I understand how to use [`imports: {}` and `exports: {}`](http://devdocs.magento.com/guides/v2.1/ui_comp_guide/concepts/ui_comp_linking_concept.html) to share a UI components properties, such as:

    defaults: {
        exports: {
            shouldShowMessage: '${$.component}'
        }
    }

Which returns the component name in the exports.

[![enter image description here][1]][1]

But when I try to export a Knockout observable it is always undefined:

    defaults: {
        exports: {
            shouldShowMessage: '${$.shouldShowMessage}'
        }
    }

    ...

    setupKoBindings: function() {
        this.shouldShowMessage = ko.observable('Testing');
    }


[![enter image description here][2]][2]

As a workaround I am going to create a storage model as explained [here](https://inviqa.com/blog/using-knockout-js-magento-2) but I would prefer to use the imports and exports.


  [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/ESOuK.png
  [2]: https://i.sstatic.net/6Xxig.png