[verdverm]

- learn to break things, git affords you a place to do this (XR will for the masses in domains we haven't considered this idea yet. I'm largely all in on the HL2 right now)

- try out as many projects as you can, specifically the k8s ecosystem as this is where most efforts are orbiting

- learn bash, it's an automation super power. Keyboard shortcuts too, make lots of scripts, aliases. People perceive wizardry when you move around code / computer at 2-5-20x the speed they do. Also, use the mouse as little as possible

- learn people skills (lots here), there are many discussions here you can find by search. Also consider business (startup ideas around iteration and get-to-market-fast ). Most elite devs keep the biz context in mind and that's part of what makes them special.

- keep all you things in something like GitHub, it becomes a bit of a library or archive for projects, and also I a resume / portfolio

* This all depends on the elite type of dev you are referring to