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Have you ever wondered if you missed your opportunity to start something new? Maybe life took an unexpected turn, your plans fell apart, or you’ve spent years putting everyone else’s needs ahead of your own. If so, you’re not alone. In this episode of the Christian Moms Cafe Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with entrepreneur, self-taught coder, and founder Sharen Eddings, whose story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to learn, grow, pivot, and create a new future.
Meet Sharon Eddings
Sharen Eddings is a self-taught coder, entrepreneur, and educator from Detroit whose career journey is nothing short of inspiring. After teaching herself how to code in just eight months, she landed a position in automotive software development, where she helped develop innovative features such as Blind Spot Detection technology. Within a year and a half, she was managing two teams in a connected cars department.
Motivated by the lack of accessible coding education for students, Sharen began volunteering at her son’s school. That experience sparked the creation of Code with Sharen, a STEM-focused e-learning platform designed to bring coding education to underserved communities.
Like many entrepreneurs, Sharen faced significant challenges during the pandemic, forcing her to pivot once again. Today, she is the founder of Rapido Spanish, an innovative language-learning platform designed to help learners become multilingual through immersive and engaging experiences. Her journey demonstrates resilience, adaptability, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
When Hard Times Become Turning Points
One of the most compelling parts of our conversation was hearing how many of Sharen’s biggest breakthroughs emerged from difficult seasons.
Many people assume successful entrepreneurs follow a straight path. The reality is often much messier. Economic downturns, personal hardships, family responsibilities, and unexpected setbacks can derail even the most carefully planned goals.
Sharen shared how financial challenges pushed her to explore coding as a career path. Faced with uncertainty and the need to provide for her family, she made a decision that would ultimately change the trajectory of her life. Rather than allowing difficult circumstances to define her future, she used them as motivation to learn a new skill.
Her story serves as an important reminder that sometimes the very thing we view as an obstacle becomes the catalyst for our next opportunity.
Learning New Skills at Any Age
One of the biggest myths many women believe is that learning complex new skills is reserved for younger people. Sharen’s experience completely challenges that idea.
Without a formal computer science degree, she taught herself coding and entered a highly technical industry. Her success demonstrates that determination, consistency, and curiosity can often matter more than traditional credentials.
For moms especially, learning something new can feel intimidating. Between family responsibilities, work obligations, and everyday life, it’s easy to assume there simply isn’t enough time.
Yet Sharen’s journey illustrates that growth doesn’t require perfection. It requires willingness.
Sometimes the first step is simply believing that you’re capable of learning something you’ve never done before.
Why We Need to Rethink Learning
One of the most fascinating parts of our discussion centered around Sharen’s perspective on education and how people learn best.
Through her experiences teaching coding and later building Rapido Spanish, she noticed a common pattern. Many adults become anxious the moment they hear the word “learning.” Traditional educational environments often create pressure, fear, and self-doubt.
Instead, Sharen began thinking about learning more like job training.
When someone starts a new job, they don’t expect to know everything immediately. They learn through doing. They gain confidence through repetition. They make mistakes and improve over time.
This insight became the foundation of her teaching philosophy.
Rather than focusing on memorization, she emphasizes immersion, practice, and real-world application. Whether learning code or learning a new language, people often learn best when they are actively engaged instead of passively absorbing information.
The “One Line at a Time” Philosophy
Perhaps the most memorable lesson from our conversation was Sharen’s approach to tackling big goals.
As a software developer, she understands that even the most sophisticated programs are built one line of code at a time.
That same principle applies to life.
Many of us become overwhelmed because we’re constantly looking at the entire journey ahead. We focus on how far we have left to go instead of the next step directly in front of us.
Sharen encourages people to stop trying to solve everything at once.
Want to start a business? Focus on the next step.
Want to learn a new skill? Focus on today’s lesson.
Want to recover from a setback? Focus on today’s healing.
The future is built one small action at a time.
This mindset shift can dramatically reduce overwhelm and help us make consistent progress.
Healing Through Growth
Another powerful theme that emerged throughout our conversation was the connection between healing and personal growth.
Sharen shared how learning new things became part of her own healing journey during difficult seasons of life.
Instead of allowing painful experiences to consume all her attention, she intentionally directed her energy toward growth. Learning Spanish became one way of keeping her mind engaged while giving herself space to process life’s challenges.
While personal development is not a replacement for counseling, therapy, or professional support, it can become an important part of recovery and resilience.
When we invest in ourselves, we often discover strengths we didn’t know we possessed.
You’re Not Behind
So many women quietly carry the fear that they’re behind everyone else.
Maybe you started your career later than planned.
Maybe you took years off to raise children.
Maybe you’re rebuilding after divorce, loss, illness, or financial hardship.
Maybe you’re entering a completely new chapter and feel like you’re starting from scratch.
Sharen’s message is simple but powerful: You are not behind.
Life isn’t a race against other people.
Everyone’s timeline is different.
Some people discover their purpose at twenty-five. Others find it at fifty-five.
What matters isn’t where you start. What matters is that you keep moving forward.
The Importance of Telling a Good Story
One of my favorite moments from the interview was when Sharen talked about the importance of having a good story to tell.
She reflected on conversations with elderly individuals she met while working in a nursing home. Many carried regrets centered around what they wished they had done.
The lesson she took away was clear: don’t spend your life trapped in “would have,” “could have,” and “should have.”
- Take the trip.
- Learn the skill.
- Start the business.
- Write the book.
- Have the conversation.
- Pursue the dream.
None of us know exactly how much time we have, but we can choose to make the most of the time we’ve been given.
Final Encouragement
If you’re walking through a difficult season, considering a career change, starting over after disappointment, or wondering whether it’s too late to pursue something meaningful, let Sharen’s story encourage you.
You don’t need to have everything figured out today.
You don’t need a perfect roadmap.
You don’t need to know every step ahead.
Just focus on the next line.
One line of code.
One lesson.
One conversation.
One act of courage.
One step of faith.
The path often becomes visible only after we begin walking it.
Your story is still being written.
And perhaps your most meaningful chapter is still ahead.
How to Connect with Sharen Eddings
Learn more about Sharen and explore her language-learning platform:
Website: https://tryrapidospanish.com/new_index_page.php
Be sure to listen to the full episode of the Christian Moms Cafe Podcast for more of Sharen’s inspiring story and practical encouragement for navigating life’s transitions with resilience, hope, and purpose.
