Why sharing & learning in public?
You have seen that one important thing of digital gardens is that we focus on ➡️ Make your garden public. The practice of sharing what you learn as you're learning it, not a decade later once you're an "expert."
The fastest way to learn when I was a law student was to write, document everything I was learning, and be able to say it out loud as if I was telling someone else. In the Spanish education system, this oral explanation method is the primary form of teaching and assessment. Being able to explain what had already been explained to me proved that I really knew it.
Generally, this has always been done privately, heavily influenced by what others might think. But I believe it's time to take a step forward and share what we've learned to help those who haven't yet.
Let's get to it
"What they can never take away from you is what you have learned... knowledge" - my father always told me.
But you know what? You will NEVER stop learning.
Most people "learn at home" and stay observing. They consume content without creating anything of their own. But here's what I've realized: sharing your learning publicly creates a feedback loop that accelerates growth in ways private learning never can.
The Golden Rule
Whatever your field: create what you wish you had found when you were learning.
Don't judge your results by likes, retweets, stars, or upvotes. Simply talk to the version of yourself from three months ago, iterate, improve what you shared, and you'll help others while continuing to grow.
My Missing Piece
Throughout my career, whenever I learned something, I shared it with my colleagues, whether for their benefit or mine (other people's work impacts yours). But I was always missing something that I've decided to change today:
At every step of the way: document what you did and the problems you solved.
It's increasingly important to try to do something, but even more relevant is the learning you take away.
Embracing the Beginner
Try to get it right, but don't worry when you fail. Repeatedly. You're making an effort. Don't assume you know everything, but do your best anyway.
Wear your "newness" with pride.
Do people think you're bad? Good. You agree. Ask them to explain, in detail, why they think you're bad. Do you want to just feel good or do you want to be good? No excuses, no grudges. Then go and prove them wrong.
(Of course, if they become abusive, block them.)
The Multiplier Effect
At some point, you'll have support and people who follow you. You'll be part of communities, find jobs, and have more people like you behind you. People notice genuine, selfless individuals who help because it's the right thing to do, who help to learn.
Why do you think you'll have impact?
Because you learn in public. By teaching yourself, you teach many. You amplify them. You have something they don't: the beginner's mind, genuine curiosity.
When People Start Asking
Look at the #buildinginpublic movement on Twitter - entrepreneurs like levels.io sharing their startup journey, revenue numbers, failures, and wins in real-time. Or developers in communities who freely share code, explain their thought process, and help debug problems without expecting anything in return.
We've all had that one colleague or classmate we admired because they shared their time and knowledge generously. That person who would explain concepts, share resources, or walk you through their process. That impact is priceless.
At some point, people will start asking for your help because of everything you share. 80% of professionals are "dark" - they don't write, don't speak, and don't participate in public discussions. But you do.
Don't tell them you're not an expert. Answer as best you can, and when you're stuck or make mistakes, pass it on to your community. That's exactly what those generous colleagues did for us.
Learn in public.
It's the best ROI investment you can make in yourself.