I came across an interesting article on Stuff today, entitled “Paying young tech minds not to go to college.”

The headline is well written and certainly grabbed my attention. If you dig into the story you’ll see that the payment is basically venture capital. It’s an interesting scheme and I really hope it succeeds.

But it got me to thinking again on something I have long believed in. Although I have attended a university – even gained credits towards a degree – I didn’t even last a whole year. It turns out I’m not cut out for this ‘higher learning’ stuff. So while some friends were ploughing through their university studies for three or four years I was earning a crust. In effect, I was paid not to go to university.

Certainly there are some vocations, such as medical and legal ones, that simply require a rigorous, multi-year course of official, sanctioned study and examination to become a practising member. But if you look at the super-wide field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) you can find both tertiary-qualified and non-tertiary-qualified practitioners.

What’s the difference? Nothing! At least, nothing consistent. I’ve met folks with degrees who’ve been in the business for 10 to 20 years who were, frankly, useless. I’ve also met some amazingly talented people who do not have degrees. My view is that you either have an aptitude and a passion for the ICT field or you don’t.

While I don’t have any widely recognised qualifications beyond my secondary-schooling I can confidently tell you I know more about successfully prosecuting ICT work in a real business environment than probably half of the people I deal with on a daily basis. I’m not saying I know a lot, though. I also know people who have a far better understanding than I do. But I’ve been in the business now for nearly 24 years and in that time I have learnt a hell of a lot. I’ve also made a hell of a lot of mistakes and seen other people make many too. And it is the mistake-making that defines the person – not their education.

A friend and colleague likes to bring up this quote from Albert Einstein rather often in our discussions.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

I see the embodiment of this insanity just about every day. Some people do not seem to be able to cope with what is really a fairly deterministic field. Everyone makes mistakes but how they deal with it sorts the wheat from the chaff.

When it boils down, I believe there are three traits that identify a quality ICT professional: 

1. Has an open mind.
2. Recognises and learns from their mistakes
3. Thinks of others, but backs themself

I admit I was many years in the business before I gained all of these traits. Even more years before I realised the importance of them. But I firmly believe these are the traits that make me as successful as I am – and I am a far more critical judge of my success than those around me.

As a counterpoint to the above list, here are some of the telltale signs of those who don’t fit the mould: 

• Withholds information as a means of wielding power
• Defends a position without trying to sway the other party’s viewpoint
• Cannot explain their position
• Attempts to cover up a mistake to the detriment of others

I’m sure there are many more, but I can think of specific examples of all of these traits from people who are university educated. I guess I can’t say, not having completed a degree, but I don’t believe any of the points in either of these lists is a prime consideration for the course of study.

Linked lists, on the other hand – now you’re talking! (The only real thing I believe I learnt in university CompSci that I didn’t already know at the time.)