[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] so this is how I learned how to stop
so this is how I learned how to stop
so this is how I learned how to stop worrying and RTFM for the uninitiated
worrying and RTFM for the uninitiated
worrying and RTFM for the uninitiated RTFM stands for read the manual so Who
RTFM stands for read the manual so Who
RTFM stands for read the manual so Who am I
am I
am I I’ve been something like a software
I’ve been something like a software
I’ve been something like a software engineer for about nine years I’ve
engineer for about nine years I’ve
engineer for about nine years I’ve worked for startups that have succeeded
worked for startups that have succeeded
worked for startups that have succeeded and startups that didn’t I have worked
and startups that didn’t I have worked
and startups that didn’t I have worked at research labs for computational
at research labs for computational
at research labs for computational linguistics machine learning artificial
linguistics machine learning artificial
linguistics machine learning artificial intelligence cybersecurity I’ve
intelligence cybersecurity I’ve
intelligence cybersecurity I’ve developed and built high-performance
developed and built high-performance
developed and built high-performance distributed systems for what Forbes
distributed systems for what Forbes
distributed systems for what Forbes magazine calls the number one most
magazine calls the number one most
magazine calls the number one most innovative company in the world and
innovative company in the world and
innovative company in the world and that’s not Google on a little corner of
that’s not Google on a little corner of
that’s not Google on a little corner of the internet called Quora I’ve been the
the internet called Quora I’ve been the
the internet called Quora I’ve been the most viewed author for dozens of
most viewed author for dozens of
most viewed author for dozens of categories ranging from programming
categories ranging from programming
categories ranging from programming languages to systems administration to
languages to systems administration to
languages to systems administration to algorithms and many others my answers
algorithms and many others my answers
algorithms and many others my answers have been featured on Huffington Post
have been featured on Huffington Post
have been featured on Huffington Post and Forbes and currently I’m an
and Forbes and currently I’m an
and Forbes and currently I’m an architect and the technical lead for
architect and the technical lead for
architect and the technical lead for data services at alation media which
data services at alation media which
data services at alation media which those of you in the audience who are
those of you in the audience who are
those of you in the audience who are fans of anime might know is the parent
fans of anime might know is the parent
fans of anime might know is the parent company that owns crunchyroll so when I
company that owns crunchyroll so when I
company that owns crunchyroll so when I was first starting out nine years ago if
was first starting out nine years ago if
was first starting out nine years ago if you were to tell me that this is what my
you were to tell me that this is what my
you were to tell me that this is what my future holds I wouldn’t have believed
future holds I wouldn’t have believed
future holds I wouldn’t have believed you I didn’t see myself as the kind of
you I didn’t see myself as the kind of
you I didn’t see myself as the kind of person who would know the things that I
person who would know the things that I
person who would know the things that I now know or who would be capable of
now know or who would be capable of
now know or who would be capable of doing the things that I’ve by now done
doing the things that I’ve by now done
doing the things that I’ve by now done it was because I had this archetype in
it was because I had this archetype in
it was because I had this archetype in mind of a person who who was capable of
mind of a person who who was capable of
mind of a person who who was capable of these things to whom all of these things
these things to whom all of these things
these things to whom all of these things came naturally and because I was already
came naturally and because I was already
came naturally and because I was already encountering struggles in learning what
encountering struggles in learning what
encountering struggles in learning what I did know I must have disqualified
I did know I must have disqualified
I did know I must have disqualified myself as that kind of person so the
myself as that kind of person so the
myself as that kind of person so the turning point in my career came during
turning point in my career came during
turning point in my career came during my internship at the Naval Postgraduate
my internship at the Naval Postgraduate
my internship at the Naval Postgraduate School the professor that I worked for
School the professor that I worked for
School the professor that I worked for asked me to do something that was wildly
asked me to do something that was wildly
asked me to do something that was wildly spectacularly outside my skillset and I
spectacularly outside my skillset and I
spectacularly outside my skillset and I up I felt helpless I told them but I
up I felt helpless I told them but I
up I felt helpless I told them but I think you might have hired the wrong
think you might have hired the wrong
think you might have hired the wrong person I I have no idea how to do that
person I I have no idea how to do that
person I I have no idea how to do that and I’ll never forgive forgive I’ll ever
and I’ll never forgive forgive I’ll ever
and I’ll never forgive forgive I’ll ever forget
forget
forget the look that he gave me which was he
the look that he gave me which was he
