I do Data, Design, and Marketing (and sympathize with Bartholomew Cubbins). I use code to solve problems. I'm a multidisciplinary artist who holds a phd in fine arts. I like tea.
Agreed―and it's definitely a path and not a destination.
The infant child learning process is a good metaphor. The primary difference between learning to walk and learning software is that there is generally one type of way to walk (we learn from seeing those around us do it), but the software we might come across―by happenstance or situation or random choice―is practically infinite (and always growing).
That's likely why you (and I, and all of us) don't know the absolute basics in some (or more) areas, but feel an oddly uncomfortable level of expertise in others areas. This area of expertise can be thought of warmly as a superpower, or it can be viewed in opposition to the chasm of things we don't know to bring on a wonderful case of imposter syndrome.
I'm trying to remember that I literally can't know everything and focus on learning well the tools I need to accomplish the things I want to accomplish.
Agreed―and it's definitely a path and not a destination.
The infant child learning process is a good metaphor. The primary difference between learning to walk and learning software is that there is generally one type of way to walk (we learn from seeing those around us do it), but the software we might come across―by happenstance or situation or random choice―is practically infinite (and always growing).
That's likely why you (and I, and all of us) don't know the absolute basics in some (or more) areas, but feel an oddly uncomfortable level of expertise in others areas. This area of expertise can be thought of warmly as a superpower, or it can be viewed in opposition to the chasm of things we don't know to bring on a wonderful case of imposter syndrome.
I'm trying to remember that I literally can't know everything and focus on learning well the tools I need to accomplish the things I want to accomplish.
You should check out Kathy Sierra's Making Badass Developers talk.
There are some underlying pressures to sort of know everything in this industry, and you need to remind yourself about the opposite.