How to build your skill project

Learning is an iterative process, it evolves step by step using early knowledge for later understanding.

But the thing is, there are several stages that are involved in this process:

When you simply don't know what you don't know
When you know what you don't know
When you know what goal to achieve but you need time to achieve it
When you start this process over again.

A mentor can help you to speed up the process of discovering those "missing dots" in your professional career. You can read which questions ask a mentor here: 10 Questions to ask a mentor

Then, you just need to be focus and methodic. You can create a checklist made of steps that can be manageable and with achievable goals well described in it.

This post address a real-world example you may use to help you in the learning process.

Defining the project's scope

Choose skills you're genuinely interested in.
Tie the chosen skill to a concrete outcome.
Make a list of resources needed.
Designate project session days.
Visualize who you want to become.

Make a list of skills you want to have or ones you want to improve, cross out the ones you think you "should do" and with the ones remaining, which ones are you excited to work on for a well-delimited time?

Be market-oriented: what's the intersection of what you are good at and what the world will pay for? Set a goal accordingly.

Perform an initial assessment: What kind of support or steps do you need to start this project? (courses, mentoring, personal mindset, you name it).

Be realistic!:

How much time are you willing to dedicate to this project to get the results you want?
When do you usually have free time?

Depending on your answers above set a strict schedule, which days of the week and time you will work on your project.

And finally:

Who do you want to become through this skill project?

With these definitions in hand, you will be able to start "the learning process" effectively.

Implementing and following through your project

What times or chunks will you work on your project per week to reach the goals you've set?
Mark it on your calendar accordingly
Do 10 minute weekly check-ins.
Reassess your resources list.
Finish your skill project with a showcase review.

Where do you need to be at end of week 1, at the end of week 2, and so, to reach your goal at the end of the month?

Define times or chunks you will work on your project per week to reach the goals you've set. Mark it on your calendar accordingly

Control yourself: schedule time at the end of each week to check-in with your project on any changes you need to make for next week

Supervise yourself: What additional support would be helpful for you? Is there anything you can add to your environment to support you in accomplishing your goals?

Be agile: Is there anything that would be helpful to subtract from your environment?

Evaluate yourself: What went well? What did you learn? What would you do differently next time?