I learn by doing as well. It's the only way to learn for me really. So I just dive in and do. Looking up stuff as I need it. There's usually a lot of crap info

I learn by doing as well. It's the only way to learn for me really. So I just dive in and do. Looking up stuff as I need it. There's usually a lot of crap info out there but I just need enough to get around a piece of bad docs here or unintuitive UI/commands/syntax there. The thing is that I learn best like this when I'm not 'on the clock'. If I need to get a project done in a particular timeframe and use something new I'll fight against it. Don't want to do it. I don't know enough about it. If you give me the time and leisure to work through it I'll get it done in the time it needs and I'll learn whatever needs to be learned to accomplish it. I'm not deadline driven. Deadlines lock me up. I'm value driven. I know most people need a deadline to work against to not procrastinate and cram at the end. Doesn't work for me. I turned in my masters thesis weeks in advance.