How I learn

So I have been working on a project for the past several weeks and it’s been a challenge for me in several ways, but by far the biggest thing I’ve had to adjust to is that I am it. I am doing this thing on my own. For most of my development career I’ve worked in teams. Either product teams with lots of back end devs or in agencies where there is usually at least one other helping hand around. What that meant for me was that when something got hard, I had people to ask and in many cases, people who knew how to fix it really quickly.

Well, when it is just me, I don’t have that luxury. It is me, Google, a shelf full of books, and sometimes I talk with Sally dog, but she is definitely no help. I have learned more doing this project than I have learned in a long while. Why? Because I had to. The client asked for things and I needed to figure out how to make it happen. I’ve learned more JavaScript in the flavor of jQuery. I’m actually getting much better at that. I’ve also written a dash of PHP for the custom Wordpress theme. I don’t know that I want to delve too far into that world, but I don’t mind dipping my toe in once in a while. It was definitely fun getting it working.

And that is what I have loved the most these past few weeks. I get such a rush when I get something working for the first time. I love it. And it had been far too long since I had felt that way on a regular basis. The only thing I don’t love is that I have no one to share it with other than Sally dog, but she listens and wags her tail. So I learn by having to do and having to push myself because there is no one else. I am thankful for all the people who post to their blogs on all the different topics that I have searched for in Google and also the great authors that I have keeping me company as I work. Without them I know I would never have finished this project (well, it’s almost done).