Career Journal: Mod 1 Steve Calla

Mod 1 First Time - Journal Reflections (Dec '20 to Jan '21)

Mod 1 Week 1: Understanding your strengths (status = COMPLETE)

Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:

Week 1: [Link here to your gist]

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If you will not be able to complete your journal this week, please provide an update for the Career Dev team on when you'll have it completed here (remember to reflect on what you have control over, what you want to try differently this week, and what habits you can utilize to get back on track):

Describe one of your strengths

What is something you have learned to do well (list a skill)?
Steve Calla - I've learned to plan and organize very well. I enjoy organizing and managing a teams path toward a specific goal (that can be uncertain or ambigious in terms of the goal, the path to get there and/or the teams ability to perform the task at hand).
What is something you know about (list some knowledge/expertise you have)?
Steve Calla - I know specific professional expertise in various aspects of marketing particularly driving revenue using aspects of marketing to set a lead a team, create a vision/plan, execute and adjusted based on outcomes and team strengths.
What is something you have a natural ability to do well (list a talent)?
Steve Calla - I naturally have the ability to think critically, see multiple perspectives an create a vision.
How could you combine these to describe a specific strength?
Steve Calla - I specific strength is motivation, discipline and focus with a desire to achieve positive outcomes, a vision along with positive outcomes for the team. But in many instances, I lack the confidence to feel comfortable in these scenerios.

Read through your Top 4 results from Pairin

In your own words, what do these top 4 qualities tell you about yourself?
Steve Calla - My top 4 were a) objective analytical, b) searcher, c) I get you and d) lover of justice. The results are great because they help me understand my thinking style, most intense driver, highest EQ competency and leading virtue class. It's really useful to relect on these areas as areas of both strength and areas of opportunity for improvement.
Do they resonate with you? Why/why not?
Steve Calla - The top 4 Pairin results very much reasonate to me, and give me more confidence in these areas.
How do they relate to the strength you wrote about in Prompt #1?
Steve Calla - I would say my top 4 Pairin results map very well against my skill, knowledge/expertise and talents. As one example, I stated that "I like to achieve positive outcomes for the team". This maps very well into the "Lover of Justice" virtue class as it shows that my concern for the optimal interaction between the individual and the group.

Challenges with strengths

What can make it challenging to recognize your strengths? How can you work through those challenges?
Steve Calla - Due to confidence and other issues, I find it difficult to recognize my strengths and even in situations in which I allow myself to recognize a strength, I'm infrequently willing to accept it as such but rather move forward to get the job done.
Do you ever see yourself overusing certain strengths? In what circumstances would you want to use them less and amplify other strengths? How could you adjust your approach in those instances?
Steve Calla - Yes, I both overuse my objective analytical mindset and single minded goal orientation and I believe I'm labeled into that box by many creating both barriers in my own mind and in the mind of others as to my potential beyond this space in creative and other realms. I generally attempt to hold back at least 50% of the time to allow space for others to offer objective analytical solutions and/or I create intentional space to solicit input or allow others to lead the day.

Strengths in action

Write 1-2 sentences describing how you like to work (i.e., Do you pre-plan? Do you talk through your ideas first? Do you work better with deadlines? How do you stay organized?)
_Steve Calla - My work style can adjusted based on the effort at hand. But generally, I like to very pro-active and work ahead of deadlines. In some instances I pre-plan and/or talk through my ideas. I just depends but generally I will maintain a list of todo, work and plan in advance and seek appropriate levels of contact to develop ideas. I do like to work in a team as I feel it can lead to better outcomes and richer learning. _
How could you describe these working preferences to your project teammates? Your mentor? Your instructors?
Steve Calla - Bottom line is I'm committed to the task at hand. I will generally learn whatever I have to to produce a quality product and "show up" for my self, my teammates, my family along with whatever other parties are involved.
What would you need to be aware of when working with people who have different strengths from you?
Steve Calla - I think it's critical to understand my strengths and preferecens along with those of my teammates. I allos all involved to contribute in ways that best suite there talents as well as for everyone to be supportive as teammates take on roles that may not fit their strengths or comfort level.
How could your Pairin results help you better understand your everyday working preferences?
Steve Calla - Paring results are super helpful for a variety of reasons but two imporant reasons are that they create awareness of stengths thus allowing me to leverage thoese strenghts for my benefit as well as others and secondarily they allow me to decide if I'd like to build on these strengths and/or develop other areas of strength.

