Ask that "dumb" question!
The best advice I've received when I started my career in tech.
Konnichiwa 🌸 ⛩️ / Hello everyone 👋,
Hope you're enjoying cooler weather wherever you are! I'm writing this article from Tokyo, where it's a toasty 37 degrees Celsius...🌡️
Wandering the vibrant streets of Tokyo a few days back, I found myself reflecting on my journey – how I arrived at this point, both professionally and personally. Then, a memory surfaced – the best advice I ever received when I embarked on my tech career.
Fresh out of my internship and diving headfirst into my first developer role at a Danish company, I was slammed with challenges. Imposter syndrome was with me on daily basis, and every time I encountered a roadblock, the feeling of inadequacy intensified.
My first developer task turned into a marathon, taking way longer than expected. During the post-mortem with my managers, a golden advice appeared: 'Ask that dumb question.' It would have taken me way less time to solve the problem if I would have asked the questions I had instead of struggling all by myself to find the right solution. It was liberating…
Ever since, I've prioritised asking for help, even when my questions feel silly. More often than not, simply voicing the problem leads to the solution or to that “aha“ moment, sometimes even before my colleagues offer a full answer.
This story isn't just mine, it's yours too. As developers, we all face roadblocks. But here's the secret rule: never hesitate to ask questions and seek feedback. Embrace all the answers, learn from them, and watch your coding journey become smoother and more successful.
Until next time 💜!