Hello again! Let's talk about goals.

If you could go back in time and offer advice to your younger self, what would it be? For me, I would demonstrate to my younger self the importance of setting goals and working towards them.

Growing up, I wasn't particularly ambitious, so embracing a new career and learning how to create—and stick to—an action plan has been challenging. It has required a lot of self-reflection, honesty with myself, and time.

To be honest, I'm still not the best at it, but I suppose that's why I'm here, writing this post. So, let's dive into the real "meat and potatoes" of today's topic.

My goals for the rest of 2024

CompTIA A+ Certification

The first step into tech for many people. This certification covers the basics of hardware, troubleshooting, virtualization and cloud computing, and more. Divided into two exams, you must pass both within a year of taking the first exam to earn the certification.

When I began studying for this, I realized I was quite comfortable with several topics. However, some areas that I had less experience with, such as networking, virtualization and cloud computing, and even troubleshooting (to an extent) have required more focus on my part.

I will be taking the first exam (220-1101 (Core 1)) on May 25th and the second exam (220-1102 (Core 2)) on July 27th.

Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what initially drew me to "The Cloud," apart from hearing it was a good idea. Sure, it's been around for a while, but it also seems like the way forward. There are also a variety of roles in the field, so I see it as a challenge I'd like to undertake to discover what I enjoy and where I fit. That being said, fundamentals are the first step to learning anything!

As for the big three, I'm sure you already know them: AWS, Azure, and GCP. It seems like learning any of these will help you get your foot in the door, but I am enjoying Microsoft's Learn platform. In addition to that, I've enjoyed learning from and watching content by some Azure advocates like GPS and Corey Knapp, also known as the Big Bald Azure Guy.

I plan to take this exam by the end of May.

Learning a Programming Language

When I think of tech, my mind immediately jumps to programming. Again, I'm not entirely sure why, but I envision myself as a developer when I think about my future. I have dabbled in the early stages of several languages so far, such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Go, Python, C#, and SQL.

I'd like to focus on one and reach the point where I can create my own projects with it. I am currently trying to decide between Python or C#. Each would serve me well, but I am leaning towards C#. While Python has numerous libraries dedicated to various tasks, I am really drawn to C# and the .NET Framework as a whole. The ability to pivot and use Blazor for web apps, for example, or to make cross-platform applications for Windows, Mac, and Linux with .NET MAUI, is particularly appealing.

I have no doubt I will learn Python as well at some point, but focusing on one for now will benefit me more than jumping between multiple languages.

Stretch Goals?

CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA

During a conversation with the aforementioned Big Bald Azure Guy, Corey mentioned that either of these certifications would be a solid addition to the A+ and the AZ-900 that I am already working towards. While these were already on my radar, having them recommended by a trusted source who has been working in the field for a long time feels great.

Either of these will help fill the gaps in my knowledge and hopefully begin opening doors to bigger projects that I can tackle. I'm looking forward to challenging myself once we get there.

How do we achieve these goals?

It's amazing how much content is available (and still being produced today) about the A+ certification. Practice exams, Professor Messer, The Bearded IT Dad, and many others I'm sure I'm not mentioning at this moment. The same goes for content about the AZ-900, and I'm sure the Network+ and the CCNA. However, all the resources in the world won't help if you can't make time to focus on learning.

I work Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. This leaves ample time to dedicate to studying. My ideal week looks like this:

• Monday - Tuesday: Study 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

• Wednesday: Study 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Big Bald Azure Guy Livestream 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• Thursday: Study 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Game Night 9:00 PM - 11:00 PM

• Friday: Off

• Saturday: Study 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, take a break, then study until 4 PM or 5 PM. Relax for the rest of the night.

• Sunday: Study for a bit in the afternoon, but also allow yourself the day off if needed.

Is every day or week ideal? Far from it, but I try to allow myself ample downtime in addition to working and studying most days. I've found that allowing myself some flexibility works best for me, as long as I am still making progress.

Side note: The Pomodoro Technique has been amazing for my productivity and focus. I highly recommend trying it if you haven't! There are plenty of websites/apps to help, but I've been using one I stumbled across on X (Twitter).

That's it, folks!

If you've read this far, thanks! If not, no worries. Again, these posts are really just for me and to keep me accountable, but if someone gains something from my musings, even better. If you have any tips or want to share how you like to set and achieve your goals, feel free to share!

Until next time. Bye, everybody!