My Most Important Blog Post Ever

Today’s blog post may not seem like something math or programming related, but of all things I’ve shared so far and will share, this is probably the most important.

That’s because it’s all about communication.

Yesterday I had an interview for a data analyst job. And after talking with recruiters over the last week, I have more interview schedules. Going through the interview process again for the first time in a while reminds me how important communication is in the Dorky World of Data.

Let me explain…

What intrigued me about math during college was the independent nature of it. And what’s drawn me into programming has been its independent nature too. I’m not afraid to work alone (like some people) and often enjoy it.

But I made a big mistake.

I assumed math was all about solving problems alone and that programming was about writing code on your own. But they’re not…

In math and programming, your goal is to communicate what you're doing with others. So no matter how much you love hiding in your dark room typing away at your keyboard, that won’t fly in the Dorky World of Data.

You’ve gotta focus on how effectively you communicate and always strive for improvement.

As much as I’d love to brag about being perfect, I’m not. I’m far from a world-class communicator. But what makes me successful is being willing and able to learn and improve.

That’s the difference between effective and ineffective communication.

Your mindset and attitude dictate your results.