Dogma

Dogma is the enemy of progress.

When someone says "we've always done it like this" you know there's a problem.

When someone says "it ain't broke, so don't fix it", it works for a while, but eventually someone else breaks into the market. Just look at ICE (internal combustion engine) cars and the way the IT companies (Tesla and Apple and others) are taking over the vehicle manufacturing and support markets.

Just look at the Fossilised Fuel companies still investing in out of date tech. Instead of in newer and cheaper methods of making electricity.

Remember to always ask questions, but also to do your research. One of the things I recommend people to do is to research their industry.

A few years ago, a friend said that her daughter had just done an airline course. I asked the daughter some questions. How many people did the course? Hundreds! How many seats on an A320? She didn't know what an A320 was! When did the first 747 fly? How long to fly from Cape Town to London? All the usual questions. She couldn't answer any of my questions. I said to her that she was unlikely to get a job in her chosen career. She thought I was mad! I said "look, you have hundreds of competitors. How are the interviewers going to choose? Not simply on your looks!"

So if you are developing in Javascript, learn everything you can about the history of Javascript, Ecmascript.

If you're developing in Delphi, learn about the origins of Pascal.

If you're developing in Oracle or SQL Server or mySQL, learn about Third Normal Form and about standard and other forms of SQL.

Be a knowledge expert in your field, not just up to date, which is difficult enough. Stand out because of your knowledge. Contribute to debate. Seek solutions. And don't be scared to give your opinion. This is singularly the biggest problem I have in my business and programming career. When I am asked my opinion, I give it and I back it up with facts. Often my clients are upset with my opinions and suggestions, but they keep me because I rock the boat, positively so that it doesn't let in water.

So be careful of dogma. Be careful of established beliefs. Be careful of places which say "we've always done it like this."

And have fun. Remember Torvill and Dean? I sometimes point out to people that what Torvill and Dean did on ice, programmers do inside computers. https://youtu.be/19CYCcmA2Y0