Continued growth

Is there any particular strength you'd like to sharpen while you're at Turing? Any area you consider a weakness that you'd like to strengthen?
Steve Calla - I want to develop relationships at some level with every member of my front end cohort. I frequently lose sight of the need to do this in large group settings, but per my pairin results it is very important to me.
What are some steps you could take here?
Steve Calla - I will reach out to 3 to 5 members of the team each week as a meet and greet and/or a desire to make myself available to ask for or provide assistance.
How could you be aware of progress you're making?
Steve Calla - I can and will keep track of my contact with my collegues. In term of the quality of relationships, I guess I'll have to play that out a bit but I'd like to be a positive force for my cohort mates and the community in general.

Mod 1 Week 2: Building Your Compass (status = COMPLETE)

Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:

Week 2: [Link here to your gist]

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Power of self-reflection

What is challenging about self-reflection?
Steve Calla - (a) It can be hard to set aside the time and space, (b) It can feel overwheling, (c) It can be difficult to focus on a specific and discover, (d) It can bring up negative self thought which is difficult to manage, and (e) It can be difficult to understand all the parts and pieces of who we are, what drives our actions and behaviors and how we fit in the world.
How can you continue to build the habit of self-reflection at Turing?
Steve - I think I need to start small. One idea is to start a journal. Each night before bed, write down one or two meaningful thoughts about the day including an intention for the next day or week.

Social identity mapping

First, create you own social identity map on a piece of paper (or print this out):

Outer ring: write words that describe your given identity - outside your control such as birthplace, gender, family role, physical characteristics.
Steve Calla - male, white, american, age - 50, brother, son, friend, boss, co-worker, 2011 FE
Middle ring: list aspects of your chosen identity - of my choosing such as occupation, hobbies et al.
Steve Calla - marketer, active - biking, hiking, crossfit and more, cooking...
Center: write your core attributes—traits, behaviors, beliefs, values, characteristics, and skills that you think make you unique as an individual. Select things that are enduring and key to who you are.
Steve Calla - driven and motivated, trustworthy, very reliable...

After you complete your map:

Underline the items that are important to you
Exercise and activity.
Put a + beside the items that you believe clearly demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry
Steve Calla - I'm not sure. I'm drawn toward learning how to code because it's a big learning challenge and it would be fun to be able to help marketers create amazing end user experiences. I also like to solve problems. I enjoy learning and I'm very curious.
Put a - beside the items that you believe do not demonstrate that you fit into the tech industry
Steve Calla - I'm not sure. I may not be detailed enough to work through the required pseudo coding or dedicated enough to keep up with need for documentation and other routine takes. I may also not be able to grasp the fundamental concepts at the level required to develop into a coder. And finally I may not have enough grit to stick with the short and long term learning required to succeed.
Put a ? beside the items that you're unsure how they could show your ability to contribute to the tech industry
See above.

Reflect:

What does your social identity tell you about what you already bring to the tech industry?
Steve Calla - I bring a hardworking, dedication with a unique professional perspective from my background in marketing and analytics.
What would it look like for some of your minuses or question marks to turn into pluses? In other words, how could some of these traits be assets for the tech industry?
Steve Calla - My doubt that I can succeed drives me harder to focus and put the time in to make it work.

Values mapping Pull out 5 values for each bullet below from this list:

Always valued: Sportsmanship, Well-being, Grace, Gratitude, Resourcefulness, Risk taking, Ambition, Growth Hard work, Physical vitality, Competition
Often valued: Family, Love, Frugality, Marriage, Initiative, Inspiring others
Sometimes valued: I wouldn't put anything on the sometimes valued. I would say the above listed stand out more.
Seldom valued: I wouldn't put anyting on the seldom valued. I would say the above listed stand out more.

Reflect:

What do these values tell you about yourself? There values tell me I enjoy physical activity, taking risk, ambition, growth, curiousity, hard work. I need to put more time into this question via journaling and otherwise.

