Software Design Decoded

Experts live with their heads up and their eyes open. They are aware of their surroundings and "try on" any ideas they spot. They take inspiration from other people, from other areas, and from their wider environment. They continually collect ideas that might be useful.

Most design projects bog down at some point, when every suggestion seems to lead to further problems. Rather than continuing to "bang their heads" against the same problem, experts switch their focus to another part of the design.

Experts do not take their expertise for granted. They are continuously on the lookout for new knowledge to add to their repertoire and they explicitly seek out and make time for opportunities to learn.