3 Lists To Rule Them All To Become A Better Developer
Hey 👋 - Ilya here.
What's up and welcome to the Weekly One on One!
Here's one short tip on how to Level Up as a developer.
Today's issue takes about 2 minutes to read.
Enjoy
One part of growing professionally is understanding where you are right now and where you want to go.
I've been using those lists in one form or another for over 7 years. They helped me develop my skills quickly, get promoted and even land a new dream job. And they can help you, too, become a better developer.
One of the highlights of my week is adding things to those lists and going over what's already there.
1. Tools & Improvements List
Keep a list of things you'd like to improve in your daily workflow. Process automation, shortcuts, etc.
When you have a few minutes, pick one and try to find a solution. Got the idea years ago from Ben Orenstein.
2. List of Your Achievements
Have a list of important (to you) features, bugs, and other achievements.
It will:
- remind you what you've accomplished (because you forget)
- cheer you up when you're feeling down or unproductive
- help down the road during your yearly reviews or when interviewing for a new job
More details and template here thanks to Julia Evans.
3. Things You Recently Learned
No matter how basic or advanced, write down what you learn. Looking at such a list after a while is a huge confidence boost and shows that you are progressing. Have nothing to add? Go to list #1 and spend 10 minutes researching one of the items from there.
Now Do This
- Copy this spreadsheet
- Add a weekly recurring reminder with the link to your copy
- Fill it out every week
That's all for this One on One. 1 tip at a time to Level Up as a developer.
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See you again next week.
Cheers,
Ilya