Unleash your Entrepreneurial Mindset
Treating Your Software Development Career as a Thriving Business
Do you have a nagging feeling you are missing something?
The passion and the motivation to grow isn’t there anymore. Things are fine, but you tend to depend on people to give you direction and show you which way to go.
Are you ready to harness the power of an entrepreneurial mindset? With a few steps you can boost your professional growth, enhance your job satisfaction, and open doors to unimagined opportunities.
Maybe you've dreamed of starting your own business or simply want to elevate your current role, developing an entrepreneurial mindset can be a game-changer. Set yourself apart from other developers. Think like a business owner. Just as successful businesses strategize, adapt, and innovate to gain traction, you should too!
When you think of your employer as a customer for your business of developing software, it shifts you from a position of powerlessness to autonomy and self-direction. Get ready to get into the drivers seat of your career.
Here are a couple of ways to get into the entrepreneurial mindset.
Set Clear Goals 🎯
Define your vision, mission, and objectives for your career.This will require three steps:
First: Decide on your desired outcome (for example: I want to increase my contribution to a project by taking more responsibility for back end tickets)
Second: Determine what metrics will inform you that you have achieved your desired outcome (50% of my tickets will consist of back end assignments by the end of the year)
Third: Set daily tactics (actions) that will get you to that goal. (I will devote time to learning for 1 hour every day and block that time out on my calendar, I will also increase my back end tickets by 5% each month until the end of the year)
These specific actions steps are KEY to desired outcomes turning into a reality.
If you want to have saved another 10K in 6 months, you need to save 1.7K/month. Make a savings plan to get you there. Clarity makes it easier to stay focused and motivated. Also, be sure not to make those goals too easy, think big and have high expectations for yourself.
Continuously Assess and Adapt 🌀
Know your skills and know how your experiences relate to the market trends in order to identify areas for improvement and growth.Using tools like ChatGPT and other market indicators will help you stay leaning FORWARD. If you are not growing you are falling behind, there is not standing still.
Once you have assessed where the opportunity for growth is, you can use step 1 to plot a real, tangible plan for growth.
Be open to change and be ready to keep on learning and finding new challenges.
Invest in Yourself 💸
Invest in your personal and professional development. Learn new skills, gain knowledge in new areas, and expand your network while learning, don’t always isolate yourself while learning something new.I was coaching with a developer this week who WANTED to grow, but he didn’t know where to start. “When you don’t know where to start, you don’t” I told him, “So, forget about the entire journey, and let’s find the next step.” And the next step was: Ask a mentor for direction on WHICH course to pursue.
Sometimes, it’s as simple as breaking a larger goal into a much smaller step.
Lean on your network! Learning groups at your work or with colleagues can also be unexpected avenues for growth.
Build a Strong Network 🤝
Speaking of your network, partnerships and collaborations can breathe fresh air into your “business”. Learning groups create stronger momentum for growth and can expose you to new thinking, resources and perspectives.Even learning opportunities and cohorts outside of your specific niche and discipline can be important and powerful connections, you never know when things will align for new opportunities.
Growth mindset, career coaching, innovative projects
Embrace Innovation 💡
Stay updated on emerging trends and technologies. Just as businesses adopt new tools and strategies, seek opportunities to leverage new skills and technologies in your field.Listening to podcasts while you workout or take a walk, attending two conferences or workshops in a year in something you are curious about, taking on side projects. It can be tempting to fill every hour with work and delivering to clients and employers, but business owners MUST include “growth work” into their day. It’s not an “if I have extra time” but an absolute necessity.
Track and Measure Progress 🥇
Regularly take inventory of your career progress. Plan time away that is not a vacation, but will give you time for a yearly review.Some questions you can start with: Did I increase or improve my skills this year? Did I make new connections? Did I learn a new tech stack or ways to apply the tech I work with? Did I make progress in my soft skills? Did I increase my income? Get honest with yourself and watch your career and personal satisfaction skyrocket.
It's YOUR Success Story 🌟
Thinking of your career as a business empowers you to take ownership and shape your professional narrative. It can be scary at times to sit in the driver’s seat, but when you lean in, you will feel a sense of power and purpose that can energize your efforts.Craft your unique brand, communicate how you add value, and showcase your accomplishments. Present yourself as a valuable asset in the marketplace, and opportunities will follow.
In the ever-changing world of software development, adopting an entrepreneurial mindset is essential for success. By treating your career as a business, you can take control of your professional journey, differentiate yourself from the competition, and create meaningful opportunities. Set clear goals, continuously assess and adapt, invest in yourself, build a strong network, embrace innovation, track your progress, and craft your unique success story. Good luck and have fun!
