Go back to basics
Why embracing knowledge gaps is the way
Welcome to Data Dash
Compressing an avalanche of thoughts about data into byte-sized chunks. In your inbox every two weeks on Wednesdays.
Programming Note
Normally this is an every-other Wednesday newsletter. However, this one went from idea to completed draft in an afternoon by accident. Enjoy this bonus newsletter and you’ll still get one next week!
We're all in this leaking boat
Every data person I've met has described themselves as self-taught. There's a beauty to that. Data people can have expertise in biomes, brains, or 18th century bandits. I wouldn't trade those varied intellectual backgrounds for anything.
And if we're all self-taught we're all going to have weird holes in our knowledge.
Waking up at the podium
These knowledge gaps can be especially tricky to talk about for people in mid or senior positions. I think imposter syndrome is a bit overused (it conveniently places blame on the individual rather than the systems around them). And people's self-described experience of imposter syndrome makes it harder to admit these gaps in knowledge even exist.
But we don't have to undercut our hard won expertise to admit our gaps. The data field is vast, and knowing everything is impossible. So what do we do next?
You read the subject line
Until recently, doing anything outside “porcelain” git commands terrified me. I know I'm not alone. I got tired of this state of affairs. And instead of reading an advanced take on git I did the basic exercises in this course. I used the audit version, which is free!
I’m not pretending I'm a git wizard now. However, I feel so much more comfortable when I encounter a git scenario outside the norm vs before. It's a lot easier not to panic when I have a more granular understanding of git’s foundations.
Maybe you know everything there is to know about git. And I'm betting there's something you have to do ~every day you would like to understand better. I know it's easier to reach for “advanced” resources, and maybe the next time you're trying to advance reach for the basics instead.
A data thing I liked
Predict strikeouts with new MLB arm angle data by Nick Wan
If you want a full community data science experience, Nick’s Twitch streams, Discord, and this Kaggle competition are a great place to start.
A non-data thing I liked
Why Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show Is America by Josh Johnson