Turing Professional/Career Development Prework

LeeGraham_DevelopmentPrework.md

Professional/Career Development

1. Of the 29 behaviors that make up an unstoppable programer, there were 4 behaviors that really resonated with me in the list. They are "Say 'I Don’t Know,'" "Identify and resolve bigger issues," "Learn under pressure," and "Act as a leader, not a boss." The first, because I don't know very much at all, and I already feel more at ease with being affirmed in the belief that everything is going to be ok. The second, because taking on issues that happen to be outside of your own scope or perspective grants you a greater view of the overall picture. I have found broader perspectives to have more relevant and empathic points of view. The third, because I've already challenged myself to learn Python in my freetime, after class, which will allow me to actively taking the skills I'm learning in class and directly implement them into something in my own life without very much down time. Lastly, my experience with coaching my kids has showed me that human beings will hear what you say, but as mimicry animals, humans are more naturally inclined to repeat what they see or hear another person doing. Leading by example is very important in our community at large and is an easy form of accountability practice.

2. The benefits of a checklist and how an organizational system such as a checklist might help you first as a student by granting and establishing a structure to the information being learned, as well as providing a visualization of productivity. Later as a full-time developer, I imagine that the amount of information hasn't lessened, and therefore the checklist in its physical form can still prove useful for structural organization. It would be cool to start to add other aspects to the checklists, such as breaks for walking in nature and snacks. One of the coolest things in this article is the "activation phenomenon" that they said took place once a verbal checklist was implemented, wherein everyone was introduced and asked to remember the names of everyone they'd be working with. This moment of intention is quite powerful, and harkens back to the first prompt. Paying attention to tasks on the much larger checklist as well. Each specialist in the operating room has a checklist of their own that they're responsible for, but the intention has to be set forth collectively to have a check-in so that you can accomplish the surgery successfully together.

3. I get the impression that Strength's Building as an exercise serves multiple purposes. Community building, Confidence building, and empathy building with oneself and others. It can also prove quite productive on the business end of things, as people who feel that they're a fit for whatever task is at hand are less likely to hesitate to accomplish it and more likely to go above and beyond whats being asked of them. I happen to be a great organizer, both clerically and community-wise. I have a habit of watching people's habits, including my own, so I've seen myself organizing people's homes without being asked multiple times in my life, or accidentally throwing amazing gatherings by cultivating great groups of people who have innately interesting social dynamics. I would LOVE to be a project manager. I love be the boss. I love having to know everything, because in my prior experiences it can prove difficult to rely on anyone else to have the answers that get things done. I would definitely have to learn even more material to understand things outside of just the developer's scope, but I WELCOME the challenge. I need to constantly have healthy challenges or problems to surmount and solve, otherwise I find myself bored very easily. That being said, I'm really looking forward to getting my butt kicked in this course and seeing just how I rise to the occassion to become a fabulous new member of the STEM professions.