portfolio after an all-night effort.
I accepted an unpaid internship, hoping for growth—but again, nothing came of it. That was the lowest point. I questioned my choices, my intelligence, even my worth. I didn’t share this with anyone. It was just me and Allah.
Discovering Freelancing
I had been part of Sir Hisham’s freelancing group for a long time—but I wasn’t listening. One day, I started paying attention. I watched his content seriously for a month, created a Fiverr account, and entered the market cautiously.
I followed one rule strictly: say yes only when you can deliver.
On 4th March 2020, I got a $15 project—a to-do app that was actually a full employee management system with backend and database. The deadline was three days. It was a make-or-break moment. My friend and I worked nonstop, delivered successfully, and earned a 5-star review. Later, the same client paid me $320 for modifications. That single project changed everything.
Fiverr Momentum
Orders started coming in. In just 46 days, I met Level 1 requirements, though I had to wait for the badge. Buyer requests became my main growth engine. When cancellations temporarily set me back, I adapted instead of quitting.
For three to four months, orders disappeared entirely. That phase taught me a brutal truth: motivation doesn’t save you—responsibility does. Programming wasn’t my passion at first; it was simply a skill that paid. So, I did something unconventional. I turned my profession into my passion, not the other way around.
When gigs were de-ranked after earning Level 1, I doubled down on buyer requests and delivery quality. My rankings recovered. While others struggled during slow seasons like December, I stayed busy because I focused on fundamentals, not fear.
Eventually, I became a Top-Rated Seller on Fiverr. That’s when I understood a principle that defines my mindset today: every problem has a solution—if you’re willing to think clearly and act patiently.
Expanding Beyond Fiverr
I launched a YouTube channel to teach web development in the simplest possible way—so even someone with minimal computer knowledge could start. Teaching sharpened my own understanding.
I also joined Upwork, made beginner mistakes, wasted connects, and accepted low-paying work at first. A $3/hour job led to a $150 landing page project. Gradually, I learned to balance both platforms, because putting all your eggs in one basket is a risk no freelancer should take.
One of the proudest moments of my journey was being interviewed by Sir Hisham himself—the mentor who unknowingly changed my life.
My YouTube Channel
Also, I started a YouTube channel for teaching web development. In my videos, I have ensured that anyone who don’t know much about computers can start the web development course.
Smash Code has published 605 videos, generating 364,000+ views across its own YouTube channel as well as through collaborations, helping over 5,000 students learn coding and change their lives.
Recognition and Scaling
My work earned recognition at Connected Pakistan conferences in 2021 and 2022, and again in 2023 at the CPC conference as a Top-Rated Seller in Pakistan. But awards were never the goal—impact was.
Today, I run Smash Code, a remote software house with 15 salary-based team members. We serve direct international clients and build scalable digital solutions. More importantly, we create opportunities for young developers who once stood where I did.
Additionally, we offer an internship program that enables new developers to complete the web development course while working on real-world assignments and building their own portfolios.
Looking Forward
Smash Code is more than a company—it’s a responsibility. My mission is to make it one of the top software houses in the country and to create real employment opportunities for youth. Alongside this, I run a blog covering freelancing, AI, programming, crypto, technology, and success stories—so others can learn faster than I did.
I didn’t start with privilege, connections, or confidence. I started with pressure—and turned it into purpose. If my journey proves one thing, it’s this: comfort zones don’t create futures. Commitment does.
And this story?
It’s still being written.
Discussion about this post