This has been mostly true for me. I wouldn’t have expanded my skillset if I didn’t try to do things that I previously thought was complex or complicated. And there are times that the complications are restrictions on what you can do and use on a project. To overcome the complications, I do some research and end up finding new and most of the time better ways to do things. I wouldn’t know most of the awesome things I know now if I gave up on doing something just because it’s complicated.

esbueno:

Doing is taken from the phrase, “learn by doing”.

DOING

If you want to grow as a developer and expand your skillset, then take on a challenging project that is over your head.  Here is a client scenario:

Client: Can we get that really complex thing that you don’t know how to do?
You: Sure, we can do that.
Phone call ends.
You: Crap, how are we going to do that.

I have found that my personal skillset has grown leaps and bounds when faced with similar situations. The motivating thing is, 90% of the time, the challenge is easily conquered with a little research and thought.