The Beginning
I remember transitioning my Twitter account from a regular account with random people, to a more tech account. I knew I needed to surround myself with a community that spoke the same language (code). I was fresh out of boot camp with no direction. That was tough. It took a long while to figure it out but I did. Once I got to a point in which I connected with other techies, I quickly found myself struggling to keep up. 🫠
Falling Under
There’s this thing that happens when entering the world of tech. As we all know it, it’s definitely a fast-paced environment. I like to compare it to the yielding process when getting on the highway. If you’re a driver, you know that you have to yield for ongoing traffic all the while trying to find the perfect timing to accelerate and get in your lane amidst matching the speed. It’s a whole thing, we know it. The reason I compare it to that is because it’s literally what I felt was happening to me. Granted, I was full of excitement and was eager to get in there and connect, but I found myself comparing my journey to others. I began to feel absolutely out of place and way behind! Not to mention the burnout I experienced as well because of FOMO. Yea, that was not fun at all. So, I had to take a step back and reflect.
Bouncing Back
Reflecting is almost a bad word for most people. Mainly because the idea of this practice is mainly focused on "negative" self-reflection. I believe that is rooted in lies that we believe about our own worth. However, I would love to attempt to shift your perspective on "self-reflection". The point of this practice is "growth & maturity". That simple. It isn't a time to judge yourself in a critical way, it's a time to discover where you can grow, what are your strengths, and how to improve. Not too scary, right? So that's what I did. I decided to ground myself in my own journey into tech and not allow what others were doing cause me to shrink back, but instead, be content where I am because their story is not my story. I've had plenty of times where I had to "reflect" because these practices are always easier said than done, nonetheless, I am intentional about implementing it and I encourage you to be as well.
Re-Establishing Yourself
I want to share with you some key points that I often revert to whenever I feel like I’m falling under again. My hope is that these keys will be at the forefront no matter what stage you are in this world of Tech.
The Keys to Help You Stay "Your" Course
Set clear boundaries: It's important to set clear boundaries for yourself and others when it comes to giving your time to tech-twitter, or any social platform for that matter. Do not compromise your values or beliefs for the sake of an audience. Be you and grow organically.
Practice self-care: Working or positioning yourself to work in tech can be demanding and stressful, so it's important to prioritize self-care. This can include taking breaks, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities outside of work that bring you joy and rest.
Stay true to your goals: Having your goals thought out is necessary. This helps with staying focused and grounded on what you are delving into at the moment without being easily distracted.
Conclusion
Whether you're just starting your journey in tech or you've been here for a while, being sure of yourself is so necessary. It's tempting to fall into the comparison game, but I'm sure you are exactly where you need to be. Take the time necessary to re-establish yourself and be cool with it. There’s no need to be in a hurry. Also, find your tribe, there are so many great tech communities out there, one being #Eddiehub. <<<<< I absolutely love it here. 🤍
You’ve got this. 😎👌🏽