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Conscious Incompetence
Bob, our newly qualified Web Developer who overestimated his skills
got the job! He now has 1 month before his job begins to become proficient in React.
If you have not read the previous posts in this series - make sure you check them out!
Bob's initial panic at his upcoming React job has steadied into a desperate scramble to learn React. He has been researching the different areas he needs to learn in order to pass off as "competent in React".
In case you're interested...
If you are looking for guidance in career development, as a certified Life Coach, I help IT developers create their dream jobs through self discovery, career planning and how to make the best out of your job. Contact me if you would like to discuss further.
Lets dive in.
After spending a few days researching and reading about React, Bob has narrowed down his list of things to learn to a concise list of Beginner tutorials and books to follow. He now has 3 weeks to get up to speed.
They consist of:
- React Official Documentation
- The Beginners Guide to React
- Fundamentals of React
- Fetching API with React
- React Tutorials and Projects - numerous exercises from the books, YouTube and other websites
Even though he has no idea how each of these things work, he is in a much better position than where he was a week ago. His list had hundreds of items, many of them not necessarily needed.
He now has something he can focus his attention on. He has realised he won't be an expert in 3 weeks, but he can at least have the basics under his belt.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step - Chinese proverb
Now that Bob has a list of trusted resources he can go through, he will slowly start to acquire the concepts and skills needed for his React position.
He opens up his new book, Chapter 1: What is React...
Bob now embarks on his first complete react app. Simple as it may be, he really struggles. This is also following along tutorials, using books and YouTube.
It's rough. His code is barely readable, he used patches from all different sources and it seems to be an impossibility that his website will even load.
I don't think I can do this he sighs to himself. Maybe I need to call the job and tell them I can't take it...
Bob clicks on the directory called "My First React App" and presses Delete.
Dave is Bob's old friend from school. He is a Life Coach and whenever Bob feels like he has hit a brick wall, he calls Dave.
"Dave, I just can't do this. It's too much and too difficult."
"Bob! You already have done so much. You can't give up now! You need that job. Tell me what's going on?"
"I have spent a week on this and I still have no idea what I am doing. Everything breaks, I can't get anything to work."
"Look, you knew it wasn't going to be easy. It's difficult but everyone has to start somewhere. Everyone who works with React has gone through the exact same experience as you. Don't give up!"
"I just can't get anything to work! It's been a week of hell."
"Well, what could you do to get a simple app up and running?"
"I suppose I could follow a walkthrough on YouTube from start to finish. They go through every line of code with you."
"Brilliant Bob! Why don't you give that a try and get back to me."
"I don't know.. Most of them aren't the type of apps im looking for. But I suppose I have to start somewhere"
"Bob, promise me you will give this method a try - at least once and get back to me."
Bob gives a resigned sigh, "Ok, I'll do it."
"Good luck Bob, speak in a few days."
Bob takes a break, gets himself a cup of coffee gets some fresh air on his balcony. After 10 minutes of some sunshine and a nice breeze, he feels a little refreshed, enough to sit back at his computer.
Searching for "React App for beginners", he browses through a few options and finally settles on a simple beginner walkthrough app.
After two days of slowly following the YouTube walkthrough he has a very simple but working React App... and he is ecstatic. I can do it!
Bob decides to give his own app another chance.
He creates a new workspace and directory My First React App 2. Strangely enough, this time things seem to be a little easier, or rather a lot easier. He has got 5 React app walkthroughs on YouTube under his belt now. He finally gets the page to load, even though it doesn't do exactly what its supposed to, Bob gives a sigh of relief. I've got this! he thinks to himself.
By this time, Bob now is starting to move out of the Conscious Incompetence stage and is approaching the Conscious Competence stage. There is still lots to get to grips with, but he is slowly starting to be able to apply the concepts and skills in practice.
In case you're interested...
If you are looking for guidance in career development, as a certified Life Coach, I help IT developers create their dream jobs through self discovery, career planning and how to make the best out of your job. Contact me if you would like to discuss further.
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