I read a book on leadership a fair few years ago, and it mentioned that there were three phases to self expression.
The first phase is where you act like a sponge, taking in all the different ways to do a thing, the tools you need, the attitude to have.
The second is where you get confused because it doesn't come as easily as you thought it would.
The third is when you develop your own style and no longer need to follow other people.
A lot of the discussions around the different channels seem to flow primarily in this first phase. Then, actually getting splinters, getting your tools out, trying, failing, fixing, trying again, etc is the second phase. Once you get to the point where you can be inspired to make something, but without having to follow the directions in the article or the video, and without having to say 'I can't do that because I don't have a.....' then you have found your own style and are in that third phase.
A few times now people have approached me and shown me a picture of something and asked me if I can make it for them. I probably don't make it the same way that the original was made, or the same way that a lot of the people here would make it, but they are very happy with the result (which for me, is the main thing). However, I would not be able to be where I am now without that first phase, and all the different books and magazine articles I have read, demonstrations at woodworking shows, youtube videos etc.