Embracing Transparency: My Journey into the World of “WIP”

HoneyBadger
4 min readSep 21, 2023

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Here WIP is an acronym for “Working in Public” and not “Work in Progress” but let me demonstrate why “Working in Public” is also “Work in Progress”

My introduction to the concept of “working in public” was met with initial scepticism. The term seemed worlds apart from my world view like something reserved for influencers and social media enthusiasts. However, my perspective shifted dramatically when I encountered the work of Nadia Eghbal. Her insights and experiences helped me understand the concept better and appreciate its significance in my own professional life. What’s more, my journey also led me to the Bitcoin Design Community, a free open-source community that helps designers and developers working on bitcoin-products.

Overcoming Initial Reservations

When I first heard about “working in public,” I couldn’t help but associate it with the influencer culture that dominates social media today. It seemed like a buzzword, a trendy phrase used to attract attention and followers. After all, what could working in public possibly have to do with my world of design thinking, user experience, and problem-solving?

The Impact of Nadia Eghbal’s Work

My venture into comprehending “working in public” took an unexpected turn when I stumbled upon the body of work created by Nadia Eghbal. A prominent figure within the open-source software realm, Nadia not only advocates for this approach but also lives it out day in and day out. Her writings and experiences provided a roadmap that helped me grok the concept on a much deeper level.

Here are some key takeaways from my dabblings on this concept:

1. Transparency Is Not Self-Promotion

The perspective on “working in public” underscores the fact that it’s not about showcasing your work solely for self-promotion. Instead, it’s about being transparent about your processes, struggles, and successes. By sharing your journey, you open doors for others to learn, contribute, and engage.

2. Fostering Community

“Working in public” also assists with building a supportive community. When you share your work openly, you invite others to participate, collaborate, and provide feedback. This collaborative spirit can lead to the creation of something greater than you could achieve alone.

3. Learning from Others

Through Nadia’s stories, I realized that “working in public” is not just about broadcasting your work but also about learning from others. When you open up your processes to public scrutiny, you invite diverse perspectives and insights that can significantly improve your work.

4. Navigating Challenges Together

Nadia’s candid discussions regarding the challenges she encountered while “working in public” resonated deeply with me. Being transparent, especially when dealing with setbacks or criticism, is not always easy. However, by sharing these moments, you demonstrate resilience and the willingness to overcome obstacles, which can inspire others facing similar challenges.

Embracing “Working in Public” and the Bitcoin Design Community

My journey introduced me to the Bitcoin Design Community — a dynamic, open-source collective dedicated to assisting designers and developers working on bitcoin-related projects. This community embodies the principles of “working in public,” championing collaboration, transparency, and innovation.

Conclusion

“Working in public” doesn’t just mean showcasing a polished final product. It’s also about embracing the journey, acknowledging that the process itself is a valuable work in progress. By sharing our challenges, mistakes, and ongoing efforts, we invite others to witness the evolution of our work and ourselves. It’s a commitment to transparency and growth, where every step taken, every obstacle faced, and every lesson learned becomes part of the narrative. “Working in public” is, in essence, “work in progress” made visible and collaborative, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning.

Hence we can conclude that WIP equals to Working in public and work in progress

Embarking on a Transparent Journey

With my newfound understanding. I’ve embarked on my unique interpretation of “working in public.” As a result, I’ve made the choice to not only share my weekly podcasting journey, articles I write, and designs work I do but also my personal challenges like improving the number of pull-ups. I aim to openly share my challenges, insights, and occasional successes. This endeavour isn’t driven by a desire for validation or recognition; it’s about holding myself accountable. The only person I try to influence is myself.
Additionally, I may also share podcasts, blogs, software tools and other stuff I find interesting.

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Podcast — Dabbling Path

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HoneyBadger
HoneyBadger

Written by HoneyBadger

‘YOU’ is the universe looking at itself from billions of points of VIEW, points that come and go so that the vision is forever NEW

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