Having a clear objective
Community participation is a special career activity, and takes time and effort over the long term. The only way for your participation to succeed in the long run is if it aligns with your career objectives. You should not try to participate in communities just for short-term, selfish benefits. That seldom works.
The more clarity you have on how your community participation aligns with your long-term goals – with what you want to achieve for yourself in your career – the more you can align what you do and the community you participate in. This will give you all the more reason to be helpful, participate, and be consistent, even when required to put your own personal time into it. Ultimately, this clear objective allows you to grow in your career.
Whether your objective for attending user group events is to learn more about a technology, develop your leadership skills, network with more people, find a mentor, find a job opportunity, or just...
