I enjoyed reading this book as each chapter was brief, making daily reading more effortless. Chapter brevity meant fewer concepts for daily reflection. The overall theme is about sharing the process involved in creating a finished product.
One may consider this book primarily geared towards content creators. I certainly did as I read through the book. Consequently, I was always looking for ways to adjust the lessons for personal and career growth.
Even though I've started to blog somewhat regularly, I hadn't considered myself a creator. This book has undoubtedly begun to cause a mind shift within me. Isn't anyone sharing information on the internet is a creator these days?
Here are some of my takeaways after reading this book -
Scenius
No work happens in a vacuum. It is a collaborative effort and often derivative of other work or ideas. There are no true geniuses who weren't influenced by other people. They constantly interacted with people, usually in the same domain. The author describes this group as - The Scenius.
Be An Amateur
When experts approach a problem, they draw from their past experience. Over time this experience though extensive, blindsides a person in not considering newer and alternative solutions.
Document Your Work
Even if you don't plan on sharing any of your work publicly today, it may come in handy if you do plan on sharing it someday. This working document lets you gauge your progress and serves as a journal for remembering reasons for specific decision points.
Teach what you have learned
In teaching others, it is possible to expose gaps in our understanding. There will always be people who will help us fill those gaps and improve our knowledge. There will, of course, also always be detractors. As long as we continue to share, the net effect will be that we learn new stuff.