Resources for the 2020 Quarantine Hustler
The pandemic times in 2020 have not been easy for anyone and I would like to shine a light on some resources I have been gathering throughout these times, most of them are free. The year is not over yet and there are so many cool resources we can make the most out of!
The links to all the resources are on the title with its name
Online courses
Before 2020, the idea of online courses always appealed to me, because of the potential benefits of upskilling at my own pace. However, each time I tried, I found it incredibly hard to complete any of the online courses I signed up for. As I suddenly came to the realization that most of my outside home plans were cancelled, I found my internal drive to not only pursue online courses again but also finish them. Here are some of the courses I enjoyed the most:
This was a special course by Stanford to teach 8,000 people stuck at home to learn how to code with Python. A great mix between individual and group work. Not sure if they’ll ever reopen it but might be worth checking out.
· Scrimba courses for front-end development:
I say courses because Scrimba has a lot of small courses that can teach you the basics for front-end development. What is particular about them is that it allows you to test your code as things are getting explained.
· Udemy’s From Zero to Mastery:
This course can give you a great foundation to start your journey to become a full-stack developer.
Probably the best intro to prioritization of activities if you are considering starting something.
· Lean Launchpad by Steve Blank:
Trust me, I thought I had seen enough Business Canvas for a lifetime, but this course was extremely useful when understanding the search for a Business Model in a startup setting.
Two pieces of advice on what worked for me in order to complete courses this time:
1. Have a project that you need the skills for and were you can immediately make use of the skills.
2. Make sure you have an accountability partner.
Podcasts:
As my time with people reduced, I started to spend more time on my own and I found a new appreciation for podcasts. Here is a list of some of my favorite podcasts in case you are searching for some jewels to add to your collection:
Reid Hoffman interviews all of the greatest entrepreneurial masters you could possibly think of.
Storytelling with relatable interviews to people building the future of tech.
Wharton MBA students interview a diverse crowd of fintech founders across the globe.
Amazing take to start up news in the MENA region, made by female powerhouse in MENA.
· EnContxto:
A place to stay in touch with the latest tech news in Latam.
Peruvian podcast shining a light into new efforts of digitalizing Latam.
Inspiring stories on entrepreneurial ventures led by women.
A podcast that takes you through the creative journey of artists when making a specific song.
Get your network on:
With limited opportunities to meet new people in real life, exploring online networks can help you connect with interesting people. Here are some ideas:
· Elpha:
I cannot complement this network enough. Elphas is where women talk candidly about tech and you can find a great community of women empowering women.
OpenIdeo is an amazing source for people to explore innovation projects within their own communities. Driven to create change at a local level, this community is full of very interesting individuals.
Make sure you still do things you enjoy:
Finally, some unrequired advice on things that I found enjoyable besides attempting to be productive in an unpredictable year. Because while it is important to make every year a growth opportunity; mental health and self-care always go first! Here are a couple of ideas:
· Go for walks around the block if you can
· Start a pinterest board with food ideas to cook
· Attend webinars to explore your interests
· Attend some classes of entirely different topics to your usual, whether it is an embroidery class or a cultural hacking class. Everything helps at some point.
Hope this helped in any way possible.
best,
Anais
