Journey Echoes

Introduction

When I first started working with PowerShell, I’ll admit—I was curious but intimidated. The syntax looked strange, and I wasn’t sure how a few lines of text could replace hours of manual work. But as someone who loves working efficiently, I was determined to figure it out. Over time, what started as a curiosity turned into one of my strongest tools for solving problems and automating workflows.

In this article, I’ll share my journey from PowerShell beginner to automation expert, along with lessons I learned along the way. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your skills, I hope my story inspires and helps you.

The Early Days: Where It All Began

When I first encountered PowerShell, it wasn’t out of necessity—it was out of curiosity. I was managing repetitive IT tasks, like provisioning new users in Active Directory or troubleshooting Office 365, and I knew there had to be a better way than spending hours manually completing them. I’ve always enjoyed finding faster, more efficient ways to work, and after a quick Google search (because, let’s be honest, Google is my best friend), I stumbled upon PowerShell and its potential to automate small tasks.

My first attempts were far from perfect. I remember trying to create a simple script to scan account lockouts across various servers to determine the cause. Instead of success, I was greeted with endless errors that I couldn’t understand. It was frustrating, and I began questioning if I was even cut out for scripting.

But then I remembered advice from my Python professor, Tom Petz, who always said: Find a small sample of a script someone else has written and customize it to your needs. I decided to give that approach a try. I Googled, I researched, and I slowly started piecing things together. Bit by bit, it began to click.

First Lesson Learned:

"It’s okay to break things—as long as you learn from it."

Looking back, those early mistakes were crucial. They forced me to dig into error messages, search forums, and ask more questions (with a little help from my friend Google). I realized that breaking things wasn’t failure—it was part of the learning process.

Gaining Confidence: Small Wins Matter

Once I figured out my first script to scan account lockouts across servers, I realized how powerful PowerShell could be. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked, and that small win gave me the motivation to keep going without fear of causing major issues.

From there, I started applying PowerShell to other troubleshooting tasks, like using net user username /domain. (By the way, this command should be your best friend if you’re in your early stages in IT—it’s simple but effective for gathering essential details like account status, last logon, or password expiration dates.)

I also explored tasks like checking Active Directory replication or gathering user account details using: Get-ADGroupMember username | Select-Object Name One of the things I loved about PowerShell was its flexibility—you could manipulate it to retrieve exactly what you needed. With just a little creativity, it became a tool that worked for me instead of something to fear.

Each time a script saved me from hours of manual work or bypassed the frustration of waiting for AD to load, it reinforced why I wanted to learn PowerShell. Even small automations had a huge impact—not just on efficiency, but on reducing errors and improving consistency.

Second Lesson Learned:

"Don’t be afraid of PowerShell—it’s not scary, and it can become your most valuable asset."

If you’re new to PowerShell, take it slow. Experiment with small commands and build from there. Those small wins build confidence and set the foundation for tackling more complex challenges. Before you know it, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it.

The Turning Point: Embracing Complexity

As my confidence grew, so did my curiosity. I started taking on more complex challenges, pushing the boundaries of what I could achieve with PowerShell. One of my first major projects was automating the onboarding process in Active Directory. But I didn’t want it to be just any automation—I wanted it to include validation to prompt agents for specific information, ensuring error handling to catch invalid inputs that might conflict with policy or compliance requirements.

Once I got the hang of error handling and validation, I wanted to push myself even further. My next project was automating user provisioning in a hybrid AD environment. The workflow involved multiple steps: creating the on-prem AD user, syncing it to Azure AD, assigning Office 365 licenses, and setting up group memberships. It felt overwhelming at first, but I broke it down into smaller, manageable parts and tackled them one by one.

This project was a turning point for me. It wasn’t just about writing commands anymore—I needed to understand the logic behind them. Instead of relying solely on examples from online forums, I took the time to learn why certain commands worked the way they did. Debugging became less intimidating as I developed the ability to read error messages, trace the problem, and fix it.

