The Eternal Noob

Photo courtesy of Thomas Hawk

Do you ever feel that you are always relearning the same thing?

I love to start new development projects during my off time. It gives me a chance to learn new things, to try new techniques, and keep me involved with the latest technology. Being in the specialty field I’m in at my job, I don’t always get to experience the new hotness in the tech world. So when I get some free time, I often dust off the ol’ text editor and kick the tires on an idea that I’ve had or crank through a new book to learn something new.

While I have the opportunity to apply a lot of the techniques and knowledge in my day job, I never really get to use the newest stuff. So, when it comes to the new “good stuff”, I’m just a hobbyist. I’m ok with being a hobbyist.

The problem is that I live the standard life of the patriarch of a young American family. I happily support my wife so she can stay hoe with our two young kids. I aspire to do great things in my career to continue supporting my family. And more importantly, I aspire to be a great father and husband. This leaves a shortage of time to be a consistent hobbyist.

Why am I talking about this, well I am right now in the middle of relearning the same thing I learned three months ago, which was when I relearned it from 6 months prior to that.

I’m stuck in an infinite loop of noob-dom.

I am really eager to take an idea I have and put it down on paper (well, not really paper, but you get the meaning). So I went out and researched the latest web framework craze. I’m familiar with a few, but I had never really done much more than look at the 15 minute quickstart. So I learn it. I do great work and make good progress in the 30 minutes, every other night, a couple of times a week I have for a month or two… and then life takes over: Important work project. Sick kids. Staying fit.

Fast forward three months, when things settle down, let’s start again. “Ok, where was I? What was that again? Oh they’ve release a new version, ok I can learn that… well just let me start from scratch, it’ll probably be easier.” In the 30 minutes, every other night, a couple of times a week over the next month, I feel like I get my head wrapped back around the problem. and then boom: Important work project. Sick kids. Staying fit (barely).

It feels like an infinite loop.

But here I am again, back in the mode where I’m eager to learn. Eager to start again. Eager to do great things. But this time, I’m keeping a journal. Maybe this time will be different. I know the busy cycle is just around the corner, but maybe this time, I can keep a consistent pace. Break the cycle of being an eternal noob.

Any suggestions?