Sharing the knowledge
Just a short rant - I find it that quite an amazing number of specialists (developers/designers) isn’t curious about their job and tools they use.
I know lots of people which are too busy working, that they don’t have the time/interest in reading e.g. webdesign magazines (thinkvitamin.com!).
I think it might be the Long Tail I’m talking about, but I always thought that our profession requires constant learning and studying, and promotes curiosity.
If that’s the case - it’s very safe to publish your “tricks of trade” online, because your competition won’t find them anyway - not because they’re well hidden - but because they’re too preoccupied with their “Today” instead of “thinking about Tomorrow”.
That’s the secret of popularity of people like Seth Godin or Guy - they aren’t afraid to share their insight, and people tend to appreciate them for it - even if they don’t agree with everything they have to say.
I have to admit, I find it much easier to follow blogs than reading books, I think the sign of times is - I can actually find Good Content! And learn through the process - I agree, the knowledge IS only partial, but let’s face it - who has time to systemise our whole life? Learning incrementally bit by bit from different areas is so painless that you just can’t dismiss it.
And when you have some newly adapted knowledge - then it’s time to Soak…