Author: Always Learning

Being So Good They Cannot Ignore You: Mastering Your Journey

based partially on

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, the mantra “Be so good they cannot ignore you” takes on profound significance. Aspiring tech professionals and enthusiasts are driven to excel, creating a ripple effect that not only shapes their careers but also impacts the industry as a whole. In this blog post, we delve into how to embody this principle and craft a compelling tech journey that demands attention and respect.

1. Embrace Skill Mastery

Becoming an expert in your chosen field is the cornerstone of being truly exceptional. Invest time in honing your technical skills through continuous learning, practice, and staying updated with the latest trends.

2. The Art of Problem-Solving

Tech professionals who stand out are adept problem-solvers. Cultivate your ability to dissect complex issues, propose innovative solutions, and adapt to new challenges with resilience.

3. Building a Strong Portfolio

Showcasing your expertise through a well-crafted portfolio is essential. Share your projects, contributions to open-source initiatives, and technical achievements to make a lasting impression on potential employers and collaborators.

4. Networking for Visibility

Being good isn’t enough if you’re hidden from view. Attend tech events, conferences, and meetups to connect with like-minded individuals, mentors, and potential employers. Networking can open doors and provide valuable insights.

5. Consistent Learning and Adaptation

Tech is synonymous with change. Continuously learn and adapt to emerging technologies to remain relevant and maintain your position as a sought-after professional.

6. Embody a Growth Mindset

Approach challenges with a growth mindset. See setbacks as opportunities to learn and improve. This mindset encourages you to take risks, explore new avenues, and conquer uncharted territories.

7. Building a Personal Brand

In the digital age, your online presence matters. Craft a strong personal brand by sharing your expertise on social media, tech forums, and blogging platforms. Contribute to discussions, provide insights, and establish your authority.

8. Mentorship and Collaboration

Collaborating with peers and seeking mentorship from experienced professionals can accelerate your growth. Learning from others’ experiences can help you avoid pitfalls and gain valuable insights.

9. Navigating Impostor Syndrome

As you strive for excellence, impostor syndrome might rear its head. Understand that it’s common, but your accomplishments and dedication are real. Believe in yourself and keep pushing forward.

Conclusion

“Being so good they cannot ignore you” isn’t just a phrase; it’s a mindset that empowers you to carve a remarkable path in the tech world. By mastering your skills, embracing challenges, and building a visible presence, you can create a legacy that not only demands attention but also inspires others to pursue excellence in their tech journeys. Remember, the journey may not always be easy, but the rewards of becoming truly exceptional are beyond measure.

Power of Compounding

largely taken from

Table of Contents

Useful Quotes

Albert Einstein:

“Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it… he who doesn’t… pays it.”

ChatGBT:

“Compound effort, like drops of water, may seem insignificant at first, but over time, it has the power to shape mountains of achievement”

Here is what i took away

Calm the Monkey Mind:

-Avoid seeking instant results and appreciate the gradual journey.
-Embrace the idea of compounding efforts over time.

World-Class Routines:

-Building performance around routines is key to excellence.
-Control the start and end of your day for consistency.

Morning Routine:

Review your vision and mission.
Set the top priority for the day.
Read positive and instructional content.
Make progress on your most important project.


Nighttime Routine:

-Reflect on daily choices.
-Express gratitude for successes.
-Curiously assess improvement possibilities:
-“How could I have made today even better?”


Controlled Moments:

-Moments after waking up and before sleeping are within our control.
-Direct these moments to shape the course of your life.


Bicycle Analogy:

  • “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”

These points underscore the importance of routines, mindfulness in daily routines, and the need to appreciate the journey.

Different perspectives for problem-solving and decision-making

Some options to think over:

  1. Reverse Lens Approach:
    • Consider the problem from another person’s viewpoint.
    • Gain fresh insights by viewing the situation through different eyes.
  2. Long Lens Perspective:
    • Imagine how the problem might appear in the future, say 6 months from now.
    • Recognize the bigger picture and put the issue into a broader context.
  3. Wide Lens Reflection:
    • Focus on learning from the problem at hand.
    • Extract valuable lessons and experiences to improve decision-making.

These approaches encourage multifaceted thinking and provide tools to view problems from various angles for more informed decision-making

What kind of people are you working with?

