How Can I Start Thinking Like a DevOps and Cloud Engineer?

It's all part of the process, really! DevOps thinking comes from experience. Try to automate tasks you do repeatedly—that’s the essence of DevOps. At the same time, document your learning, participate in discussions, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Gradually, you’ll move from just following along to actually understanding and creating solutions.

Totally get the imposter syndrome. The trick is to embrace it as a growth opportunity. You might want to join DevOps communities—like Slack or Discord groups—to discuss issues with peers and gain real-world insights. You can also simulate project environments through hackathons or personal projects. Dive in without the crutch of AI at first; that way, you’ll push your critical thinking and problem-solving skills!

First off, it's great that you've got those certifications! But remember, they don't make you a DevOps engineer; experience does. Start by getting your hands dirty with real projects—this could be anything from automating a personal task to contributing to open-source projects or building a home lab. Shadowing more experienced colleagues or engaging with them in discussions can boost your understanding too. It's all about solving problems and learning by doing!

Don't fall into the trap of relying too much on AI or tutorials. Use them as a guide, but focus on building stuff yourself. The real learning happens when you tackle issues head-on without shortcuts. Identify a specific problem in your environment or even make one for yourself to solve. Each challenge will solidify your understanding and help you build the intuition you need.