Imagine a professional basketball player. Their "job" is to play in games. But what do they do between games? They practice. They watch game tapes. They study nutrition. They work with coaches to improve their free throws. They do everything they can to stay at the top of their game. They know that if they only show up for the games, their skills will quickly atrophy, and they will be left behind.

The best tech professionals think the same way. Their "project work" is the game. But their commitment to their craft is demonstrated by what they do between projects—how they "sharpen the saw." The industry moves too fast to rely solely on on-the-job training. A commitment to continuous, self-directed learning is not a "nice-to-have"; it's a core requirement for long-term success.

Your answer to this question reveals whether you view your role as just a 9-to-5 job or as a professional craft that you are passionate about honing.

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