Taken from

Table of Contents

Introduction

“Be In The Room” is a philosophy propagated by Nigel Risner, a well-regarded motivational speaker. The essence of this philosophy is to encourage individuals to be fully present and engaged in whatever situation they find themselves, thereby enhancing their relationships and effectiveness in their endeavors. Below is a detailed explanation

The Details

  1. Concentration on the Task at Hand
    • The phrase “Be In The Room” signifies focusing 100% on the ongoing task or conversation, whether it’s in a meeting, a challenge that has been set, or any other situation that requires your attention. This implies being mentally and physically present to ensure that the task is completed effectively​1​​2​.
  2. Being in the Present:
    • The philosophy also extends to being in the present moment, which is crucial for transforming one’s life, career, or even making a broader impact. Being fully present helps in building stronger relationships and achieving set goals​3​.
  3. Avoiding Distractions:
    • It’s common to find oneself in situations where the mind wanders, even during critical times. This diversion is detrimental as it can significantly reduce the effort put into the task and can have a counter-productive effect on the respect gained from others and for oneself. If you find your attention drifting, the idea is to bring yourself back to the room and refocus on the ongoing task or conversation​2​.
  4. Enhancing Respect and Interaction:
    • By giving full, undivided attention during interactions or tasks, individuals show respect to others involved, which in turn, garners respect for themselves. It’s about being interested, getting involved, and thinking about what one can contribute rather than what can be gained from the situation​2​.
  5. Applicability in Daily Life:
    • The philosophy is not confined to formal settings like meetings but extends to everyday interactions and tasks, emphasizing the importance of being fully engaged regardless of the perceived significance of the situation​2​.
  6. Improving Meeting Efficiency:
    • Aligning with the philosophy of being fully present, it is suggested that meetings should be concise and never exceed 20 minutes to ensure everyone remains engaged and the objectives are met efficiently​2​.
  7. Self-awareness:
    • It also ties back to self-awareness and understanding the importance of being in the “room” in one’s personal and professional life, which is crucial for success and effective communication with others​4​.

This philosophy, as simple as it seems, can have profound effects on personal and professional effectiveness, relationships, and overall success.

Conclusion

is a philosophy advocated by motivational speaker Nigel Risner, emphasizing the importance of being fully present and engaged in the current task or interaction. It encourages individuals to concentrate wholly on the ongoing situation, whether in meetings or daily tasks, to enhance relationships, respect from others, and overall effectiveness.

By avoiding distractions, being interested, and involved, individuals can transform their personal and professional lives, making a broader impact. This philosophy, extending to every aspect of life, promotes self-awareness, efficient communication, and a mindful approach to daily engagements.

The One-Minute Manager

Largely taken from the book of the same title.

Table of Contents

One Minute Manager

  • If a problem exists without a solution, it’s just a complaint
  • The Number 1 motivator is feedback on results
  • Don’t let annoyances build address early to stop it building
  • Build people up don’t tear them down
  • Be tougher then supportive (not the other way around)
  • Create a team of partners

One Minute Praising

  • Praise people as soon as possible & be specific with that praise
  • Tell people how good you feel about it and how it helps (give them context)
  • Pause so people can absorb what you have said
  • Encourage them to do more of the same
  • Make it clear you have confidence in them and support their success

One minute redirect (if a mistake or improvement is needed)

  • Re-direct as soon as possible
  • Confirm the facts and review the issue – be specific
  • Express how you feel and what the impact is
  • Pause and give time for reflection
  • Let them know they are better than their mistake and that you think well of them as a person
  • Remind them that you have confidence and trust in them
  • Realize when the re-redirect is over

Always learning

Table of Contents

Introduction

A colleague recently asked me what advice would i have for myself at the beginning of my Career, and it would be

“Always keep learning”

Let’s expand on that a bit more….

In today’s fast-paced world, the speed of technological growth is staggering. From cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence to breakthroughs in quantum computing, our world is constantly evolving. In such a rapidly changing landscape, it has become increasingly important to embrace the concept of lifelong learning. In this blog, we will explore how and why it is crucial to always keep learning, given the relentless pace of technology’s expansion.

The Accelerating Pace of Technological Advancements

The speed at which technology is advancing is truly remarkable. Moore’s Law, which predicts the doubling of computer processing power every two years, has held true for decades. With each passing year, we witness groundbreaking innovations that reshape entire industries. As professionals and enthusiasts alike, failing to keep up with these changes can lead to being left behind.

Remaining Relevant in the Job Market

In the era of automation and digital transformation, staying relevant in the job market is paramount. Many traditional job roles are being replaced by automated systems and intelligent machines. To stay employable and thrive in this rapidly evolving environment, continuous learning is no longer a luxury but a necessity. By updating our skill sets and acquiring new knowledge, we can adapt to emerging technologies and remain valuable assets to our organizations.

