Learning in Public

The thing that separates useful students from average students is not intelligence or resources. It is visibility.

The Hidden Work Problem

Most students learn in private. They:

• Study alone
• Build projects no one sees
• Struggle silently
• Emerge (hopefully) with credentials

This approach has one fatal flaw: no one knows what you can do. You have to convince them from scratch every time.

The Learning in Public Principle

Learning in public means sharing your journey as it happens:

• What you are learning
• What you are building
• What problems you are facing
• What progress you are making

This creates a compounding asset: a documented track record of growth.

The Counterintuitive Truth

It feels safer to hide your work until it is perfect. But the opposite is true.

When you share early and often:

• You get feedback that improves your work
• You build relationships with people on similar journeys
• You create a history of improvement (which impresses more than sudden perfection)
• You stay accountable to your goals
• You attract opportunities you did not know existed

When you hide until "ready":

• You never get external input
• You stay isolated
• You can quit without anyone noticing
• You miss opportunities because no one knows you are building

The Platforms for Learning in Public

Choose your platform based on your direction:

Twitter/X

Best for: Quick updates, connecting with industry people, sharing thoughts Format: Short posts, threads documenting progress Time investment: 15-30 minutes daily

LinkedIn

Best for: Professional positioning, connecting with recruiters, longer reflections Format: Posts about lessons learned, project updates, career thoughts Time investment: 30 minutes, 2-3 times per week

Blog/Website

Best for: Deep dives, tutorials, building SEO authority Format: Articles (500-2000 words) on what you are learning Time investment: 2-4 hours per article, 1-2 per week

YouTube

Best for: Visual learners, building strong audience connection, tutorials Format: Videos documenting projects, explanations, vlogs Time investment: 3-5 hours per video (including editing)

GitHub (for developers)

Best for: Showing actual code, contributing to open source, technical credibility Format: Repositories, README documentation, contributions Time investment: Ongoing as you build

Behance/Dribbble (for designers)

Best for: Visual portfolio, design community, showcasing work Format: Project presentations, case studies, works in progress Time investment: 2-3 hours per project upload

You do not need to be on all platforms. Pick one primary, maybe one secondary. Go deep, not wide.

The Content Formula

Not sure what to post? Here are templates that work:

The "Today I Learned" Post

"Today I learned that [specific concept]. Here is why it matters: [brief explanation]. Here is how I will use it: [practical application]."

The "I Built This" Post

"I just shipped [project name]. What it does: [one sentence]. Why I built it: [motivation]. What I learned: [key insight]. Link: [url]"

The "I Struggled With" Post

"I spent 3 hours stuck on [problem]. What finally worked: [solution]. What I wish I knew earlier: [lesson]."

The "Here is What I Noticed" Post

"I have been learning [skill] for [time period]. Three things surprised me: [observation 1], [observation 2], [observation 3]."

The "Tutorial/Guide" Post

"How to [accomplish specific thing] in [time/steps]: [brief walkthrough]"

The Fear of Sharing

You will feel resistance to sharing. Common fears:

"My work is not good enough to share" The internet is full of mediocre content that gets engagement. Your genuine learning journey is more interesting than polished perfection.

"No one will care" Probably true at first. Keep sharing anyway. The audience comes after consistency, not before.

"What if I am wrong about something?" Then someone will correct you, you will learn, and you will update. This is the process working correctly.

"It feels like bragging" Documenting your journey is not bragging. It is building in public. Bragging is claiming achievements you did not earn.

"What if it hurts my future chances?" A documented history of learning and building helps more than it hurts. Employers and opportunities come from people seeing your work.

The Consistency Framework

Learning in public only works with consistency. Here is a sustainable framework:

Minimum viable sharing: One post per week about what you learned or built.

Ideal sharing: 3-5 posts per week, mixing short updates and longer content.

Maximum sustainable: Daily short updates plus one longer piece per week.

Start with minimum. Increase only when you can maintain it.

Building Real Connections

Learning in public is not just broadcasting. It is conversation.

• Reply to others learning similar things
• Share other people's work that you find valuable
• Ask genuine questions
• Offer help when you can
• Build relationships, not just followers

The people you connect with while learning often become collaborators, recommenders, and friends later.

The Long Game

Learning in public is a compounding investment. The first month might feel pointless. The first year starts showing results. After that, opportunities find you.

People who learned in public for years:

• Get job offers from companies who have followed their journey
• Get speaking invitations
• Get collaboration requests
• Get mentors who want to help someone clearly committed

This does not happen immediately. But it happens.

Your Assignment

Choose one platform to start learning in public.

Write and publish your first post using one of the templates above.

Do not overthink it. The first post is always awkward. That is okay.

What you learn in private is knowledge. What you learn in public is an asset.

Next: Finding your unique edge in a crowded world.