Workview & Lifeview

Summarize what good, worthwhile work means to you (Tip: this is NOT about what work you want to do but about why work matters to you): Worthwhile work has an impact on others in some way that is meaningful to others and to me.
Lifeview: summarize what you value in life; what matters to you? I love my life in Colorado. I love the outdoors and everything I can do physically, mentally and beyond in the outdoors. I love challenges. Overcoming them with a combination of solo and team effort. I love to help my family and friends but I'm not that good at keeping in touch or taking action to show as such.
Where do your views on work and life complement each other? I don't have strong perspective on a specific industry. I want to work in an environment that challenges me to grow from leadership, reletionships to achieving business goals that satisfy customers.
Where do they clash? I need to think about this more. I've never truly thought about work as a clash. I've thought about it regardless of environment as... does it challenge me and provide opportunity for growth.
Does one drive the other? How? I need to think about this more. I've been fortunate over my career to progressive achieve gains in title and responsibility. I've been fortunate to lead large and small teams. I've been fortunate to either push the levers that drive revenue growth and/or play a role in at the strategic and tactical level. I would like to play even a larger leadership role or take risk in an extreme entrepreneurial environment.

Mod 1 Week 3: Habits & Accountability Systems (status = COMPLETE)

Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:

Week 3: [Link here to your gist]

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Ideas here are adapted from Atomic Habits by James Clear & (https://jamesclear.com/identity-based-habits)

Habits of a Software Developer

What do you think are the traits of a good software developer? What are they like in the workplace? What would you as a co-worker think of this person?
The traits of a good software developer include positive attitude, can do attitude, ability to learn, good time management, team player, think logically,execute small details quickly and without error, willing to work and support others, feedback, is open to understanding the needs of various teams (design, marketing and ultimately the client), establishes a schedule to focus on concentrate on code and do top quality work, can work on deadlines and under pressure and is very good at knowing when to seek guidance and working with other well.
In the workplace, a good software developer is always on time (attendances & deadlines), a subject matter expert but flexible and open, good at breaking down problems so that they can be built in code, curious to understands needs of co-workers/customers, eager to help, friendly and helpful.

A co-worker should believe a software developer is available, a part of the team, understands their needs, can estimate work and deadlines, and complete the task at hand meeting and exceeding expectations.

What are the habits that this person demonstrates to embody the identity of a software developer?
_The habits a software developer should demonstrate include the ability to create a schedule that ensures they can complete the job at hand according to established deadlines, keep up on current developments in their subject matter area and actively establish relationships with co-workers for questions or other challenges as projects evolve.
Who do you want to be as a software developer? What kind of behaviors do you already have in place to be that person? What behaviors would you need to put into place? How will you do that?
I want to be able to create innovative front end experiences for co-workers, clients, and customers.

Working on the 1st Law of Behavior Change: Make it Obvious

Bring self-awareness to your current habits by making a Habits Scorecard. Make a list of your daily habits (examples: wake up, turn off alarm, check phone, etc.) as a way to bring awareness to what you do. Then, decide how effective that habit is for you and your goal of becoming a software developer. Put a + next to habits that are effective; put a - next to habits that are not effective; put a = next to habits that are neutral.
wake up, walk dog and/or work out, eat, review email/social media/other communication, keep email inbox at zero, start to work on whatever is at hand, check email, social media, text way too often, continue work at hand, walk dog, prep food, work related to Turing or otherwise, maybe go for a run or other exercise to get outside, eat, clean up/organize, prep for next day in terms of workout schedule and other needs.
Pick 1 new habit you'd like to build and create an implementation intention following this template: "I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]." Then, stack the habit onto something you already do: "After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [NEW HABIT]." (Hint: make this highly specific and immediately actionable)
_I will create more time and space to concentrate on software development topics every day including 100% focus on actual coding such as a code war problem, Turing homework/class prep/social & parter sessions
Design your environment for success: what changes could you make in your space to better implement your habit? How could you remove any triggers for bad habits? How will you implement these changes?
I will signifanctly reduce the amount of or number of times I check email, text, social media, job searching/interviews, et al. I'll set aside time to do that as well so it doesn't cut into other activites (such as becoming a software developer).
Respond after a few days of this implementation: What are your results? How do you feel about this method? How will you move forward with this habit?
Yes. It's working. I've been able to focus much more on Turing related efforts to become a software developer.