Harnessing the Power of Innovation

Learning is the key to unlocking innovation. By keeping up with the latest trends and breakthroughs, we gain the knowledge and inspiration to develop innovative solutions. Continuous learning allows us to push the boundaries of what is possible and drive positive change in our industries. The more we immerse ourselves in learning, the greater our ability to create new technologies, products, and services that can shape the future.

Embracing Lifelong Learning as a Mindset

Adopting a mindset of lifelong learning is essential to thrive in a technology-driven world. The willingness to explore new ideas, seek out information, and embrace new challenges sets us apart. By approaching learning as a continuous journey rather than a destination, we remain open-minded, adaptable, and ready to seize opportunities as they arise.

Navigating Disruption and Uncertainty

Technological disruption is inevitable, and it often brings uncertainty along with it. However, by continuously learning, we become more resilient and better equipped to navigate these challenges. The ability to quickly acquire new skills and adapt to changing circumstances allows us to remain agile, ensuring that we can tackle any obstacles that come our way.

Conclusion

In the ever-expanding world of technology, the pace of growth shows no signs of slowing down. To thrive in this environment, we must embrace the importance of lifelong learning.

By constantly upgrading our knowledge and skills, we can stay relevant in the job market, unlock innovation, and navigate the challenges posed by disruptive technologies. So let us embark on a lifelong learning journey, embracing the rapid speed of technological advancement and embracing the endless possibilities it brings.

The Mindset To Radically Change Your Software Engineering Career

Introduction

In the ever-evolving world of software engineering, maintaining a growth-oriented mindset is crucial for achieving long-term success. By adopting a business mindset, you can empower yourself to take charge of your career trajectory and become a sought-after professional in the field.

In this blog post, we will explore the mindset shift of considering your career as a business and how it can lead to radical changes in your software engineering journey.

Think of Your Career as a Business

When you view your career as a business, you become the CEO of your professional path. Just like a business owner, you have the power to make strategic decisions, set goals, and determine the direction of your growth. By taking ownership of your career, you no longer see yourself as a passive employee but rather as an entrepreneur seeking opportunities for advancement.

You Don’t Belong to Your Employer

While you may be employed by a company, it’s essential to remember that you don’t belong to them. You are an individual with unique skills, talents, and aspirations. Embracing this mindset enables you to detach emotionally from any single employer and instead focus on building a diverse set of experiences and skills that will benefit your long-term career goals.

Think of Your Employer as a Customer for Your Business

When you view your employer as a customer, it changes your perspective on the professional relationship. Just as a business strives to provide value to its customers, you should aim to deliver exceptional results and contribute meaningfully to your employer’s success. This shift in mindset fosters a proactive approach, motivating you to consistently seek opportunities to exceed expectations and create lasting impact.

Evolve and Improve

Businesses that stand the test of time are those that continuously evolve and improve. Similarly, as a software engineer, it is vital to stay abreast of industry trends, technologies, and best practices. Actively seek out professional development opportunities, attend conferences, engage in online communities, and embrace lifelong learning. By making personal growth a priority, you ensure that your skills remain relevant and adaptable to the changing demands of the industry.

Think of Yourself as a Brand

In today’s interconnected world, personal branding plays a significant role in professional success. Viewing yourself as a brand means understanding your unique value proposition and effectively communicating it to potential employers, clients, and colleagues. Consider your strengths, expertise, and the distinct qualities that set you apart from others. Develop a compelling online presence, curate your professional image, and leverage networking platforms to build a strong personal brand that resonates with your target audience.

Conclusion

Adopting a business mindset is a transformative approach that can revolutionize your software engineering career.

By thinking of yourself as the CEO of your professional journey, you take control of your trajectory, viewing your employer as a valued customer. Emphasize continuous improvement, embrace change, and invest in personal growth to remain relevant in the dynamic software engineering industry.

Lastly, cultivate your personal brand to effectively showcase your unique value proposition and stand out in a crowded market. Embrace this mindset shift, and you’ll be well on your way to radically changing your software engineering career for the better.

Habits of highly effective people

Taken from

with my own spin added.

Table of Contents

Overview

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in worries and distractions. However, highly effective people have mastered the art of managing their focus and productivity.

They understand that dwelling on things beyond their control is counterproductive and drains valuable mental energy. Instead, they adopt a proactive mindset, investing their time and efforts in what they can control.