the look that he gave me which was he had the look of someone who had heard
had the look of someone who had heard
had the look of someone who had heard the dumbest thing he had ever heard in
the dumbest thing he had ever heard in
the dumbest thing he had ever heard in his entire life
his entire life
his entire life and he looked back at me and he said so
and he looked back at me and he said so
and he looked back at me and he said so learn and walked away so that moment
learn and walked away so that moment
learn and walked away so that moment shattered that disqualification as the
shattered that disqualification as the
shattered that disqualification as the person who could who could achieve
person who could who could achieve
person who could who could achieve things um I I realized that I had no
things um I I realized that I had no
things um I I realized that I had no idea where I got this this confidence in
idea where I got this this confidence in
idea where I got this this confidence in my inability to do things um I realized
my inability to do things um I realized
my inability to do things um I realized that the the whole of human knowledge
that the the whole of human knowledge
that the the whole of human knowledge opened up to me and I realized that I
opened up to me and I realized that I
opened up to me and I realized that I was the only thing keeping me back from
was the only thing keeping me back from
was the only thing keeping me back from becoming a subject matter expert in any
becoming a subject matter expert in any
becoming a subject matter expert in any field that I chose so for a time after
field that I chose so for a time after
field that I chose so for a time after that I had actually called myself read
that I had actually called myself read
that I had actually called myself read the manual man whose superpower was
the manual man whose superpower was
the manual man whose superpower was reading the manual family um and it I
reading the manual family um and it I
reading the manual family um and it I recognized that same attitude that I had
recognized that same attitude that I had
recognized that same attitude that I had in students in college and I still do
in students in college and I still do
in students in college and I still do among colleagues in the software
among colleagues in the software
among colleagues in the software industry and I still myself know when I
industry and I still myself know when I
industry and I still myself know when I catch myself having it um and that this
catch myself having it um and that this
catch myself having it um and that this idea that there is some body of
idea that there is some body of
idea that there is some body of knowledge that that can’t be learned
knowledge that that can’t be learned
knowledge that that can’t be learned somehow that instead it’s it’s
somehow that instead it’s it’s
somehow that instead it’s it’s mystically revealed only to this class
mystically revealed only to this class
mystically revealed only to this class of elite people who who are able to hold
of elite people who who are able to hold
of elite people who who are able to hold that knowledge within their brains um
that knowledge within their brains um
that knowledge within their brains um and that’s not the case so I took it
and that’s not the case so I took it
and that’s not the case so I took it upon my soul no excuse me
upon my soul no excuse me
upon my soul no excuse me the the one piece of an eight advice
the the one piece of an eight advice
the the one piece of an eight advice that this talk can give is is roughly
that this talk can give is is roughly
that this talk can give is is roughly the following leave it to to read the
the following leave it to to read the
the following leave it to to read the manual man here if you want to know how
manual man here if you want to know how
manual man here if you want to know how to do something find the manual read it
to do something find the manual read it
to do something find the manual read it until you understand it and then you’ll
until you understand it and then you’ll
until you understand it and then you’ll know how to do it um so I know that you
know how to do it um so I know that you
know how to do it um so I know that you know this I knew this when I was
know this I knew this when I was
know this I knew this when I was starting out um but what is
starting out um but what is
starting out um but what is conspicuously absent from this advice is
conspicuously absent from this advice is
conspicuously absent from this advice is the requirement to be superhuman so this
the requirement to be superhuman so this
the requirement to be superhuman so this advice applies regardless of who you are
advice applies regardless of who you are
advice applies regardless of who you are it the the main crippling obstacle to
it the the main crippling obstacle to
it the the main crippling obstacle to this is is the delusion that you are
this is is the delusion that you are
this is is the delusion that you are someone who is not capable of following
someone who is not capable of following
someone who is not capable of following device that advice so to illustrate this
device that advice so to illustrate this
device that advice so to illustrate this I for your benefit
I for your benefit
I for your benefit I’ve asked a lot of my friends and
I’ve asked a lot of my friends and
I’ve asked a lot of my friends and colleagues for help so people who are
colleagues for help so people who are
colleagues for help so people who are the the smartest and most capable
the the smartest and most capable
the the smartest and most capable software engineers that I have ever met
software engineers that I have ever met
software engineers that I have ever met I asked them questions about their
I asked them questions about their
I asked them questions about their learning experience these are people