Additional Optional Reading: The Five Triggers That Make New Habits Stick

Mod 1 Week 4: Creating Your Vision, Part I (status = COMPLETE)

Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:

Week 4: [Link here to your gist]

(completed)
(partially complete)
(not started)

Habits Reflection:

How have you seen yourself become more aware of your habits? Have you tried implementing anything new? What have the results been?
Not sure I understand this prompt. In the current environment of Turing, my habits have been modified to reflect being a full time student.

Start Where You Are (Empathize with the user -- you)

Health: how you answer “how are you”; intersection of physical, mental, and emotional health
- How would you rate your overall health on a scale of 1-5? How do you currently make time for activities associated with your health? What is a small change you could make here to readjust your health ratings?
_In general I'm good on all fronts. I make sure to get a lot of physical activity. Mentally I'm satified with how I spend my days with respect to Turing. I'm uncertain about the future, and Turing time doesn't really translate into the work world so that creates different mental stressors. Emotionally I'm healthy and happy. _
Work: what you do
- Make a short list of all the ways you work right now; How much value do each of those things bring to your life? How are those activities purposeful for you?
Well at Turing I don't have a lot of time to determine the ways I work. I do try very heavily to be social with respect to my classmates by making contact with as many folks as I can throughout the week, and I enjoy connection. I have to balance that with learning (getting homework, assignments et al) complete to keep myself balanced with respect to what and how I'm learning.
Play: what brings you joy? Think about joy just for the pure sake of doing it; everyone benefits from this kind of play
- What activities do you do that bring you joy throughout an average week? In what ways could you make a small change to bring more joy into your life?
I get outside and/or exercise at least 2 hours+ a day, so I'm good in this regard.
Love: sense of connection; who are the people who matter in your life and how is love flowing to and from you and them?
- How does love currently show up in your life? How do you show love to others right now? What adjustments would you like to make in this area?
I wish I could spend a lot more time tending to my personal relationships. I'd love to have a job that allows for a 60% or 70% balance skewed toward making time for personal relationships vs in 70%+ time at work.
Looking back at the 4 areas, do any problems emerge that you want to begin designing solutions for?
Yes. Getting more time with friends and family while pursuing an aggressive career mentality/path.

Define your needs, problem, and insights:

Based on what you wrote about above and your group conversation, what problems have you identified that you'd like to design solutions for? What do you already know about what you want for your career? What do you still need to find out? Who or what do you want to grow into by the end of the Turing program?

I'd love to design a freely available AI/ML app for folks to download data and get back easy to understand AI/ML models. I'd also love to consider and/or find a niche to solve challenges for marketers... that allows them to more easily understand the ecommerce world and use it's power to sell products.

Ideate -- challenge assumptions

When you discussed software developers with your small group on Monday, what assumptions came up about what software developers actually do? What steps could you take to challenge those assumptions and find more facts to answer the question of what developers do? In addition to what a typical software developer life could look like, what do you want yours to include?

I'd love for my career to enable a sense of freedom, challenge, connection and achievement while making a difference.

Prototype -- start creating solutions

What is the basic threshold that your new career must meet after Turing? What would you hope WILL NOT happen in your future after Turing? What is your absolute, no-holds-barred, ideal dream for your future after Turing?

My dream is to leverage my knowledge to (a) help marketers do a better job in the ecommerce space, (b) design an app that solves a practical problem and/or (c) identify a speciality within front-end that I love/enjoy while providing me with a sense of freedom, challenge, connection and achievement.

Test –- solutions

Based on this week of reflections, write out your initial vision statement for your career:

See #5 above.

Mod 1 Week 5: Creating Your Vision, Part II (status = COMPLETE)

Answer the below questions in a separate gist and link them into your career journal using this template:

Week 5: [Link here to your gist]

(completed)
(partially complete)
(not started)

Habits Reflection:

How have you seen yourself become more aware of your habits? Have you tried implementing anything new? What have the results been?
Not sure I understand this prompt. In the current environment of Turing, my habits have been modified to reflect being a full time student.

Design Thinking Reflection: Cultivating Beginner's Mind

How can beginner's mind be helpful when it comes to thinking about your career and job search? What are some habits you could put into place to cultivate beginner's mind regularly?
A beginner's mind can be helpful to ensure I am open to opportunities that I might not consider. I'd love to have more interations with others to discover options.