By shifting their attention to actionable tasks, highly effective individuals gain a sense of empowerment and purpose. They concentrate on actions that produce tangible results, propelling them towards their goals. This focus allows them to overcome challenges and navigate through uncertainties with resilience.

Moreover, self-reflection plays a pivotal role in their journey towards success. Highly effective people take time to assess their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.

By looking inward, they can identify opportunities for growth and development. This self-awareness fuels their desire to continually enhance their skills and knowledge, enabling them to become more effective in their endeavours.

Additionally, highly effective individuals understand the importance of prioritization. They recognize that not all tasks hold the same weight in achieving their goals. They start their day by identifying the most important task that aligns with their long-term objectives.

By tackling this task first, they lay a strong foundation for productivity and maintain a sense of accomplishment throughout the day. This habit ensures that they make consistent progress towards their desired outcomes.

Conclusion

  • Mastering productivity requires adopting effective habits that allow us to focus on what truly matters.
  • Highly effective people excel in letting go of worries about the uncontrollable, directing their efforts towards what they can control, engaging in self-reflection for personal growth, and prioritizing tasks based on importance.

Key rules for my Life

Table of Contents

This is a summary of everything i have learnt and continue to learn throughout my Life & my Journey in technology.

High-Level

The Core to whom I want to be, broken into sections:

LessonQuotesLinks
Never stop Learning“The capacity to learn is a gift; the ability to learn is a skill; the willingness to learn is a choice.”Always Learning

Be a better learner

Learning Faster

Embracing Lifelong Learning in the Digital Era

Embracing Learning Agility in a VUCA World: Lessons from Blockbuster’s Fall

Jack Welch’s Vitality Curve and Its Place Among Common Appraisal Strategies
1% better (every day,every week) Small things add up“the universe buries strange jewels within us all, and then stands back to see if can find them”

“Compound effort, like drops of water, may seem insignificant at first, but over time, it has the power to shape mountains of achievement”		Atomic habits

Power of Compounding

“No Mud, No Lotus”

Embracing the Unknown: A Journey of Self-Improvement and Perspective

Invest in Yourself: The Ultimate Path to Personal and Financial Growth

Life Lessons – Embracing Small Changes: Insights from ‘The Kaizen Way’Life Lessons
Smile “Smile at strangers, and you just might change a life.”Happiness Advantage

The Importance of Smiling

Emotion Management for Everyday Life

Just a bit of Fun

Understanding Life’s Final Reflections: Insights from ‘The Top 5 Regrets of the Dying’

Embracing Stoicism: Navigating the Waves of Negativity

Navigating the Hedonic Treadmill: Finding Lasting Happiness in a World of Constant Change
Step back and reframe problems/events“Awareness is the foundation for intentional change”

“All change starts with awareness”

“When I was 20 I wanted to be a millionaire, when I was a millionaire I wanted to be 20”
 Different perspectives for problem-solving and decision-making

The Blind Men and the Elephant

Reflecting on Your Journey: A Guide to Celebrating Your Achievements

Time for a new Job?
Focus “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four-hour days.”

“The more you concentrate, the more you get done. The more you do, the more you progress.”		Impact Code

Deep Work

Mastering Focus

Stolen Focus

The One Thing

KickStart your Day

Embracing the Journey of Growth and Adaptability

Quick Wins for a Productive Home Office Day

Nano Tips to Boost Productivity
Plan -both daily, Weekley and MonthlyDig the well before you are thirsty

Don’t get caught up in distant goals or 5-year plans. Life is not linear; it’s a series of meandering paths. Focus on the next step, on what’s in front of you now. There are no ‘aha’ moments; only tiny, incremental gains. And that’s OK. Keep at it		 Organize Tomorrow Today

Winning the Week

How to Gamify Your Day

You Don’t Actually Know What Your Future Self Wants

3 Daily Habits

Time management

Parkinson’s law

Dig the Well before you are Thirsty

Daily Check-In

Practical Ways to Practice Stoicism in Daily Life

Rethinking Goal Setting: A Balanced Approach to Achievement

Time: Our Most Precious Non-Renewable Resource

How to Use Your Energy Wisely Throughout the Day: A Battery Analogy

Reviewing All Items: Do They Add Value in Reference to Goals, Aims, and Work Projects?

The Detail

Personality- who am i, what kind of person do i want to be?

