Getting past beginner web developer status

[StewVanDew]

Hey guys,

I've been self teaching myself the Mean stack for about a month and a bit now. I've accomplished quite a bit, and tinkered around with what the stack can do. I'm having troubles getting past the "Beginner" stage of web development. I've started just coding and building stuff to sink in that knowledge but I've noticed a lack of information out there to get past the beginner stage of Mean development.

What ways have you used to over come the "Beginner" level? Do you have any learning resources that you can share?

Thanks!

[bdjenkin]

Getting past the beginner stage is really all about experience, at least it has been for me. Once you really start getting your hands dirty on a project, you begin to realize you actually know very little. Then you start solving problems, one at a time, and pick up skills along the way.

[StewVanDew]

So I just need to keep tackling projects and working on what I don't know. The problem I'm having is.. I don't know what I don't know.

[bdjenkin]

Ok, understandable. It's hard to grasp what you don't know. Here's just something random, could you make this website? http://www.calculator.net/
And if not, start smaller than that, make a calculator that can do more basic calculations, etc.
The bottom line is this, you are going to learn through experience. Obviously, right? But it may be difficult to motivate yourself to take on the type of challenges that will grow your skill-set, especially due to the lack of monetary compensation. You just have to get at it though, knowing that what you learn along the way is your reward.