An important consideration must be made for compounds similar to the one shown above. If two rings are connected with one of the rings forming exocyclic alkenes relative to the ring of interest (which is the 6-membered ring containing the heteroatom/nitrogen atom, or heterocycle, here) that are separated by a single bond, then the single bond can be considered as an alkene that contributes to the conjugated pi system and number of pi electrons in the ring of interest. Applying this concept to the structure shown above makes the heterocycle have 6 pi electrons (the lone pair on the nitrogen does not count towards the number of pi electrons since they are localized), thus making the heterocycle and subsequently the entire compound be considered aromatic. This concept is based on the resonance that can occur involving the exocyclic pi bonds where one bond contributes to the formation of a carbocation and the alkene simultaneously while the other bond forms a lone pair on the carbon (carbanion) not involved in the ring of interest, so we are simply recognizing and accounting for resonance like we have been doing for delocalized lone pairs in the non-inclusive steric number calculation but now in terms of pi bonds that can participate in resonance.