There’s a tipping point from struggle to curiosity. When you (aka I) reside in the struggle state, there will always be a hurdle to learning a new tool/language/etc. When you (aka I) reside in the curiosity state, that’s where real progress can be made. This is a variant of scarcity to an abundant mindset.
Now I know not everyone is like me. What I do know about myself is that personal learning, my interest in a topic, and helping others are chief motivators. So I have tried in the past (signing up for 100 days of Python, setting up BIC (butt in chair) time, or even trying it on my own because I *have* to learn it when it is still optional without some solid interest, I’m not going to be (as) successful.
What helped flip the switch on my mindset? It was actually a course in my MSc program. I was introduced to some Python in a learning environment. I found the instruction materials to be confusing, so I had to get curious to figure out how to do my assignments.
How did I start?
In our class, we started with a Jupyter Notebook accessed through Anaconda. Anaconda is just a platform that serves up different packages and tools that can be used across an organization (whether it’s a company of one or 100,000). Jupyter is a free integrated development environment (IDE) where someone can write a program using (over 40 different types of) code, text, and even images (though I haven’t used that feature). The image below is what you see when you open (the client version of) Anaconda.
It’s easy to use and has different platforms or packages included.
That’s how I access Jupyter Notebook. That’s what we used in the class and I’ve just defaulted to using it. I’m starting to develop a Python code reference notebook so that I have an easy-to-find reference for those commands that I’ll need. I talked with my friend Mark Kernke about what I’m doing. Mark is great because he can provide the perspective of someone who’s been doing and leading this work for a while. Side note: he also told me that the tool the instructor had us use for SQL was outdated. That’s the POV I need.
So, while I’m using a notebook for right now, based on what I shared with Mark, he recommended committing to Github. But that’s for the future.
What does my yellow brick road look like?
The goal is to go from data to dashboards for projects that go from non-complex to complex along with different aspects of the everyday work I might encounter now or in the foreseeable future. For example, go from data to dashboard with a non-complex data set where I incorporate statistical analysis or train, validate, and test a model. In some cases, I’ll visualize data in Python and others, I’ll use a tool like Tableau. Then the plan is document it and share it out so it might help others.
Why?
What is motivating me to do all of this besides continual learning? I made it to the third round of an interview process where there was a data challenge that included coding in Python. I had so many issues. First, my notebook kept crashing. Then I got too caught up in my own head and didn’t have the skills necessary. I told my friends it was like having rec league skills but needing to play at a major league level. No matter how nice or what other skills you may have, if you can’t produce on the field, you’re not gonna make the team. I *really* want to work at this company. So I’m going to do everything in my power to improve my skills to work there. This company has a hiring process that is akin to Microsoft.
In addition to really wanting to work there, I also just want to do it for myself. I want to be able to go in and go up and down the pipeline (hence data to dashboard) and similar to when I was a manager on a team that used Tableau, I could talk the language, features, and limitations.
What if I don’t do everything I set out to do in my masterful Python plan?
I’m playing by the shoot for the moon, land among the stars approach. By having a specific plan, even if I don’t achieve it, then I can tick off what I’ve done and what I need to work on in future projects.
Am I afraid that putting myself out there like this will hurt me in my job search?
It won’t hurt me with the company that’s a right fit for me. If the company values leadership, planning, technical skills, being a self-starter, and mentoring/teaching, they will see this journey as a pro, not a con.
I’ll be doing something similar for my SQL skills too (more on that later).
I’m excited to be on this journey and to bring you along with me.
