I find the article while thoughtful and provoking, paints a myopic view of self-advancement. The analogy with sports is what throws it off. Sports can be individual and could be team-based. There's an importance to individual skill, no doubt, but the team apect is what lets one not only assess own standing, but have a chance at advancing it without the adversarial pressure. If you choose to retool, the team would pick up the slack meanwhile until you're back (hopefully stronger).
The skill degrees indeed are relative, and in the field of programming are dynamic. Of any one skill to put in permanence is perhaps an open-mindedness. It is a readiness to learn, not much an ability to master.
Lots of excellent programmers don't stop learning, they just discover the wisdom of 'good enough for the time-being'.
Expertship is lonely, beginnership is open an dynamic. The author projected the whole skill advancement spectrum onto the single grade of Beginner, as if beyond Expert lied a void or infinity.
I believe, paradoxically, beyond Expert is ... a Beginner. Either by humbleness, or by need to discover a new field, or by age, or boredom, or wisdom.
Programming has to be a team activity. If you happen to handle a project part by yourself, your future self or someone to work on your code after you is your current team.
If you're on the team already, then you keep learning from your mates as long as you let your mind stay open to it.
The skill degrees indeed are relative, and in the field of programming are dynamic. Of any one skill to put in permanence is perhaps an open-mindedness. It is a readiness to learn, not much an ability to master.
Lots of excellent programmers don't stop learning, they just discover the wisdom of 'good enough for the time-being'.
Expertship is lonely, beginnership is open an dynamic. The author projected the whole skill advancement spectrum onto the single grade of Beginner, as if beyond Expert lied a void or infinity.
I believe, paradoxically, beyond Expert is ... a Beginner. Either by humbleness, or by need to discover a new field, or by age, or boredom, or wisdom.
Programming has to be a team activity. If you happen to handle a project part by yourself, your future self or someone to work on your code after you is your current team.
If you're on the team already, then you keep learning from your mates as long as you let your mind stay open to it.