In my senior year at the University of Oregon I have been wearing a few different hats in the advertising department where I am earning my degree. I am a “digital consultant” to different groups in and out of the school. I am the “Interactive Producer/Planner” in other facets. On my own I am a Web Application Developer. I have come to learn quickly that there is little room for your head when wearing all these different hats.

A professor and adviser of mine gives me many of these titles, helping me to define my place and where I fit in professionally. This is frustratingly terrific. It helps me realize my skills, but cripples me in refining individual ones. Not saying that any of this is bad, but when you don’t quite know what you do and other keep naming you other things, you better be ready to tackle them all.

Along with the work I do for various groups I have started my own project and set a very ambitious deadline of late February (I don’t want to divulge the exact date, it might give the project away). This project is the next in my series that started with PackMapr. PackMapr went so well and was so well received that I figured I was on to something and aught to try it again. This project is exponentially more complicated, sophisticated, usable and hopefully impressive.

With all this how does one manage their time? I started thinking about this when a friend looking over my shoulder as I was writing PHP asked how I learned it. I responded “you want to learn PHP?” she said “No, I want to know how YOU learned to do that.” I smirkingly responded “Well, lose some friends, find a lock for your door, buy a comfy chair for your desk and start reading. Open your computer and surf and read and read and surf.” She seemed unimpressed. But that mere conversation lead me to discover that my learning process has taught me an invaluable lesson in time management. Sit down and do it.

I cant procrastinate on any project or that project inevitably dies. Either because it doesn’t get done or is done poorly due to a lack of time. So my advise to my colleagues, and everyone else out there. Find that motivation and just sit down and do it. Because of my work ethic I take no pity on those pulling all nighters and scrambling at the last minute. These lessons in life always seem to come without cause or reason, that gives them the most effect.