5 (non)obvious ways to boost your career

Read along as Sebastian Denis, Senior Software Engineer, 7N Consultant, and Consultant Development Mentor shares his insights on navigating a successful career in IT.

Feeling stuck in your IT career? Most of us hit that phase at some point. It’s a challenging place to be - feeling lost and unsure of the next steps. After many years in IT, I know this feeling well. Sometimes, the usual advice just isn’t enough. That’s why I wrote this article: to share five unconventional ideas that helped me transform my own path. Hopefully, these insights can offer the fresh perspective you need to reignite your career journey.

1. Let yourself get inspired (by the right stuff)

“Every day stand guard at the door of your mind, and you decide what goes into your mental factory. Don’t let anybody just dump anything they want into your mental factory, because you’ve got to live with the results.” - Jim Rohn

Years ago, I realized that the content I consumed had a direct impact on my growth. It was a simple, easily implementable, yet essential change: to stop consuming mindless content and start feeding my mental factory with valuable insights.

Suddenly, even long commutes became opportunities. I began using that time to absorb content I found meaningful - self-development, startups, happiness, and more. This conscious shift in what I consumed sparked a fresh perspectives on what was happening in my life. I was inspired. One book led to another, and eventually, I found myself deeply influenced by Jim Rohn, a person who has had a lasting impact on both my career and life.

3. Awaken your hunger for change

Jim Rohn famously said, "For things to change, you have to change." But how do you make that shift?

The key to change is desire - hunger for something more. I've experienced this firsthand, and I’ve learned how to ignite it within myself. Hunger is essential for growth and change, and it's something you can intentionally cultivate.

An effective way to do this is by actively pursuing new experiences. When you travel, take a long holiday, and live out your dream life for a while, returning to reality often reignites that hunger. Reading stories of success and realizing that anyone can achieve it fuels that desire even more. And when you commit to small changes, see results, and taste success, it naturally drives you to want more.

Desire often arises from unexpected sources, so stay curious and engaged.

Hunger/Desire -> Change

4. Serve the community

In IT, your career is often defined by the portfolio you build. Starting early is important, but creating a compelling portfolio can be challenging. Determining what to work on, attracting an audience, and showcasing the significance of your contributions can feel overwhelming.

I found a simple solution: community. Whether you create one or join an existing group, giving your time and sharing your expertise with others can be transformative.

Here are a few ways to start:

• Contribute actively to open-source projects
• Share knowledge at meetups
• Create your own meetups or groups
• Offer pro bono services

A pivotal moment in my own career was founding a Google Developers Group in my small home town a few years ago. Teaching others is one of the most powerful ways to solidify your knowledge while forming meaningful relationships with people who can inspire you and positively influence your journey.

Show your work and give back to the community—it can open doors you never expected!

5. The Law of Averages

Some fundamental principles shape our world, and I wish I had learned them sooner. One of the most impactful is the Law of Averages, which has boosted everything to which I’ve applied it.

Simply put, the Law of Averages suggests that “if you do something often enough, you’ll get a ratio of results.” This is especially relevant when you’re trying something new and want to shorten the learning curve: “make up in numbers what you lack in skill.”

This year, while learning to surf in Hawaii, I saw this law in action. Surfing is challenging, and watching experienced surfers patiently wait for the perfect wave made me realize it would be a long journey. So, instead of waiting for the ideal wave, I embraced every possible opportunity - good or bad. While others might have tried ten waves in a session, I aimed for fifty. Exhausted but determined, my strategy paid off.

The same principle helped me when I grappled with a fear of public speaking. To conquer this challenge, I began giving talks at local meetups. Progress was slow, so to speed things up, I started a Google Developers Group and regularly took the stage as a speaker. After delivering ten presentations, I became significantly more confident in my public speaking abilities.

You can apply the Law of Averages to almost anything. Want to get better at job interviews? Practice more of them. Want to improve your skills? Create more projects. Want to be better at communication? Attend more meetings. In the beginning, don’t focus too much on the outcome - focus on the numbers. The results will follow.