  1. Be polite and respectful of others, for example, say good morning to as many people as you can from when you enter the office to when you get to your desk. Its a very simple thing, but being polite can generate a positive environment. Be interested in other people. Remember The Number 1 motivator is feedback on results.
  2. Don’t be overly effected by other people Two monks and a Woman — Zen story , The Millionaire Next Door
  3. Have a good attitude if you have a problem, find a solution, don’t just complain about it. For example, rather than just complaining about a flickering light above your desk. Find out who to speak to and try and get it fixed.
  4. Contagion is normally something you think of with respect to say the flu. But viewed in an office and company environment. Think how good or bad news or attitudes can spread. What happens when someone who has been “infected” gets home?
  5. Be a Critical thinker:
    • Challenging Status Quo: Don’t do things just because they’ve always been done that way.
    • Consider Multiple Perspectives: Take different viewpoints into account.
    • Prioritization: Focus on what truly matters, even if there are tempting distractions.
    • Problem Reframing: When faced with an issue, find alternative solutions beyond the obvious.
    • Effective Listening: Listen more than you speak, be actively engaged in understanding. Understand what makes different people tick some people are like waves in and out
    • Self-Reflection: Be open to admitting the potential for being wrong.
    • Learning from Setbacks: Analyse setbacks, prevent their recurrence, and extract lessons.
    • Time Management: Recognize the importance of making the most of each moment.

Related Reading:

Focus & Daily Approach

6. Work out the X things that drive you in life and make sure they are balanced and not in need of attention, while a lot of these do overlap in places mine are:

  • Be a Dad
  • Be a Husband
  • Career & Job
  • Health , both Physical and Mental – Mindfullness
  • Financial Wellbeing Magical number
  • Self Improvement

7. don’t spend time worrying about what you cannot control, instead focus on what you can control

8. Keep focused and remove distractions if needs be i.e Mobile phones

9. Watch less TV

10.Aim to Work smarter v longer

“Being busy and being productive are not the same thing. It’s easy to be busy. It’s hard to be productive. Being productive is not about doing more; it’s about concentrating all your energy on the few things that matter.“

Also see The Productivity Project & Organize Tomorrow Today (which includes a real good basketball analogue)

11. experiment and test assumptions i.e remove phone from the room you are working on, reduce browsing the internet, take longer breaks or more shorter one’s, try blocking out time for key tasks, etc…

12. There are different ways to approach this but i like working out my goals for the week and then breaking each day down. Making sure i have time for things like exercise. I find keeping a Physical work Diary like “Clever Fox Planner Schedule” very useful (i started on a simpler daily planner but i found it didn’t include as much as i needed and wanted for long term planning and reflection)

Also see Time Blocking & Stolen Focus

Thinking more long term

Don’t get caught up in distant goals or 5-year plans. Life is not linear; it’s a series of meandering paths. Focus on the next step, on what’s in front of you now. There are no ‘aha’ moments; only tiny, incremental gains. And that’s OK. Keep at it

13. think of your career as a business. Invest time in yourself

  • you don’t belong to your employer
  • think of your employer as a customer for your business
  • like a business, you need to be evolving and improving
  • think of yourself as a brand

Also see The new rules of work & You Don’t Actually Know What Your Future Self Wants

14. take a leaf out of Dave Brailsford and looking for find 1 percent improvements in overlooked and unexpected areas.

Also see Power of Compounding

“Compound effort, like drops of water, may seem insignificant at first, but over time, it has the power to shape mountains of achievement” ChatGbt

Think about this

If you were to truly grow 1% every day, then you calculate the potential for growth in the year as an exponent, 1.01 to the 365th power. I’ll save you the time, that equals 3,800% in one year. That is a pretty insane amount of growth, and I think we’d all agree that would be a good year.

But what if we pick something more reasonable, say .1% every day. At the end of a year you’d experience 44% growth, meaning you’ve expanded your capacity by almost half of what you were previously capable of! That still would be incredible progress. 

https://www.selfimprovementdailytips.com/podcast/1-every-day-3-800-every-year
This Coach Improved Every Tiny Thing by 1 Percent and Here’s What Happened

15 Aim to be so good at your job your bosses cannot ignore you

16 Always keep learning

How To Win Friends and Influence People

Ideas taken from

My key takeaways were:

  • Be interested in other people rather than make them interested in you
  • Find out what excites someone, find out how do they spend their time? For example

Ask people for advice on what interests them, for example if you know someone interest is stamp collecting, ask how you would get your son involved as a beginner.

  • Give people frequent praise, for example acknowledge when someone does something difficult
  • Make praising someone a daily habit.