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Discussion on: Keep learning, should you invest your own time?

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gergelypolonkai profile image
Gergely Polonkai

Let’s rephrase this (in)famous phrase: Learn 15-20 hours a week. You owe it to yourself.

I learn a lot. About the software i use at work, the libraries i use at work or in pet projects, about software i never use (but our customers or competitors do). I also learn about woodworking, masonry, carpentry, psychology, and whatnot. If not for doing it myself then just to see and understand the opinion of other people. About anything.

You might work for the biggest compony in your industry, but what if they go bankrupt? What if AI takes over computers, or the constant cryptomining renders them useless, and you have to do something completely different? Or just what if a woodworker, mason, carpenter, or psychologist comes in your door and becomes your Biggest Customer Ever?

Learn something new every day. You owe it to yourself.

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jhotterbeekx profile image
John Hotterbeekx • Edited

Thanks for sharing! Although I don't completely with you on this. You bring it like everybody owes it to themselves, they don't. It all depends on what your goal is, what you want to reach in life. It might work for you, and if so, please learn something new every day!

The problem is the expectations we set when role figures in the industry make such black and white definitions. This makes people not think for themselves and simply assume that this is what is expected from them. People should think what they want to reach in live, what they value and align their time with reaching this. Is your career import, please make some time for learning. Is your job just a job for you, well you can do with a lot less and spend time on things you actually find important.

Although there is some truth your statement about the uncertainty of the future, it feels very toxic to me. You basically say anything can happen, you won't know what, but you better be prepared for it! I'd turn it around, anything can and probably will happen, you can't prepare for most of it, so just deal with it as it comes along. I think dealing with stuff this way gives you a lot less stress than trying to prepare for a lot of things that will probably never happen.