Self Development

Nikita Malyschkin

@nmalyschkin

Nikita Malyschkin

software architect by day

philosopher by night

 

Javascript / Python / C++ / more

 

Twitter / GitHub / Telegram

@nmalyschkin

Self Development

Accumulation of knowledge and skills

Why do we learn?

Constant deprecation of knowledge

Knowledge gets non-applicable

Language and framework features get disabled

New skills needed to do the same tasks properly

Can you think of examples yourself?

What does this mean for our self development?

The more you have the more you lose

The leaky bucket of knowledge

The more you know the more you have to learn to stay on the same level

Here in Wonderland you have to run as fast as you can to stay on the same spot. And to get somewhere you have to run twice as fast.

– Queen of Hearts,

Alice in Wonderland

Experience helps us stay on the same spot

We need active self development to get somewhere

4 categories of knowledge

1. Knowledge

Things that we know

2. Potential

Things that we know of but don't know right now

3. The Void

Things that we don't know that we don't know

4. Misconception

Knowledge that we think that we know but there actually is knowledge that we don't know that we don't know

Dunning-Kruger effect

1. Knowledge

2. Potential

3. Void

4. Misconception

importance of each category for developers

1. Knowledge

Our daily bread and butter

2. Potential

Knowing of possible solutions to new problems

Knowledge that can be learned on demand

3. The Void

We want to move knowledge away from here

4. Misconception

The main source of bugs
and inefficient code

Streams of learning

2. Potential → 1. Knowledge

classic learning, I decide to learn something and learn it

  • books
  • online courses
  • documentation
  • articles

3. Void 2. Potential

exploring new potential knowledge
 finding new skills to be learned

  • articles
  • conferences / meetups
  • chat rooms

4. Misconception​ 2. Potential

resolving misconceptions, preventing future mistakes

  • mistakes
  • self exploration
  • share experience
  • giving talks / writing articles

1. Learning

Potential → Knowledge

2. Exploring

Void → Potential

3. Resolving

Misconception → Potential

Words of caution

Don't get hung up on your potential learning!

The more you know
the more there is to learn

Having much to learn
is a sign of competence

Conclusion

Be aware of deprecating knowledge

Never stop investing
in self development

Exploring new knowledge and resolving misconceptions is
as important as learning itself

Don't let your potential demotivate you

Make self development a part of your daily/weekly schedule

Conclusion

  • be aware of deprecating knowledge
  • never stop investing in self development
  • exploring new knowledge and resolving misconceptions is as important as learning itself
  • don't let your potential demotivate you
  • make self development a part of your daily/weekly schedule

Backup

Einstein and his driver

Knowing
VS
Understanding

Knowledge as a
multi-dimensional entity

Self Development v2

By Nikita Malyschkin