Democratization of documentation is something I think really has changed GIS. When I learned ArcInfo in the early 1990s, there was one set of documentation binders for the office, and they were in the GIS manager’s bookshelf. I had to ask to borrow them to learn more (which I gladly did). But today, not only is there hundreds of ways to solve GIS problems, but getting help is as easy as a tweet, email or Google Search. I’ve outlined how I graduated without a degree in GIS and how I was lucky enough to be in a place where I could teach myself. But I could have been locked in a role where I was unable to grow and with no access to learn.
My son just let me know he was changing his major from Bio Design to GIS, and I was surprised to see how much has changed for him to learn. Honestly all that you need is a will to grow, and you can do so much. Maybe that is why when HERE put out a request for presentations, there was much more response than was expected. GIS isn’t about hiding knowledge anymore; it is about sharing it.
Oh, and when Connor graduates in about 4 years, I hope you’ll offer him a job. Unlike me, he’s a good kid.