You’re stuck in a rut in your tech career. How can you jumpstart your path to success?

When a former mentor (Hi Susan!) helped me think through my “what’s next”, she used an Ikigai diagram that’s stuck with me for 7-8 years. That’s the diagram with the intersecting circles and you’re striving for the part in the middle that’s a perfect intersection of all four circles. What do the circles represent? What you’re good at, what you love doing, what you can get paid to do, and what the world needs. A growth mindset is great, but without a model to help you think about where you are and where you want to be now and in the future, you’re still a bit lost. I have used this same model with half a dozen people who shifted their career, focus, priorities, etc.

You can make a list of your strengths and your weaknesses. Now, make a decision that you believe that you can convert your weaknesses into your strengths! It also helps to stay away from people who channel a lot of their fears and surround yourself with people who deeply believe in themselves and everyone around them!

1. Evaluate your skills, interests, and goals. 2. Identify areas for improvement or skills to acquire. 3. Stay updated on industry trends and technologies. 4. Enroll in online courses, attend workshops, or pursue certifications.

Aprender una nueva habilidad cada cierto tiempo es una necesidad. Te permite tener nuevas perspectivas. Independientemente de la industria en la que te desenvuelvas, aprender sobre temas relacionados a otras industrias te ayudará a conectar puntos. Y no tienen que ser cosas relacionadas a trabajo, puede ser un nuevo hobby como pintura, canto o escritura. Esto mantiene tu mente en constante actividad. Lo mejor de todo, puedes aprender de donde sea. ? Libros. ? Documentales. ? Historias de éxito. ? Canales de youtube. Usa la más cómoda para ti. Recuerda, siempre se puede aprender algo nuevo.

It’s great to be curious and learn new things, do that and do it your entire life. As you do this, decide on your spheres, needs, priorities, interests, access, etc. I love snackable stuff with immediate gratification. I’m also a fan of learning while doing. Not taking a course or or watching videos or reading exclusively as my plan. I like to pick up a platform that has earning or productivity or automation characteristics. How can I advance my skills and knowledge in ways that can be demonstrated objectively. For example, build a no code app using Bubble, create a website with no code required using Wix, create an ebook using Canva, etc.

At my tech company, there was an employee who devoted themselves to learning a new coding language every day. This dedication helped them to develop a broader skill set, and eventually, they took charge of a cross-language integration project which turned out to be successful. The key metrics to measure their success included the number of new skills acquired and the project success rates after implementing their learning initiatives.

My favorite way to experiment in low pressure zones is to volunteer for a nonprofit for a designated amount of time or for a specific series of tasks that help you get experience with that new thing you would rather be doing or that better job that seems more amazing than the one you have now. You can demonstrate those skills if you’re a career shifter. Sign up for a leadership position for an upcoming event led by one of your favorite causes. Check out the UN Sustainable Development Goals if you’re not sure what cause interests you. The SDGs are a great guiding light for compartmentalizing causes that are of dire importance now.

Una característica que tiene el sector de la tecnología, es que te permite probar lo aprendido casi de manera inmediata. Puedes crear un nuevo proyecto usando la tecnología recién aprendida. Y en muchos casos, como forma de ejercicio, puedes recrear una funcionalidad que ya existe de una plataforma o aplicativo conocido. Es por puro sentido de práctica. Y luego esto se convierte en un elemento de tu portafolio. Cuando ya has practicado lo suficiente, el siguiente paso sería ponerlo a prueba participando en contribución de código o en hackatones. El ejercicio materializa lo aprendido.

If a tech professional wants to expand their experience and skills, they can consider volunteering for projects that are outside their usual area of expertise. For example, a UX designer can contribute to a backend development project. The success of such contributions can be measured based on the feedback received for cross-functional collaboration and the ability to contribute to diverse projects.

I built a habit of reaching out to the busiest people who attract me or who I just want to reach out to. This includes CEOs of Google, DeepMind, Microsoft, Salesforce, and many other companies. Sometimes I got replies, sometimes it led to a collaboration but most of the time I got nothing. And I think it's important to get used to it and not to take it personally. I'd just add that it's important to be extremely cautious about those people's time. Research everything you can research online before talking to them. Have as few characters in your message to them as possible. Structure text in the most helpful way for them. Empathize as much as possible - how do they feel when they get your message? What do they do at that time of the day?

Remember the time when you felt that the pool or the sea felt too cold to get in but once you forced yourself to do it your whole body and mind was grateful that you did? I think it's the same with many other aspects of life - traveling to another country, giving a presentation at a conference, or reaching out to someone you are afraid to reach out.

Stepping out of the comfort zone might involve presenting at industry conferences. A technical lead who traditionally avoided public speaking can successfully deliver a keynote, enhancing their visibility and leadership reputation. As well as post-presentation opportunities.

I enjoy learning about successes and failures of famous people. For example, check out Harry Potter's author's story. JK Rowling was in a deep rut after her divorce. Noone wanted to publish Harry Potter. She kept trying and eventually she managed to achieve her success. Will you succeed? I don't know. I certainly hope so. But in any case on the way you will make an amazing supportive friend - you yourself!

It is important to consider industry trends when working in the tech industry. For instance, a data scientist who is interested in exploring machine learning and AI applications in their field should keep up-to-date with the latest industry trends. Networking beyond the immediate team is also crucial. Engineers who actively participate in industry meetups can foster valuable connections that can lead to collaborative opportunities. Keeping track of the number of networking events, and the subsequent collaborations, one can make progress. Incorporating these strategies with real-world stories and key metrics can help tech professionals successfully jumpstart their career path, showcasing adaptability and commitment to continuous improvement.