Drupal is an open source content management system (CMS) that began as a college bulletin board. It has been in development since 2001 and is driven by an ever-growing community. Some key benefits of Drupal include its free and open source nature, powerful and flexible platform, clean URLs, and ability to customize functionality. The document provides tips for getting involved with the Drupal community through roles like contributing modules, event organizing, or starting a Drupal company. It outlines 10 steps for advancing one's career in Drupal, including getting involved, being open to feedback, and learning from both successes and failures.