10 lessons I've learned from the open-source community that aren't about tech

I've been working with and writing about open-source software since 1999 and it has been a journey. From the early days of feeling like one of a small crowd to knowing I was part of a massive movement that has helped reshape the world, I've enjoyed (almost) every minute of the voyage.

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You might think that the lessons I've learned from being part of the open-source environment would be centered on technology. However, many things I've learned on the trip inform other aspects of life. 

Let me share those with you.

1. It's about sharing

This is a lesson I learned in elementary school, but it was reinforced with almost every step I've taken using open-source software: sharing is at the very heart of open-source. 

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Without sharing, open-source projects like Linux wouldn't exist. Linus Torvalds created the open-source operating system as a personal project but quickly saw the value in sharing the technology with the world. The rest, as they say, is history.

2. It's about caring

If there's one thing you can say about open-source developers, it's that they care passionately about the projects they develop. They have to -- otherwise, those projects might not exist. 

Many open-source developers aren't paid for their work, so they must care enough about the project to continue producing. That lesson has been transferred to so much in my life, especially my career as an author. 

Selling books is a very up-and-down ride, and when the downs hit, you have to remind yourself how much you care about what you do. Without that level of passion, most artists wouldn't create. Thankfully, my journey with open-source technology constantly reminds me of the value of caring.

3. Marketing isn't always required 

Linux doesn't get much (if any) marketing, and yet, here we are. I've railed about this issue for years, saying that companies like Canonical, SUSE, and Red Hat should be marketing their products to a much wider audience. 

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Imagine a commercial about Ubuntu running during the Super Bowl. Of course, that would be fantastic, but it's mostly unimaginable given the budgets open-source projects have to work with. 

However, despite having so little marketing, open-source technology is thriving. Sure, it would be exponentially better if those companies had the funds for huge marketing campaigns, but it's not critical to success because…

4. Word of mouth is your best friend

One reason why open-source technology has enjoyed such success is word of mouth. Here's my take: if a friend or family member makes a recommendation, I'm far more likely to try something than when I'm targeted by marketing. 

We trust people far more than companies, so word of mouth means quite a bit. As an author, I've found that when someone recommends one of my books to a friend or family member, that person is far more likely to try it than if an algorithm tells them my work is a good fit. Word of mouth has kept me going as a writer of fiction and it's a big driver of Linux's growth.

5. Enjoy the small victories

Open-source technology taught me long ago that small victories are precious. I remember using Linux in the early days, when I would solve what seemed like a monumental problem, only to realize quickly the victory was much smaller than I thought. 

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Even so, successfully overcoming those small obstacles adds up, and the more small victories you claim means you can continue moving forward -- which is far better than moving backward. I'll take a thousand small victories over one gigantic victory any day.

6. Building a community is crucial

Ubuntu literally means "community" -- and community is a key aspect of open source. In the early days, the community was the only thing keeping open source going. 

You could attend a Linux convention and feel the communal vibe. Everyone at the event was a kindred spirit and that feeling made the community seem so special. 

Without that community, Linux would have never succeeded because there wouldn't have been so many people with the same goal -- to ensure world domination (which was a rather tongue-in-cheek goal).

7. Collaboration eases the burden

Open source is all about collaboration. Sure, some small projects rely on a single developer, but, for the most part, open-source technology is all about teamwork. 

Once upon a time, I tried to do everything myself, but we all know where that leads -- to burnout and failure. Open-source technology not only taught me collaboration is key, but the collaborative approach always reminds me that delegating tasks (no matter what) can make a project run more smoothly, prevent exhaustion, and stop me from wanting to give up. 

Collaboration also reminds me that there are some insanely talented people, and I want them by my side whenever possible.

8. Perseverance pays off

Most Linux projects wouldn't succeed if the developers, designers, and teams involved didn't have the tenacity of a Jack Russel Terrier. 

Perseverance is the difference between pushing through the struggle and giving up. Had I not learned this lesson long ago, I would have given up on my writing career before it took off. 

9. Enjoy the challenge

One thing you should learn from this article is that the challenge is not only part of the journey but also the fun. When faced with a challenge (which the open-source community regularly faces), we typically grow from embracing it. 

Also: Linux and open-source documentation is a mess: Here's the solution

We grow as we try to overcome the challenge -- and that lesson is key for me because life is filled with challenges. Relationships, creative endeavors, staying fit, mindfulness… Staying on top of these issues can be challenging

Spending so much time with open-source technology has taught me that the challenge should be faced with the understanding that I will have learned something for having to endure it.

10. Respect the underdog

I always tell people not to underestimate an underdog. Linux has been the underdog from day one and remains so today. And yet, open-source software has become a champion of the enterprise. 

I would go so far as to say that without this underdog, most big businesses wouldn't be where they are now. My career path has paralleled open-source technology for a long time in that I've always had to approach things as the underdog. I'm okay with that situation because I gain extra pride with each success. 

Embrace that sense of the underdog and you'll experience the same feeling.