It looks funny but most practical tip for those who new to programming world. Thanks to Matt Gullett for this tips. I recalled my old after reading this article :)

 NON TECHNICAL 
 1 Set personal goals 
 2 Read, Read, Read 
 3 Come out of the closet 
 4 Meetings are not all bad, just mostly bad 
 5 After hours is off limits 
 6 Set reasonable expectations 
 7 I'm not a programmer, I'm an architect 
     
 TECHNICAL 
 1 Plan, then code 
 2 The right tool for the right job 
 3 Fix bugs early 
 4 Develop good coding habits 
 5 Know thy enemy 
 6 Documentation is your friend 
 7 Form over function

For More read
The Standalone Programmer: Tips from the trenches

Suresh Behera