8 ms·
Ask HN: How do I become the very best?
The Pokemon theme song goes:
> I wanna be the very best
> Like no one ever was
While I don't want to be the _very best_, I'd like to be pretty damn good.
I'm studying for my Integrated Master's degree in Software Engineering right now, 3rd year out of 5.
Fortunately, there's no shortage of jobs where I am located (the EU). Academically, I'm doing well, too: I was a TA, have good grades and maintain very good relationships with my professors.
I love software development. It's the first thing I've been really good at. I think I'm a smart guy, too.
I have, however, very little to show for it, apart from Uni projects and good grades. All of my personal projects simple stuff that grows stale after I frantically hack on it for a couple of days.
Now, I'm trying to make amends:
- I got a spot at a summer school/internship at a very prestigious research institute.
- I'm going to create a technical blog where I can at least talk about my quick hacks and record my thoughts on trends.
- I've been trying to always have something going apart from working towards my degree: this summer, I'll be teaching a summer course.
- I've been trying to get international experience. The internship is abroad. I'm also going to be studying at Germany for the next semester at a pretty good university.
I'd like to take advantage of HN's userbase to ask for help:
Do you have any recommendations for me?
How can I groom myself for the top companies?
How can I become the very best?
Thanks in advance.
(note: throwaway account)
- coreygoodie 14y agoConsider answering questions on stackoverflow. I have nowhere near the schooling you do, and basically spend 30 minutes a day clicking through questions and just reading them - even though I can't answer, I'm finding it to be a valuable experience.
- RandomCharArray 14y agoHey, thanks for replying. I have a stackoverflow profile, and I do try to reply to questions, but my ratio of questions asked to questions answered is 6:1. That's because for me, as an intermediate programmer, most questions fall on one of these two categories: - Incredibly easy: Anyone can answer these. - Incredibly hard: Really above my skill level.
- coreygoodie 14y agoMore or less where I'm at, as well, so I don't have too much more advice :(. I've read all the books and done all the tutorials, so I'm strong on the easy, fundamental stuff but now I'm really not sure how to progress all that much further.
- AznHisoka 14y agoWhat problem do you want to solve in the world - big or small?
- RandomCharArray 14y agoShort answer: Big. Definitely.
- agrevelink 14y agoYeah just think about the problems and then find ways to solve them with what you know. Teach yourself what you don't know.
- thiagodotfm 14y agoYou are always here, where is your contact info?
- debacle 14y agoYou need to sacrifice to be the best. You will never be the best at $x if there's someone who is willing to give up more and focus harder than you.