Hi ,

JFokus is just a few days away, and I wanted to tell you about something new this year that I think could be valuable for many of you.

It's called the Mentorship Hub. Register at: http://jfokus.se

The concept is simple. Speakers, open source developers, authors, and Java Champions have reserved dedicated time slots to meet with conference participants. One-hour conversations where you can discuss whatever matters most to you right now.

Why does this matter?

Let me share something from my own experience. For years, I felt stuck as a senior developer. I could not see a way forward. I did courses, went to conferences, read all the right blogs. But something was missing.

Then I started working with a mentor. The difference was immediate.

A mentor doesn't just share information you could find in a blog post or YouTube video. They help you see yourself more clearly. They ask the questions you haven't thought to ask. They've already made the mistakes you're about to make and can help you avoid them.

Here's what I've learned about what a good mentor conversation can give you:

Clarity on direction. We often know we want to grow but can't articulate where. A mentor can help you identify specific goals and the steps to reach them.

Accountability. It's easier to get things done when you tell someone your plans and they check in on you. A mentor can help fight the procrastination we all use as an excuse when things get hard.

Learning from experience. A mentor's insights come from real projects, real failures, real successes. They can share things you won't find in textbooks or documentation. When I had mentoring sessions with experienced developers, they shared practical knowledge that completely changed how I approached problems.

Stretching your boundaries. A good mentor will challenge you to explore areas you haven't considered. They might introduce advanced concepts or encourage you to tackle projects that push your skills to new levels.

Expanding your network. Mentors often have broad professional connections. A single introduction can open doors to opportunities you didn't know existed.

Confidence. Perhaps most importantly, a mentor helps you see the potential you might not see in yourself. They've been where you are. They remember what it felt like. And they can show you that the path forward is more accessible than you think.

I used to believe that speakers and well-known community members were unapproachable. That they wouldn't want to talk to someone like me. I was completely wrong. Most of them go to conferences specifically to meet new people. They want to help. They remember their own journey.

The Mentorship Hub creates dedicated space for exactly these conversations.

What could you discuss?

Based on our survey and conversations with developers, here are topics that

come up often:

• Career advancement beyond senior developer
• Getting started with conference speaking
• Contributing to open source
• Navigating the AI transformation in our industry
• Building visibility in the community
• Technical architecture decisions
• Work-life balance and avoiding burnout

Or something completely different. The conversation is yours.

Limited spots available

These sessions will fill up. If you're attending JFokus, I encourage you to register for the Mentorship Hub early.

Go to http://jfokus.se to sign up.

One conversation with the right person at the right time can shift your entire trajectory. I've seen it happen. It happened to me.

Don't miss this opportunity.

See you at JFokus,

Markus