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This just in…
Hello!
I don’t actually need anything (even a reply!) but I wanted to thank you for your excellent Website in a Weekend.
It sounds like a joke, but I prefer to do things the hard way whenever possible because it usually ends up being the most interesting and instructive way to do it. I’m pretty confident about trying most things and usually a quick study, but I’m feeling pretty slow and stupid where this project’s concerned. The saving grace is your website which at least helps me break thing down into manageable, achievable target parts. It’s already been longer than a weekend, but I’m getting there!
Thanks,
M_____
…and my reply
Thanks so much for your encouraging words.
I have to admit I’ve severely burnt out on the blogger thing. So many people have the attitude “Just gimme the results so I can gets the monies.”
I’m not like that. I’m the A or F student. Blessing or curse, I seem to have to understand what it is I’m doing.
Which means I end up “doing it the hard way.”
I think it saves me time in the future though.
And I’m not the only one: http://learncodethehardway.org/.
My estimate is around 10-15% of people are “hard way” learners, and these are the people I want to speak to, to collaborate with, to be around. I hope you’re one as well.
Best,
Dave Doolin
Are you a hard way learner?
Most people aren’t, I don’t think. And that’s cool, even envious in many respects.
For those few of us who are, some words of encouragement.
You bring unique value. Not everyone needs or wants that value. Find the people who want it, need it, appreciate it. Let the others abide.
Stay the course! If it’s worth learning, it’s worth learning the hard way. Just be picky about what’s worth learning.
Take no criticism personally. Even when it is personal. Especially when it’s personal.
Have fun, enjoy life, and seek others on the hard road. We’ll travel together!
Dave,
I don’t think I choose to be a hard way learner. It just seems to turn out that way. And it’s not that I don’t find useful information to guide me. It’s just that I never know enough about where I actually want to go to get the complete story before I start. I don’t think that’s the kind of hard learner that you are but understanding other people has never been my strong suit.
It would be nice to understand the task before starting it but even when I believe that I understand, I soon learn that I don’t. Since I am already started, it means revisions, do overs and excuses.
It’s hard but not necessarily efficient and sometimes I end up somewhere else entirely which can be exciting or frustrating- sometimes both at the same time.
What’s your latest learn?
Ralph@Retirement Lifestyle´s last post ..Stepping up the Outrageous Scale
@Ralph – at the moment, Python, SQL and a working knowledge of statistics is on my plate. I’m not expecting mastery of any of these any time soon, but I will have to go pretty deep into the specific topical areas touched by the code and algorithm.
Revisions and do overs are part and parcel of my learning experience. Excuses don’t help, so I don’t make them.
Knowing where to end up is pretty important. It’s not supposed to be difficult, but the difference between what possible to envision and what’s possible to achieve can be wide. I’m unlikely to be an astronaut. But I *might* make enough spare change to get ride to suborbital on one of Branson’s little planes.
I could say more, and probably will, but not right now.
Just so you don’t go Major Tom on us.
ralph@retirement lifestyle´s last post ..Outrageous Retirement:Picking up the pieces
I think the hard way learners will never be the most successful they may be more so than the not want to devote anytime learner. I think that if there is two ways to the same goal why not take the easier path it just makes sense.
When you say “I think…” and “…easier path it just makes sense” you propose a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Taken to extreme, this leads to a tragedy of the commons, where everyone takes the “easy” path and destroys the ecosystem.
Comment spamming, for example, has led me to close all comments here on articles older than 30 days, and may shortly induce me to close comments completely.
Dave you are right most of the peoples use the same words that you have mentioned “Just gimme the results so I can gets the monies.”
What you suggest when peoples ask again and again for fast result?
Thanks for the post
Stuart
I suggest they get out their checkbook and commence to writing large checks made out to me.
I can deliver results fast, but not for free.