The stunning secret, only the best developers do this daily
We recently had a family member visit. She has issues with certain foods. However, she continues to eat them.
This prompted someone to say, “She doesn’t reflect on her problems.” I thought to myself, I am probably guilty of that too.
Reflection
I have not always been good at reflecting. In my professional career, I have made many mistakes—some multiple times.
As I began to notice patterns I began to reflect on changing these. For instance, I constantly tried to learn a new technology or programming language.
Then I decided to go deep into one language. I focused on Java for many years.
Journal
In fifth grade Mrs. Maher had us keep a journal. I was not too fond of it. I remember writing the same thing multiple times to fill the space.
In my career, I have learned the power of journaling. Coupled with reflection this is striking. It gives me a space to collect my thoughts.
Explore the mistakes and learnings we encounter. In Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less Greg McKeown shares how we must carry our notebook with us. Constantly journaling and noting ideas.
Goals
Growing as a developer takes challenges. We need to find ways to push our learning. We are more productive as we learn faster, perhaps about the business problem or technical challenges.
Two goals I have currently are to learn AWS and Vue.js. These two are big departures from my working experience. I have primarily worked on backend Java technologies.
Look at your skills and find ways to challenge yourself. Of course, it helps to know what skills are marketable. For instance, there is no reason to learn Visual Basic 6 anymore…
Radical Truth
Although I have lived near Philadelphia for five years, I still have some Midwest nice left in me. This is in stark contrast to Ray Dalio’s Principles. Particularly his belief in Radical Truth.
Understanding what is true is essential for success, and being radically transparent about everything, including mistakes and weaknesses, helps create the understanding that leads to improvements.
In our professional lives, we need to understand our situation. A few years ago I thought I was a good programmer. The reality was I was sloppy. My code had defects. I needed to test my code more thoroughly and read the user story completely.
Coding is an activity of learning. Reflect often on what feedback you have received. Ask for it often. Journal your ideas for improvement. Whether you are new or a seasoned pro you will see lessons to learn.
Set goals for growth and development. Start with a firm understanding of where your skills are. Enjoy the journey of broadening your career.