Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of “superpowers” for developers, and I gotta say, it’s been pretty eye-opening. I mean, we all want to be better at what we do, right? So, I picked three things that I think are total game-changers, and I’ve been trying to really focus on them.
The First Superpower: Deep Work
First up, I went for “deep work.” You know, that thing where you actually focus without getting distracted every five seconds? Easier said than done, I know. I started by just trying to block out, like, an hour a day. No phone, no social media, just me and the code.
- At first, it was brutal. My brain kept wanting to wander off.
- I had to physically put my phone in another room.
- I even used one of those website blockers to keep me from checking Twitter every two seconds.
But man, after a few days, I started to see a difference. I was getting way more done in that one hour than I used to in, like, three. It was crazy. I am sticking to it now, most days, and I’m aiming to stretch that time out. So, I tried that.
The Second Superpower: Learning Fast
Next up, I figured I needed to get better at “learning fast.” Because, let’s be real, tech changes, like, every five minutes. I can’t afford to fall behind. My usual approach was pretty random – a tutorial here, a blog post there. But I wanted to be more systematic, so I actually did some research and it leads me to build a good plan.
- I found this course on learning how to learn. It’s actually helpful!
- I also started using the Feynman Technique.
Basically, if you can’t explain something simply, you don’t really understand it. So, I’d pick a new concept, try to learn it, and then pretend I was explaining it to, like, my grandma. If I got stuck, I knew I had to go back and study that part more.
It sounds kinda silly, I know, but it really works! I feel like I’m actually retaining information now, instead of just letting it go in one ear and out the other.
The Third Superpower: Communication
And finally, “communication.” Yeah, I know, it sounds boring, but hear me out. I realized that I could be the best coder in the world, but if I can’t explain my ideas to other people, it doesn’t really matter. This one was tough, because I’m naturally kind of an introvert.
- I started by forcing myself to speak up more in meetings.
- Just little things, like asking a question or clarifying a point.
- Then, I started practicing explaining technical concepts to non-technical people, like my friends who work in marketing.
It was awkward at first, for sure. But the more I did it, the easier it got. I also started paying more attention to how other people communicate – the good and the bad. I’d watch how my team lead explained things, or how that one really clear speaker at a conference presented their ideas. I’d try to pick up little tips and *’s still a work in progress, for sure. But I’m definitely seeing improvement. I’m better at explaining my ideas, and I’m also better at understanding what other people are saying. And that makes a huge difference in teamwork and just getting things done.
So, yeah, those are my three “superpowers” that I’m working on. It’s not magic, and it’s definitely not always easy. But it’s making a difference. I’m more productive, I’m learning faster, and I’m a better teammate. And at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about, right?