learning experience these are people
learning experience these are people who’ve come from Facebook Google Twitter
who’ve come from Facebook Google Twitter
who’ve come from Facebook Google Twitter eBay Yahoo Salesforce and yeah I’d like
eBay Yahoo Salesforce and yeah I’d like
eBay Yahoo Salesforce and yeah I’d like to share some of those answers with you
to share some of those answers with you
to share some of those answers with you so first of all talk about books like
so first of all talk about books like
so first of all talk about books like this um teach yourself Java in 24 hours
this um teach yourself Java in 24 hours
this um teach yourself Java in 24 hours so I have mixed feelings about these
so I have mixed feelings about these
so I have mixed feelings about these books um I think that their mere
books um I think that their mere
books um I think that their mere existence it does accurately convey that
existence it does accurately convey that
existence it does accurately convey that learning out a program is a lot more
learning out a program is a lot more
learning out a program is a lot more accessible than people give it credit
accessible than people give it credit
accessible than people give it credit for that anyone can learn how to program
for that anyone can learn how to program
for that anyone can learn how to program but it also is that learning how to
but it also is that learning how to
but it also is that learning how to program in the long run particularly
program in the long run particularly
program in the long run particularly beyond of course what a book like this
beyond of course what a book like this
beyond of course what a book like this would teach you it should be easy and
would teach you it should be easy and
would teach you it should be easy and the problem with the implication that
the problem with the implication that
the problem with the implication that programming is easy that if you don’t
programming is easy that if you don’t
programming is easy that if you don’t find it easy that must mean you’re
find it easy that must mean you’re
find it easy that must mean you’re stupid so this one in particular also if
stupid so this one in particular also if
stupid so this one in particular also if you notice in the top right corner
you notice in the top right corner
you notice in the top right corner advertises that it can teach you how to
advertises that it can teach you how to
advertises that it can teach you how to be an Android developer in 24 hours did
be an Android developer in 24 hours did
be an Android developer in 24 hours did any of you know that you could be an
any of you know that you could be an
any of you know that you could be an Android developer in 24 hours no good
Android developer in 24 hours no good
Android developer in 24 hours no good because you can’t right so no one who
because you can’t right so no one who
because you can’t right so no one who has learned how to be a Java developer
has learned how to be a Java developer
has learned how to be a Java developer or an Android developer has learned this
or an Android developer has learned this
or an Android developer has learned this way maybe they started but actually
way maybe they started but actually
way maybe they started but actually there was another slide that in
there was another slide that in
there was another slide that in retrospect I shouldn’t have taken out
retrospect I shouldn’t have taken out
retrospect I shouldn’t have taken out but it that question was how do you
but it that question was how do you
but it that question was how do you believe how well do you believe does a
believe how well do you believe does a
believe how well do you believe does a book like teacher self Java in 24 hours
book like teacher self Java in 24 hours
book like teacher self Java in 24 hours prepare you for a junior level software
prepare you for a junior level software
prepare you for a junior level software engineering job they were split 50-50
engineering job they were split 50-50
engineering job they were split 50-50 none of them said adequately half of
none of them said adequately half of
none of them said adequately half of them said insufficiently and the other
them said insufficiently and the other
them said insufficiently and the other half said not at all so there are better
half said not at all so there are better
half said not at all so there are better ways oh there are no easy answers um so
ways oh there are no easy answers um so
ways oh there are no easy answers um so right so nobody nobody learned how to
right so nobody nobody learned how to
right so nobody nobody learned how to how to do it this oh it’s not working ok
how to do it this oh it’s not working ok
how to do it this oh it’s not working ok so how easy is it for I think I went
so how easy is it for I think I went
so how easy is it for I think I went back too far here we go how easy is it
back too far here we go how easy is it
back too far here we go how easy is it for top-tier engineers to learn how to
for top-tier engineers to learn how to
for top-tier engineers to learn how to program so none of them had an easy time
program so none of them had an easy time
program so none of them had an easy time with the whole thing it wasn’t a walk in
with the whole thing it wasn’t a walk in
with the whole thing it wasn’t a walk in the park to anyone
the park to anyone
the park to anyone nine out of ten there were more than ten
nine out of ten there were more than ten
nine out of ten there were more than ten respondents um what he got said that
respondents um what he got said that
respondents um what he got said that characterized it as requiring persistent
characterized it as requiring persistent
characterized it as requiring persistent effort beyond the basics and 10% of them
effort beyond the basics and 10% of them
