In 2016, I had the good fortune to grab lunch with an executive performance coach who offered some advice. As a mostly fresh grad, a couple years into the workforce, she advised me to think of my career in strategic increments of seven years. In order to accomplish anything worthwhile, you usually have to keep at it, even when things get tough. Seven years was the sweet spot between gaining something beyond competence, yet perhaps short of mastery. I resolved to invest in myself, at this critical juncture of my career, and become a software engineer.
Looking back now, 8 years later, it is funny how well everything had worked out for me. Through seven years, I had developed the skills to not only write software at a productive level, but had learned how to build something from zero to one. From nothing, to something. The knowledge gained from failures and successes alike had compounded to a level where I could see past roadblocks and misteps that would have created months of delay. My confidence had grown, my skill had reached a respectable level. To use a medieval analogy, my apprenticeship had been complete - I was now in the position of a journeyman. To rise to the level of a master of my trade, though, I still need to reach another level entirely. I need to paint my masterpiece.
Looking ahead to the next seven years of my career, what should I look to? What is the direction I should face? To what cause, fight or banner should I dedicated my blood, sweat and tears?