The biggest moment came when the project was approved for use. I wasn’t asked to do these projects—I wanted to. It was a risk to spend months on something with the possibility it might be rejected for security concerns or internal policies favoring manual processes. But I took the leap anyway. A huge thanks to Alexander Brauer, who encouraged me to take the risk, even when the outcome was uncertain.

Third Lesson Learned:

"Don’t let fear of rejection stop you from taking risks. A completed project is never wasted—whether it’s approved or not, you’ve gained valuable experience and proven what you’re capable of."

This shift in mindset didn’t just make me better at PowerShell—it transformed how I approached challenges. Taking risks, solving problems, and creating solutions not only strengthened my technical skills but also made me a more proactive and innovative team member.

Becoming an Automation Expert

Over time, I transitioned from writing one-off scripts to building full automation solutions. Instead of focusing solely on completing tasks, I started designing tools that could scale, adapt, and be reused by others. This shift in mindset was a game-changer for me—it wasn’t just about solving problems; it was about creating efficiency that could benefit the entire team.

One of my proudest accomplishments was designing a multi-script toolkit for O365 account management. It automated processes like:

• Onboarding: Creating accounts, assigning licenses, and setting permissions.
• Offboarding: Disabling accounts, reclaiming licenses, and converting mailboxes to shared mailboxes for archiving.
• Compliance Reporting: Generating reports for audits, such as detailing active accounts, disabled accounts, and their locations within Active Directory.

These tools didn’t just save time—they improved consistency, reduced errors, and empowered my team to work more efficiently. Documenting these scripts was just as important as creating them, ensuring that the knowledge and solutions could be shared and reused across the team.

Looking ahead, I’m excited to take what I’ve learned and apply it to even bigger challenges. I’ve started focusing on projects beyond PowerShell, including building out my Azure Portfolio with workflows for hybrid identity management, advanced monitoring, and disaster recovery planning.

Fourth Lesson Learned:

"Automation isn’t just about saving time—it’s about creating solutions that empower teams and prepare for future challenges."

Documenting these tools was just as important as creating them. A well-documented script doesn’t just solve one problem—it creates a framework others can build on, ensuring knowledge and efficiency are shared across the team.

Advice for PowerShell Beginners

If you’re just starting your PowerShell journey, here are some practical tips that helped me along the way:

• Start Small: Focus on basic tasks like retrieving data or automating a single step. For example, try creating a script that pulls user information from Active Directory or lists inactive mailboxes in Office 365. Small wins build confidence.
• Leverage Resources: Use Google, Microsoft Learn, PowerShell.org, or even ChatGPT—let’s face it, AI is the new Google. These resources are invaluable for learning, troubleshooting, and finding inspiration.
• Test Before Running: Always use the -WhatIf and -Verbose parameters to see what a command will do before executing it. Testing can save you from costly mistakes.
• Embrace Debugging: Don’t fear error messages—they’re your guide to understanding what went wrong. Learn how to trace the issue and resolve it step by step. Debugging is where the real learning happens.
• Take Notes: Document your scripts. Include comments within the script and keep a log of what each script does, how it works, and any unique parameters. A well-documented script doesn’t just help you—it helps your team.

Encouragement:

"You don’t have to know everything—just take it one script at a time."

Conclusion

Looking back, my journey from PowerShell newbie to automation expert has been transformative. It’s taught me more than just technical skills—it’s taught me persistence, creativity, and the value of continuous learning.

PowerShell isn’t just a tool; it’s a gateway to innovation. Whether you’re automating workflows, solving problems, or exploring new possibilities, every small step you take will lead to greater opportunities.

If you’re new to PowerShell or looking to advance your skills, remember: every expert started as a beginner. Break things, ask questions, and keep experimenting. The possibilities are endless, and your future self will thank you for starting today.

— by Helen Najar, Lionheart