To become a pro at anything, you need to be able to keep yourself engaged and excited, ready to tackle the next project as you finalize the current one. As project deadlines loom and the day-to-day tasks go on, it's easy to get jaded and lose focus. Here are three ways I've found to keep myself engaged, continuously learning, and prepared:
- Engage. Networking with fellow professionals helps keep me energized. While I do get ideas from other people, I'm glad to share my own experiences. This usually sparks new ideas, too. Professional organizations, and groups, such as those in LinkedIn and Twitter, are great for building relationships and staying passionate.
- Learn. I set aside an hour each week to take part in a webinar. We have lots of choices for keeping current skills sharp, learning something new, or finding a solution for an upcoming challenge. I don't let the webinar just run in the background, I take part in conversations and polls. Take opportunities to read and research, as well.
- Prepare. I keep a digital “scrapbook” of look-and-feel, activity, and story-telling ideas. I've always kept screenshots and written notes, but I've begun to use Pinterest as well. Building samples is also a great use of bits of down time. Being able to draw from these resources saves me a ton of time in designing and development.
These activities have made a big difference in my becoming and staying a pro!