Optional additional reading: How to Cultivate Beginner's Mind to Become a True Expert

Go through the Flower Exercise brainstorming worksheets linked here. Then complete your Flower Exercise final worksheet here and link that finished worksheet here.

Flower Exercise:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zv9jdA6l4iUB4JorpeQ4e1LByJq3QafFG0NtT_jDuA4/edit Flower Final: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JOqMRMjs1IYFgoQ-xZI9-sXxirFWggcjPkCcAribA8E/edit

Write out your top 5 strengths that you've seen in action this module; then write out the strengths of a software developer. Where do you see these lists overlapping? Where are they different?

**_(a) drive to complete the job, (b) enjoying working with others, (c) enjoying developing a user facing app, (d)

Write a refined vision statement here (what new things have you discovered this week to incorporate into your vision statement?):

My dream is to leverage my knowledge to (a) help marketers do a better job in the ecommerce space, (b) design an app that solves a practical problem and/or (c) identify a speciality within front-end that I love/enjoy while providing me with a sense of freedom, challenge, connection and achievement.

Mod 1 Repeat Journal Reflections (Feb '21 to Mar '21)

Mod 1 Week 1: Repeat (status = COMPLETE)

Reflections on week 1 (what went well)? My pre-teaching has gone well so far. It's taken a lot of the pressure off of homework, completing/working on exercises during class and re-doing lessons after class (including sections not covered in class). Secondarily doing coding exercises during my mentor sessions has been helpful.
What would you like to do better? The pre-teaching plan has gone well so far.
What do you need help with?): Nothing at this time. I'm pursuing resources as necessary including my mentor, cohort mates and student hours.
Progress on your goal(s): On target.
Progress on your habit(s): No change in my habits except to pre-teach in advance so I have time to think through and absorb the material.
New ideas or changes to put into place this week: Continue as is for now.

Mod 1 Week 2: Repeat (status = COMPLETE)

Reflections on week 2 (what went well)? My pre-teaching continues to pay benefits. It's taken a lot of the pressure off of homework, completing/working on exercises during class and re-doing lessons after class (including sections not covered in class). Secondarily doing coding exercises during my mentor and two Turing tutors sessions has been helpful.
What would you like to do better? Continue with the pre-teaching.
What do you need help with?): Nothing at this time. I'm pursuing resources as necessary including my mentor, cohort mates tutors, and student hours.
Progress on your goal(s): On target.
Progress on your habit(s): No change in my habits except to pre-teach in advance so I have time to think through and absorb the material.
New ideas or changes to put into place this week: Continue as is for now.

Mod 1 Week 3: Repeat (status = COMPLETE)

Reflections on week 3 (what went well)? My pre-teaching continues to pay benefits. It's taken a lot of the pressure off of homework, completing/working on exercises during class and re-doing lessons after class (including sections not covered in class). Secondarily doing coding exercises during my mentor and two Turing tutors sessions has been helpful.
What would you like to do better? Continue with the pre-teaching.
What do you need help with?): Nothing at this time. I'm pursuing resources as necessary including my mentor, cohort mates tutors, and student hours.
Progress on your goal(s): On target.
Progress on your habit(s): No change in my habits except to pre-teach in advance so I have time to think through and absorb the material.
New ideas or changes to put into place this week: Pseudo code creatures to think through in my mind rather than relying on console logs.

Mod 1 Week 4: Repeat (status = TBD)

Reflections on week 4 (what went well)?
What would you like to do better?
What do you need help with?):
Progress on your goal(s):
Progress on your habit(s):
New ideas or changes to put into place this week:

Mod 1 Week 5: Repeat (status = TBD)

Reflections on week 5 (what went well)?
What would you like to do better?
What do you need help with?):
Progress on your goal(s):
Progress on your habit(s):
New ideas or changes to put into place this week:
Reflections on the module as a whole (where have you improved?
What do you want to continue doing in Module 2?
What do you want to stop doing?):

stevecalla/Mod1 Prework Prof Development: Career Journal - Mod 1 December-2020.md

Career Journal: Mod 1 Steve Calla

Mod 1 First Time - Journal Reflections (Dec '20 to Jan '21)

A co-worker should believe a software developer is available, a part of the team, understands their needs, can estimate work and deadlines, and complete the task at hand meeting and exceeding expectations.

Mod 1 Repeat Journal Reflections (Feb '21 to Mar '21)