Chase your own what if questions

While you're building something, small curious detours pop up constantly — what if I changed this setting, what if this worked with a different kind of file, what if I combined this with something I built earlier. Most people push those thoughts aside to stay focused on the original plan.

Those detours are often where the real learning happens. The original plan teaches you what you set out to learn. The curious detour teaches you something you didn't even know you needed, because it comes from your own question instead of someone else's lesson plan.

Try this today: the next time a "what if I tried this" thought interrupts your work, give yourself a few minutes to actually try it before going back to the original plan. Keep a short note of what you find. Those small side trips add up to real skill faster than you'd expect.