effort beyond the basics and 10% of them worked hard to learn every single thing
worked hard to learn every single thing
worked hard to learn every single thing that they learned even the basics so
that they learned even the basics so
that they learned even the basics so nobody acquires this knowledge instantly
nobody acquires this knowledge instantly
nobody acquires this knowledge instantly it’s it’s not a walk in the park in fact
it’s it’s not a walk in the park in fact
it’s it’s not a walk in the park in fact everyone had at least one topic that
everyone had at least one topic that
everyone had at least one topic that took the multiple attempts to learn half
took the multiple attempts to learn half
took the multiple attempts to learn half of them had something that took at least
of them had something that took at least
of them had something that took at least three attempts and some have you
three attempts and some have you
three attempts and some have you encountered topics that are just
encountered topics that are just
encountered topics that are just impenetrable to them thus far so the
impenetrable to them thus far so the
impenetrable to them thus far so the next question I asked them was about
next question I asked them was about
next question I asked them was about skill versus talent so talent is
skill versus talent so talent is
skill versus talent so talent is something you have a natural aptitude
something you have a natural aptitude
something you have a natural aptitude for whereas a skill is practice
for whereas a skill is practice
for whereas a skill is practice experience 100 percent of them said
experience 100 percent of them said
experience 100 percent of them said there is no substitute for practice so
there is no substitute for practice so
there is no substitute for practice so when people see these you know the same
when people see these you know the same
when people see these you know the same archetype that I saw of someone who was
archetype that I saw of someone who was
archetype that I saw of someone who was just naturally talented and who would
just naturally talented and who would
just naturally talented and who would excel to to greatness and beyond it
excel to to greatness and beyond it
excel to to greatness and beyond it turns out realistically talent doesn’t
turns out realistically talent doesn’t
turns out realistically talent doesn’t actually get you that far a lot of the
actually get you that far a lot of the
actually get you that far a lot of the respondents for longer form answers had
respondents for longer form answers had
respondents for longer form answers had said that talent is useful for
said that talent is useful for
said that talent is useful for jump-starting your education but in the
jump-starting your education but in the
jump-starting your education but in the in the long run
in the long run
in the long run practice dominates right and 10% at the
practice dominates right and 10% at the
practice dominates right and 10% at the bottom so that attitude can only make up
bottom so that attitude can only make up
bottom so that attitude can only make up for an experience so it is a consensus
for an experience so it is a consensus
for an experience so it is a consensus among experts that if they can learn how
among experts that if they can learn how
among experts that if they can learn how to program then anyone can um it
to program then anyone can um it
to program then anyone can um it primarily in that it yeah it doesn’t it
primarily in that it yeah it doesn’t it
primarily in that it yeah it doesn’t it doesn’t require geniuses only one person
doesn’t require geniuses only one person
doesn’t require geniuses only one person I think I know who that is – I’m gonna
I think I know who that is – I’m gonna
I think I know who that is – I’m gonna get them screwin up my surveys right so
get them screwin up my surveys right so
get them screwin up my surveys right so that this is the key takeaway there so
that this is the key takeaway there so
that this is the key takeaway there so um he is learning how to program hard
um he is learning how to program hard
um he is learning how to program hard yes it very much can be but though I’m
yes it very much can be but though I’m
yes it very much can be but though I’m so sorry I skipped the whole section is
so sorry I skipped the whole section is
so sorry I skipped the whole section is this what I think it is yes I’m pressing
this what I think it is yes I’m pressing
this what I think it is yes I’m pressing the button too many times there it is so
the button too many times there it is so
the button too many times there it is so let’s talk about imposter syndrome
let’s talk about imposter syndrome
let’s talk about imposter syndrome imposter syndrome is the delusion that
imposter syndrome is the delusion that
imposter syndrome is the delusion that you have not earned your place among
you have not earned your place among
you have not earned your place among your peers it’s a very isolating feeling
your peers it’s a very isolating feeling
your peers it’s a very isolating feeling it feels like you are not qualified to
it feels like you are not qualified to
it feels like you are not qualified to be in there
be in there
be in there and their presence it is very common in
and their presence it is very common in
and their presence it is very common in academia it’s very common among
academia it’s very common among
academia it’s very common among technical professions and the software
technical professions and the software
technical professions and the software industry is no stranger to it either so
industry is no stranger to it either so
industry is no stranger to it either so of the best software engineers that I
of the best software engineers that I
of the best software engineers that I have ever met and worked with 50% of
have ever met and worked with 50% of
