S.M.A.R.T. Goals for 2016
Whenever I study successful people, I learn that they define goals. Having goals written down helps to guide one’s decisions and actions into the right direction. Having ambitious goals make you grow. Sharing them with the world holds you accountable.
The acronym S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound. There is plenty of information on the Internet about that topic. Here are my S.M.A.R.T. professional goals for 2016.
Get More Traffic on this Website
I want to get more traffic on this website. In December 2015 I had 4,234 users on my website with a bounce rate of 86.48 %. In 2016, I want to attract 7,500 users and lower the Bounce Rate to 75%. The Bounce Rate is the percentage of single-page visits (i.e. visits in which the person left your site from the entrance page without interacting with the page). Users are individuals that have had at least one session within the selected date range including new and returning users.
There are many actions I can take to increase site visits, but I believe that the number one change I can do is to publish interesting and relevant content for my target audience on a regular basis. Specifically, this means that I shall publish one blog post per week that talks about something that helps my readership.
Adopt a Development Workflow with Docker
I don’t want this to be a technical article but let me briefly explain Docker. Docker is a technology that allows developers to create applications in isolated, standardized environments, called Containers. Those containers can run on top of a single linux-kernel as individual processes. The alternative I have used so far is running multiple instances of virtual machines. Not doing this comes with a bunch of advantages, but at the same time there is a steep learning curve to this new development workflow. I think this is as much explanation as I want to give at this moment.
I have never developed an application using a workflow with Docker. Therefore, my goal for 2016 is to build one application that goes into production using Docker.
Public Speaking as a Means to Communicate in a Professional Way
In 2013 and 2014 I was heavily involved in the Oxford Toastsmasters Club. I was serving as the Vice President of Membership and was even able to win the Area 54 Table Topic Contest. Since my mind was focused on other issues in 2015, I neglected my public speaking skills and activities. However, I must admit that I miss public speaking a lot. Being a skilled public speaker has numerous assets.
One of the benefits of being a good communicator as a technical person is the ability to explain technicalities to non-technical people in an understandable manner. Therefore my goal for 2016 is to join a Toastmaster club again, and to prepare and present 4 speeches on a technical topic that I will publish on this website.
Help More Women and Girls Become Developers
Being a good developer is not only beneficial for her, but also for the local and national economy. America faces an increasing need for technically skilled people. I am a strong believer in the importance of women playing an active role in our communities. Some studies have shown that the social impacts women have on their environments reach further, and are more sustainable, than those of their male counterparts. Whenever I have worked with women I felt that their different, often more balanced and emphatic approach to solving problems has helped all the stakeholders.
Therefore, my goal for 2016 is to help teach/promote women and girls who would like to become developers by becoming active in an organization that pursues that goal.