Sunday Surprise: Focus On Your 2018 Tech Goals

Every year, around this time, we start thinking about all the changes we want to make during the upcoming new year. We always have good intentions, making lots of promises to ourselves. We call these resolutions as we resolve to make these changes but in the end, they usually fall by the wayside in the first few months.

I like the term goal better than resolution as it’s a word we use a lot. We set goals for ourselves constantly and a resolution is nothing but a goal. When we set out to meet a goal, we usually break it down into smaller chunks. For example, if you want to get a master’s degree, you take each course consecutively. Can you imagine trying to study for your master’s by taking all courses at once?

In this article, we examine how you can attain your goals around improving your tech skills.

Technological Goals For Learning and Contributing

Since we are in technology, we usually have tech goals. Maybe it’s learning a technology or maybe it’s to become more acquainted with the local developers in your community. The following list is but a small sample of how you can increase your technical knowledge in 2018:

Step 1: Learn

1. Azure:
   • Learn Azure: 4 tips for keeping your resolution to learn Azure
   • Azure Training
   • Azure Essentials
   • Attend Tech Summit: Sunday Surprise: Microsoft Tech Summit
   • Attend a Global Azure Bootcamp in April 2018: Sunday Surprise: Global Azure Bootcamp 2017
2. Video Training:
   • LinkedIn Learning: Free month trial
   • Channel 9
   • Microsoft Virtual Academy
   • LearnCode.academy
   • Codecourse
3. Join A Community:
   • TechNet Wiki
   • Microsoft Tech Community
   • Join a Meetup of like-minded professionals: Sunday Surprise: Microsoft User Groups
4. Get Certified:
   • Microsoft Certification
   • Microsoft Certification Guide: Overview And Career Paths
   • The value of technical certification

Step 2: Contribute

1. TechNet Community:
   • Wiki Life: Wishing You all a Very Happy New Year 2018
   • Wiki: How to Contribute Content to TechNet Wiki
   • Contribute (TechNet UK Blog)
2. Microsoft Docs:
   • Contributor Guide
   • Sunday Surprise – Treat docs like code
   • Help shape the future of docs.microsoft.com!
3. Open Source:
   • Open Source Guides
   • How to Contribute to Open Source
   • First Timers Only
   • Making your first open source contribution
   • Why Contribute To Open Source?
4. Write/Blog:
   • 5 Reasons Why You Should Blog as a Software Developer
   • The Benefits of Blogging: How and Why To Keep A Technical Blog
   • Write An Excellent Programming Blog
   • Creating a developer’s blog
5. Speaking:
   • A Software Developer’s Guide to Speaking and Conferences
   • How to Start Public Speaking
   • The many benefits of speaking at conferences
6. As a Microsoft MVP:
   • How Can I Become A Microsoft MVP?
   • How to become an MVP
   • Why would I want to be a Microsoft MVP and how do I become one? Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

All of these activities increase your knowledge and help you become more tech-savvy. Some, like starting a tech meetup, blogging, and contributing to the TechNet Wiki, have additional benefits of helping you get known in the tech community. This can lead to new jobs, speaking gigs, and even becoming a Microsoft MVP.

Learning and giving back is a self-sustaining cycle. Once you start, you will meet your 2018 goals. And by then it’s time to start thinking about new goals for 2019!

Happy New Year!

by Ken Cenerelli (Twitter,  Blog,  MSDN Profile,  MVP Profile)

Comments

• Anonymous
  December 31, 2017
  Excellent Ken, thanks a lot
• Anonymous
  December 31, 2017
  Thanks, Hassan & John.
• Anonymous
  December 31, 2017
  Great post Ken!Guru and community shepherd :)
  • Anonymous
    January 01, 2018
    The comment has been removed
• Anonymous
  January 02, 2018
  Thanks a lot Ken, great article!
• Anonymous
  January 02, 2018
  Good collection Mr. Ken. Thank you for sharing us
• Anonymous
  January 03, 2018
  Great post! Have an inspiring and productive tech year everyone! Another resource worth checking out is the Microsoft Tech Academy for video training - https://academy.techcommunity.microsoft.com.
• Anonymous
  January 06, 2018
  Thank you Ousama, Santhakumar, and Cian for the comments!
• Anonymous
  January 08, 2018
  Great Post Ken,Thanks for sharing
  • Anonymous
    January 10, 2018
    Thanks, Syed!
• Anonymous
  January 11, 2018
  Great post and thanks for sharing Ken!
  • Anonymous
    January 13, 2018
    Thanks Maruthachalam.