The 9 Rules That Keep Me Honest and Focused in Data Engineering
The 9 Rules That Keep Me Honest and Focused in Data Engineering
The Framework of Focus For Data Folks
I’ve lost my way a few times in my career, and I’ve seen others get lost too. They drift out to sea and don’t see the shore for months, and for some, it’s years — or never at all. Maybe it happens to everyone once in a while.
Maybe it doesn’t.
What I’ve learned in my career is this: it’s nobody else’s responsibility to snap you out of your career rut. YOU are the only one who can do anything about it.
If you want to change your story, you need to change your actions. We become what we do, and if what we do is the same thing we do every day, then nothing is going to change.
For me, getting lost is not an option anymore. I have people depending on me, and what’s more, I owe it to myself to stay honest, keep going, and stay focused. That’s how I slingshot myself forward.
If you’re feeling lost, you’re not alone, although it may feel like it. You’re just like everyone else out there. I’ve written 9 rules that keep me honest, keep me in check, and focused.
1 — Take Action
Man, it’s so easy to coast. Procrastination is king, and distractions are everywhere. You know what you need to do. You probably have a goal, a deadline, or something you want to get done. And the only way to make it happen is to do it. ‘Just do it.’ There’s a reason that tagline is so popular, because everyone knows they should ‘do it,’ but most people rarely do.
Take action and make things happen. No one will do it for you.
2 — Ask Questions
Never regret asking questions to get more clarity. If you’re stuck, ask. If you need help, ask. Far too many data engineers suffer in silence, struggle, or make assumptions, when all they need to do is ask more questions. Nobody is so wise that they can’t be undone by their own assumptions. Speak up.
3 — The 60-minute Rule
I don’t have time to learn. I don’t have time to upskill. Wrong. You do; you just don’t want it bad enough and it’s easier to make up an excuse than find time. Everyone can find 60 minutes in the week to upskill. Instead of scrolling for hours on your phone, you could be productive and learn something new. Write up a blog post. Pick up a new skill, or just do more work. If you don’t have time, make time. Find 60 minutes in the week to level yourself up.
4 — Growth is Lonely
When you start pushing yourself to be better than the ‘average Joe,’ you quickly realize that you’re in a lonely place. Why? Because most people don’t push themselves. They’re stuck on TikTok and Instagram or binge-watching the latest pointless thing on Netflix, doing the same things they’ve been doing for years. Growth is a lonely place when you step outside the normal and start pushing yourself.
5 — Scary is Good
The things you are scared to do are the ones you need to do. There are tons of things I don’t know how to do as a Data Engineer. Do I let that stop me? Nope, and neither should you. The best way to learn is to do the scary stuff, the things that take you out of your comfort zone. You learn best by doing and by struggling. What’s hard now, becomes easy with time.
6 — A Little Extra
The difference between average and good is just a little bit extra. The ‘average Joe’ is average because he’s procrastinating or, worse, just plain lazy. It doesn’t take much to get ahead as a Data Engineer; all it takes is doing a little bit more than most people. That means (for example) picking up the tasks no one wants to do or finding time to upskill yourself. If you open your eyes, you will see opportunities to do a ‘little extra’ everywhere.
7 — Listen to Learn
Listen more than you speak. If you’re starting out as a Data Engineer or if you're an old hat at this game, listening more than speaking is a secret weapon. People nowadays spend far too much time trying to be heard, when they should just be listening. You learn more, connect more easily with people, solve problems, and truly understand. This means better relationships with your team and the folks you interact with.
8 — Plan Ahead
It’s the old saying: a goal without a plan is just a dream. Planning is key. It’s the glue to everything. As a data engineer, you cannot wing this stuff. You have to plan and plan well, both for the projects and tasks you do and for your personal growth. Get good at planning. Organize your life. Never walk into projects without a plan.
9 — Slow Down to Go Fast
Mistakes happen when you go too fast. When you rush. When you don’t plan (see above). When you work with data, you need safe hands. You need to think through everything you do. You cannot just dive headfirst into things and hope for the best. ‘Slow down to speed up,’ is what an old manager of mine used to say. Going slow gives you the time to work a problem, to think of all possible outcomes, to see problems before they happen. The slower you go, the better data engineer you will be.
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