Collective Wisdom from the Experts 73
Of course, there remains a huge variance in natural aptitude. Many hack-
ers out there are smarter, more knowledgeable, and more productive than I
may ever be. Even so, debunking the guru myth has a positive impact. For
instance, when working with someone smarter than me, I am sure to do the
legwork, to provide enough context so that person can efficiently apply his or
her skills. Removing the guru myth also means removing a perceived barrier
to improvement. Instead of a magical barrier, I see a continuum along which
I can advance.
Finally, one of software’s biggest obstacles is smart people who purposefully
propagate the guru myth. This might be done out of ego, or as a strategy to
increase one’s value as perceived by a client or employer. Ironically, this atti-
tude can make smart people less valuable, since they don’t contribute to the
growth of their peers. We don’t need gurus. We need experts willing to develop
other experts in their field. There is room for all of us.