by Chris Spruck
I’ve always liked that title quote, although variations of this have often been attributed without proven sources to Samuel Clemens aka Mark Twain. Regardless of author, I still agree with the sentiment. There is so much knowledge and wisdom out there that you may not find or learn in a traditional classroom setting.
I discovered very early in my career, that it’s easy to find a “community” for any given topic (especially since the growth of the Internet), and this isn’t limited to just programming or technology. The meetup.com website is a great example. If you like dogs, cats, food, cars, or just about anything, you can search for a topic, and chances are, you’ll find a group of enthusiasts in your area who get together to discuss their favorite topics or participate in group activities, like hikes, wine tastings, and other social events. Groups can range from small numbers to hundreds of people and be quite casual or more formalized, with things like monthly guest speakers, membership dues, training opportunities, and more. In my experience as both a group leader and a participant, I’ve found that nearly everyone is friendly and willing to help or share their knowledge and experiences, whether it’s how to write more efficient programming code or where to find the best local hiking trails (and post-hike restaurants!). Don’t be afraid to widen your social circle and “find your tribe.”
Meetup groups are also good places to find mentors. Finding a mentor can be a great opportunity to get some simple coaching and a nudge in the right direction or a chance to gain in-depth understanding of a topic or skill, or anything in between. It can even become more like an apprenticeship if that kind of relationship develops.
If something less “social” is more your style, don’t forget to look into things like Continuing Education classes. If you’ve always wanted to learn photography, for example, but didn’t know where to start, a short class can be a great introduction and can help you decide if you’re satisfied with your simple point-and-shoot, or if you want to dive into a full DSLR camera and learn the nuances of exposure, shutter speed and f/stops.
Don’t overlook people in your own backyard, either. Perhaps that quiet, older guy down the street or in your church group used to work on the same kind of car that you have or has done years of carpentry, has the *perfect* tool that you need, and is happy to show you the five different ways he learned how NOT to adjust a carburetor or the pitfalls of adding steps to your back deck.
I’ve always felt that you can learn something from anyone and all you have to do is ask. Even if it’s someone with similar experience, they’ll probably have a different perspective than yours. Don’t forget to pay it forward and return the favor of sharing your knowledge, too! Chances are you’ll make new friends and learn something new along the way.
Chris Spruck is a Web Applications Developer for UWG|Online.
