I initially thought this comment wasn’t very helpful, since, like, the guy already knows he needs to build things. Then I went to try to write a better comment… and found it drifting in a kind of meta-direction that seemed maybe anti-helpful in this particular situation. And then looked back at this comment and...
...yeah. I think there is something to be said for just “build things.”
I had the same experience. I was essentially going to say “meta is only useful insofar as it helps you and others do object-level things, so focus on building object-level things...” oh.
I haven’t found any of these conditions to be necessary, though of course YMMV.
What matters is that you build some concrete thing, for people (not just yourself) to actually use. The details are inconsequential (and will take care of themselves, if you care about building it right) as long as that basic goal structure is in place.
Build things.
I initially thought this comment wasn’t very helpful, since, like, the guy already knows he needs to build things. Then I went to try to write a better comment… and found it drifting in a kind of meta-direction that seemed maybe anti-helpful in this particular situation. And then looked back at this comment and...
...yeah. I think there is something to be said for just “build things.”
Huh, I think “build things” is a meta comment, and on the lower end of helpfulness at that.
Said’s later comment with definitions for “building” and “things” seems significantly more helpful.
I had the same experience. I was essentially going to say “meta is only useful insofar as it helps you and others do object-level things, so focus on building object-level things...” oh.
With a time limit, enforced by someone else if you can’t do it yourself. Actual stakes that you care about if you fail are also helpful.
If you can’t do this with a job, do it with a hobby organization (e.g., offer to teach a workshop on the thing you want to build).
I haven’t found any of these conditions to be necessary, though of course YMMV.
What matters is that you build some concrete thing, for people (not just yourself) to actually use. The details are inconsequential (and will take care of themselves, if you care about building it right) as long as that basic goal structure is in place.