Being a part of the Global MVP network, has had several positive impacts on my self-development. Besides some evident benefits, like getting acquainted with outstanding influencers, participating to Product Group Interactions or having access to learning platforms, there are some personal reasons why I am grateful to be an MVP.
Firstly, this nomination allowed me to be become a better engineer. It is quite common to a software developer to learn something new while working on a particular task. Not surprisingly, if the task has been resolved it is no longer practiced, and without practice this skill gets quickly forgotten. As the proverb says: "Easily earned money is quickly spent". However, having a habit of publishing everything you have learnt, providing your audience with detailed tutorials makes you dive deeper into the domain, carefully document your code and well structure your newly acquired knowledge.
Secondly, being an MVP made me a better communicator. It affirmed my conviction that there is no such thing as a little step. It showed me that every single effort makes a significant impact on your future. Little, everyday steps will take you to the success you desire. Last year I could hardly imagine that my responses on stackoverflow or short articles on AI development or short presentations on local events could bring me here. Thus, I am convinced in the fact that small steps matter, an I should keep it this way.
And finally, all these community contributions make me, step by step, a better person. Writing clean code, preparing a clear documentation or making a good-looking presentation is simply a way to show the community that you CARE. As Michael Feathers once said : "Clean code always looks like it was written by someone who cares". Indeed, MVPs have taken time to prepare a great article, they have paid appropriate attention to details, they have cared.
Undoubtedly, all the great things mentioned above may be done without being an MVP. But nevertheless, it is impossible to underestimate the importance of your surrounding. Being surrounded by enthusiasts, people who care deeply about the craft and do not hesitate to generously share their knowledge with the world, significantly multiplies all the positive effect of your efforts, thus making you closer to what you dream about.