have ever met and worked with 50% of them more than half of them worry that
them more than half of them worry that
them more than half of them worry that their colleagues know more than they
their colleagues know more than they
their colleagues know more than they actually do they worry that they don’t
actually do they worry that they don’t
actually do they worry that they don’t meet their colleagues expectations 3/4
meet their colleagues expectations 3/4
meet their colleagues expectations 3/4 of them and all these numbers include me
of them and all these numbers include me
of them and all these numbers include me by the way have pretended to know things
by the way have pretended to know things
by the way have pretended to know things in conversations with colleagues more
in conversations with colleagues more
in conversations with colleagues more than 1/3 or too embarrassed to ask
than 1/3 or too embarrassed to ask
than 1/3 or too embarrassed to ask questions that they think are
questions that they think are
questions that they think are embarrassing there are well within their
embarrassing there are well within their
embarrassing there are well within their skill sets and so they flounder quietly
skill sets and so they flounder quietly
skill sets and so they flounder quietly so this is tragic it really is but the
so this is tragic it really is but the
so this is tragic it really is but the good news is that if you face self-doubt
good news is that if you face self-doubt
good news is that if you face self-doubt you are by no means alone you are in
you are by no means alone you are in
you are by no means alone you are in very good company so this is the thing
very good company so this is the thing
very good company so this is the thing that differentiates those who have
that differentiates those who have
that differentiates those who have succeeded from from those who have not
succeeded from from those who have not
succeeded from from those who have not which is in all cases regardless of
which is in all cases regardless of
which is in all cases regardless of talent and difficulties the people who
talent and difficulties the people who
talent and difficulties the people who have succeeded and gone on to become
have succeeded and gone on to become
have succeeded and gone on to become top-tier engineers we’re gonna work at
top-tier engineers we’re gonna work at
top-tier engineers we’re gonna work at any company they want to they just
any company they want to they just
any company they want to they just didn’t give up it’s a matter of
didn’t give up it’s a matter of
didn’t give up it’s a matter of persistence it’s a matter of building
persistence it’s a matter of building
persistence it’s a matter of building skill um I don’t know how much more I
skill um I don’t know how much more I
skill um I don’t know how much more I have this so um the key takeaway is if
have this so um the key takeaway is if
have this so um the key takeaway is if you are having trouble if if learning
you are having trouble if if learning
you are having trouble if if learning how to program is not coming easy to you
how to program is not coming easy to you
how to program is not coming easy to you that does not mean that you are
that does not mean that you are
that does not mean that you are incapable of it because it does it
incapable of it because it does it
incapable of it because it does it didn’t come easily to anyone even if
didn’t come easily to anyone even if
didn’t come easily to anyone even if you’re struggling you are doing no worse
you’re struggling you are doing no worse
you’re struggling you are doing no worse than someone who has gone on to be among
than someone who has gone on to be among
than someone who has gone on to be among the best so that’s how they got there
the best so that’s how they got there
the best so that’s how they got there that means you’re doing it right they
that means you’re doing it right they
that means you’re doing it right they don’t have anything in them either or
don’t have anything in them either or
don’t have anything in them either or you know some have natural talent that
you know some have natural talent that
you know some have natural talent that help them jumpstart their their
help them jumpstart their their
help them jumpstart their their education but there is nothing special
education but there is nothing special
education but there is nothing special to them there’s no special class of
to them there’s no special class of
to them there’s no special class of people to whom programming as possible
people to whom programming as possible
people to whom programming as possible and others who cannot you’re already the
and others who cannot you’re already the
and others who cannot you’re already the kind of person who is capable of
kind of person who is capable of
kind of person who is capable of starting and who is capable of
starting and who is capable of
starting and who is capable of succeeding it’s purely a matter of
succeeding it’s purely a matter of
succeeding it’s purely a matter of persistence and yeah that’s the main
persistence and yeah that’s the main
persistence and yeah that’s the main takeaway there is we all have doubts we
takeaway there is we all have doubts we
takeaway there is we all have doubts we all continue to have doubts the next
all continue to have doubts the next
all continue to have doubts the next time that you feel yourself making harsh
time that you feel yourself making harsh
time that you feel yourself making harsh conclude
conclude
conclude about your capabilities I encourage you
about your capabilities I encourage you
about your capabilities I encourage you to set aside those worries and just read
to set aside those worries and just read
to set aside those worries and just read the manual thank you
”
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