[interview "we are the competent people"] Jay Cross

For the second interview in the series 'we are the competent people', Jay Cross kindly agreed to answer selected questions. In learning land, Jay is well known for (almost) coining the term e-learning, and even more for his evangelism on informal/social/natural learning. He blogs, has written books on the matter, is a frequent conference speaker and has in recent years formed the Internet Time Alliance with a gang of his friends. Together they boldly go where no corporate learning has gone before...

I know Jay from his blogs and Online Educa (he also was once on the panel of the Battle of The Bloggers). In fact, I took example of his 'un-book' publishing when I wrote my own 'Homo Competens' book.
But enough introduction, here is the interview with Jay Cross and his take on getting and staying competent in writing.

Jay Cross. I chair the Internet Time Alliance. I'm an author and corporate advisor.

Bert: At what competence domain(s) would you consider yourself ‘competent’?

Jay: Writing, blogging, corporate learning, public speaking. I'll use writing as an example in my responses, Bert.

Bert: Describe moment(s) where you grew the most in a particular competence domain.

Jay: Writing. I learned to write after I graduated from college. (In college I was rewarded for wordy, flowery, passive, and nearly meaningless prose.) My commanding officer in the Army ripped into a memo I had written upside down and backwards, reducing it to simple, direct sentences.

Bert: How did you become good at what you do? How do you stay good?

Jay: I got better by reading books such as Write to the Point and On Writing Well. I took seminars on writing direct mail. Most importantly, I write often. My blogging is freeform: whatever springs to mind. My articles are edited: I tweak the text before release. I have others critique my books and generally take their advice.

Bert: Do you care to share any tips for those who want to follow in your footsteps? What went well? What would have been even better if only...?

Jay: If you want to write, watch what you read. 

Write from the heart, not the intellect.

Don't fear throwing new ideas out there. You can always smooth things out before releasing them.

I still catch myself writing sloppy prose. Writing well requires eternal vigilance.

Advice from Brenda Ueland: "If you want to be a better writer, become a better person" and "Good writers must not fear throwing away their babies."

Bert: How do you recognize competent people?

Jay: By what they do. Actions speak louder than words. 

Bert- Do you see yourself doing something completely different five or ten years from now?

Jay: Ten years from now I expect to be ashes, probably floating in the Pacific Ocean.

Bert- What do you think of the responsibilities of the knowledge professional at one hand, and the employing company at the other hand in terms of competence development?

Jay: This is a balance. Knowledge professionals must take responsibility for their competence. If they're not growing, they should move on. Employers should provide an environment that fosters individual growth. Smart employers in the future will keep the aspirations of their workers in mind when making assignments. It takes two to tango. Employer and employee must strike a mutually satisfactory bargain.

Bert- How would you categorize your professional network? Is it large, or do you keep it small? Is it composed primarily of people you meet regularly face to face, or is it very virtual, or any degree in between?

Jay: My professional network is large and primarily virtual. It contains several tiers. Thousands of people follow me on Twitter and read my articles; I don't know who they are. I have 434 contacts on LinkedIn; I have met almost all of these people in person; we know one another. I have 627 "friends" on Facebook; some of these are strangers but know people I know. I keep up with my inner circle, a few dozen people, via email, Skypechat, and Socialcast.

Bert   - How long did it take you to become good?

Jay: I didn't write a book or a blog until I was in my mid-fifties. I began writing occasional articles and marketing copy in my mid-thirties. That said, writing was not a life goal so much as something I fell into and found that I enjoyed.

Bert - Are you involved in any ‘sharing’ activities? Do you think sharing helps you grow? Did you experience people taking advantage of the things you shared?

Jay: Two years ago I realized I was working alone. I formed an alliance with five friends and we share thoughts and observations continuously.

Twelve years ago I went through a major personality shift. I flipped from extreme introversion to being outgoing. Now I think out loud in public. People borrow my thoughts and put them to work. I find this gratifying. At least once a month, someone steals my words or graphics and publishes them without attribution, as if it were their own work. A few days ago, a UK company said they didn't know the graphic they had swiped was copyrighted: even though the copyright notice appeared in small print on the item they had appropriated!

Bert  - How do you feel about the ‘self-reliant’ professional? Do you find the evolution to ‘self’; self-steering, self-succeeding or self-failing, ... a liberating evolution or one that rings alarm bells?

I'm glad to be on my own, the master of my fate as it were. No alarm bells here.

Bert - How do you think your competence should be evaluated?

Accomplishment is the proof of the pudding. Potential without action doesn't count for much. 

Thanks for sharing, Jay!