Learn in Public, It’s Great: Why Sharing Your Process and Progress is Beneficial

Learn in Public, It’s Great: Why Sharing Your Process and Progress is Beneficial

There's a debate in the world of learning, hustling, and creating. Some say you should do everything in silence and only show the end product, while others advocate for sharing the process and progress publicly. In my experience, learning in public has numerous benefits, including creating accountability, building a feedback loop, seeing your progress, establishing a community or following, and even future value.

When we share our process and progress, we create a sense of accountability. By making our goals public, we feel a sense of responsibility to follow through and achieve them. This accountability can help us stay motivated and focused on our learning journey.

Additionally, sharing our process allows us to build a feedback loop. When we put ourselves out there, we invite others to provide feedback, suggestions, and constructive criticism. This feedback can be invaluable in helping us improve and refine our skills. It also provides a fresh perspective and ideas that we may not have considered on our own.

Furthermore, sharing our progress allows us to see how far we've come. Often, when we're in the midst of learning something new, it's easy to feel discouraged or like we're not making any progress. However, when we document and share our journey, we can look back and see the tangible steps we've taken and the growth we've experienced. This can be incredibly motivating and inspiring.

Moreover, when we learn in public, we have the opportunity to establish a community or following. By letting go of our egos and sharing our process, we allow for the possibility of people having an ongoing connection with us and our work. This connection helps us move forward and can open doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

Another aspect to consider is the future value of learning in public. By documenting and sharing our process, we create a record of our growth and development. This record can be a valuable resource for us to look back on and reflect upon. It's not just for our own benefit, but it can also inspire and help others who are on a similar learning journey.

Austin Kleon, in his book "Show Your Work!", emphasizes the importance of launching ourselves on the center stage, or the public domain. He encourages us to create, create today, and create in public. Kleon believes that by making stuff with our own little fingers, we can capture people's attention and showcase our skills and talents.

Journalist David Carr also shared similar advice, stating that no one cares about our resumes; they want to see what we have made with our own hands. This highlights the significance of creation and the importance of sharing it with the world.

In a different context, the Substack Pro program was introduced to address the changing landscape of journalism. The internet had disrupted the traditional business model of journalism, and Substack aimed to provide a solution. They created a structure that absorbed more risk on the writer's behalf, ensuring they would get paid for a year of work regardless of their publication's performance.

The Substack Pro program demonstrated that the success of Substack was directly tied to the success of the writers. By taking on most of the risk, they built trust and reliability in their model. In return for financial security, Pro writers agreed to let Substack keep 85% of the subscription revenue in the first year. After that, the writer would keep 90% of the revenue.

Substack's approach is unique, as they see these deals as business decisions rather than editorial ones. They don't commission or edit stories, nor do they hire or manage writers. The writers are the owners and write for their own publications. Substack's only requirement is a commitment to a minimum publishing frequency.

When selecting writers for the Substack Pro program, they consider factors such as audience size, engagement on social media, and respect from readers and peers. They also value a diversity of thought and believe that supporting writers who may face opposition is crucial for healthy discourse.

In conclusion, learning in public has significant advantages. It creates accountability, builds a feedback loop, allows us to see our progress, establishes a community or following, and has future value. By sharing our process and progress, we invite others to join us on our learning journey and open doors to new opportunities. Learning in public is not just about showcasing our skills but also about contributing to a broader discourse and inspiring others.

Actionable Advice:

1. Start sharing your progress and process publicly. Whether it's through a blog, social media, or a dedicated platform, document your journey and invite others to be a part of it. This will create accountability and help you stay motivated.

2. Embrace feedback and constructive criticism. When you share your work, invite others to provide their thoughts and suggestions. This feedback can help you improve and gain new perspectives.

3. Build a community around your learning journey. Engage with others who share similar interests and learn from their experiences. By connecting with like-minded individuals, you can support each other and create a network of learning and growth.

Remember, the power of learning in public lies not only in what you gain personally but also in what you can contribute to the world. So, embrace the opportunity to share your process, progress, and creations with others.