Too often, when we get rooted in our projects, we become very self-centered in our work. We forget there are people just like us struggling in the exact same way. We begin to convince ourselves that our way is the only way and, creatively, we can shut down very quickly under the weight of our workload. The panic, stress, and insecurity all lead us to not put our best work out there and, what’s more, to not share our work in pursuit of improvement and feedback.

In this session you will explore an individual case study turned confessional in which the presenter realized he did everything mentioned above (and then some), and the benefits and value he realized when he changed his approach to professional development. You will discuss the benefits of coming out of your cave and opening up via membership in professional organizations. By attending this session you will discover simple steps that can lead to amazing benefits, both professionally and personally.

In this session, you will learn:

• The importance and benefits of membership in a professional organization
• The importance and benefits of being involved and active, professionally, via social media
• The limitations you may be experiencing without even realizing them
• That community is key to professional development

Audience:
Novice designers, developers, project managers, managers, and directors.