Developing my skills this past year

In his book, The Millionaire Fastlane, M.J DeMarco talks about the need to continually learn new things. He states that many people believe that learning new stuff is just a thing for when you're in school and that you're done with it once out of it, but the truth is that it's something you can continue to do later on in life and vital if you want to grow and achieve great things. In my several months of being unemployed, this is more important than ever. So what have I been learning.

The first thing I decided to learn was React and Next.js. I'd decided back in February that these frameworks were what I was going to build my main project on (the first phase of which is now complete and deplyed, more on that later) and so going over courses of them was a must. I started with the Net Ninja YouTube channel which is a great introduction to new languages and framworks, but can also be decent for a refresher on skills you have already had, such as HTML and CSS for me. The skills I learned through these videos allowed me to create this personal blog, and also to finally create the main project and be proud of it.

Another skill I have been developing is AWS, or Amazon Web Services. I've had a fair bit of experience in cloud computing with both AWS and Microsoft Azure, and with many companies making use of it I figured that getting a better handle on it all would be helpful. AWS has a skills builder website which offers loads of free courses to teach people about AWS and how to use it. I'm currently working through one of the beginner courses, the AWS CLoud Practitioner Essentials, and I'm finding it all very easy to follow.

And of course, I can't go without mentioning how reading is helping me to develop. At the moment, I'm currently reading Deep Work by Cal Newport which is certainly opening my mind up to how I can better focus on my work, something that will no doubt be helpful if I do get back into work and need to get back into the routine. There are so many books covering so many topics that can be amazingly helpful to developing. I'm hoping to get started on my reading list on this blog very soon.

Overall, it's important to keep learning. Makes sense really but sometimes it's something that has to be told to people.