#005 - 3/07/2024

Some thoughts about self-learning

This is something I care about a lot as I have considered myself a self-learner for a long time. I've studied all kinds of things, I have been baking my own bread since I was 20, I learned how to juggle when I was 18 or 19. I've also studied many languages (both natural and programming languages). For the past 3 or 4 years I've been learning a lot about Linux systems. I've even taught my self about trading of stocks and cryptocurrency.

Although, I do recognize that I have been much more succesful in some areas than in others. For example, in baking, I managed to run a semi-succesful business out of that for about 5 years. In programming however, I've tried for years, many different languages, methods, approaches, I did almost learn enough of HTML/CSS/Javascript to be able to work as a freelancer web-developer for while, but I only really had a couple of very small projects. As for the linux stuff, I've never really thought of it as a career, more of a hobby, but there are some periods when my motivation goes up and I do start thinking all kinds of things. But then it goes down again.

And it's kind of like that with all the programmimg/IT/Linux stuff, the hype goes up for a while, and then down, and up and down, and so it has been for the past 10 or 12 years. And even though I try to convince myself that I really don't care, because I just do it for the brain exercise —it's true, for the most part—, it does get frustrating when I feel stuck and that's when the motivation usually starts going down. Then sometimes I completely forget about it for months and when I try to take it up again I've forgotten most of what I had learned. I'm always in a state of false-beginner

So here's one thing I've learned after all these years of ups and downs with the things that have worked and the things that haven't:

Consistency

It's all about consistency. Nothing else matters, not nearly as much. It doesn't matter if you have the newest and most revolutionary method, or read all the best books. If you are not consistent you'll never get very far.

And how do I get consistency?

Easier said than done, of course, but the key is quite simple: make it a part of your life, not just a project for your spare time.

At least I think that is what's made all the difference in the things where I have reached a higher and more persistent level of proficency. And I'm trying hard right now to do just that with my latest bout of enthusiasm for programming/Linux/IT related learning. I hope one day soon to be able to do that as a career. But who knows, I might be all wrong.