Recently, I’ve been reminded that my focus has always been first) empowering people with technology, and second) helping people learn the skills to get the job, not just any job, the best job they can can get (that they wish).
When I joke about web development (like Linus Torvaldz) not even being “development” at all — let alone “engineering” — it’s backed by the fact that I started in web development and continued to move into more substantial operations and actual software engineering roles. It’s not that I’m putting down all the people who do web design for a living, it’s more that so many of them are content to not reach any further, to remain one-trick ponies forever even though they are capable of so much more. The world needs more! Hence, “learn code, save the world.”
What comes off as “asshole” to some, is actually me placing greater expectations on those I work with because I know most of them can do much better than web development as a career, in fact, pretty much all of them.
🤬 By the way, try the military if you want to see just how “asshole”-y a mentor can be. No whiny, “find the most polite, coddling mentor you possibly can” snowflakes there, which is why I never went for it. It’s too much for me. But it does work for a huge number of people. Discounting that method is just stupid and irresponsible.
I’m not content helping people do just the minimum to get the job (unless they are literally starving and unemployed). I’m focused on their future, on building a solid base that will provide a technical foundation that will underpin everything they ever do from that moment on.
Like Mr. Miyagi teaching “wax on, wax off” to a naive Daniel-son who had to be rudely shown the reason why these mundane repetitions were required for his muscle memory, I focus first and foremost on the essentials, like terminal and bash scripting skills. No one gets a job just for these skills just like no rock star or concert pianist becomes known for their incredible ability to play scales with relaxed fingers in the proper position.
I prepare virtuosos, not buskers obsessed with polite mediocrity.
Tags:
#rants #education #learning #mentors