11.4 Becoming an Expert

Becoming successfully published in the technical literature may provide the opportunity to do many more tutorials worldwide and to write magazine articles. There is an almost endless demand for the sharing of quality technical information and the knowledge and wisdom attained through hands-on experience. It is possible to leverage such newfound popularity to enrich a business interest or to advance further in the process, which is not nearly complete.

The transition from student to expert begins on the day one steps up to the podium and gives his or her first tutorial. The student has become the expert (whether deserved or not) because he or she had the courage to step up to the front line for the sake of the message. That fighting spirit can be an asset through step after step of technical career development, where many people's lives have been affected and the world has been made a better place. According to surveys, for most adults, public speaking is the number one fear, more so than death. Any individual who is able to overcome a fear worse than death has earned the "right to speak" and a position of respect and authority.

Two important things happen as one travels about the world sharing a message. First, the ability to articulate the message improves by an order of magnitude because the individual has grown and transitioned from imparting a little bit of knowledge (which everybody knows is dangerous) to communicating effective practices. Second, a deep sense of how things go wrong can be communicated. What are people's basic misunderstandings? How did they try and fail to succeed? By relating personal experiences, others can avoid the common pitfalls. Finally, knowledge gained can also be communicated, assuming that time is still being invested in software development activities. Based on continued involvement in the field, the active individual may have the desire to repeat this final step in the process.

Software architects who choose to follow this path of career development must become kinder, humbler, and nicer people. They should not want to give others a basis for criticism nor should they wish to win an argument by implying that, "I wrote the book, so I'm the expert." They should never brag about their accomplishments. Rather, they should win by explaining their ideas, which by this time are hopefully well thought out.