I work as a consultant so I am always getting exposed to new industries and technologies. Sometimes I am learning because I absolutely have to in order to be successful on the project I have signed up for, or otherwise I find my self learning new things because I have either heard of a topic through a friend/colleague or I have a general interest. I usually have 2 or 3 topics i.e. Ruby, Systems Thinking, Presenting, that I want to focus on.
For each of those focus topics I then:
- Read a lot! I try and get a book done each week, maybe a second on the weekend. I have worked hard at improving my reading speed and if I really focus when I read (sit down at a desk, remove any distractions, get a nice coffee) I find I can get through material very quickly. While I am reading I take notes, I use these notes later on for writing (see later point)
- Listen to podcasts/audiobooks, I like to put on an audio book and do a repetitive form of exercise or just walk around, I live in a city with lots of great places to walk so heading out for a 4 hour walk in the evening is easy and I can easily get through an audiobook, I take notes while I walk too.
- Write about it, if I am learning about something I like to write about it too, this helps me cement the topic I am learning.
- Do a course or workbook on the topic
Apart from the focus topic areas, I am subscribed to the Economist, Bloomberg Business week and various mailing lists, I like to scan through these articles and read any that catch my attention, I feel that having these taps on broader interest areas keeps me from getting too bored or narrow in my field of specialty (which is software).
I think the thing that helps me the most though is that I work as a consultant. I move industries (banking, retail, government, biochemical) and technology (c#, java, ruby, javascript) every few months so I am constantly finding myself in the deep end in new fields - this drives me to be on top things and is a good motivator to rapidly learn.
I have learned more in my 4 years as a consultant then I did in the 4 years at uni and 3 years working for other software shops.
For each of those focus topics I then: - Read a lot! I try and get a book done each week, maybe a second on the weekend. I have worked hard at improving my reading speed and if I really focus when I read (sit down at a desk, remove any distractions, get a nice coffee) I find I can get through material very quickly. While I am reading I take notes, I use these notes later on for writing (see later point) - Listen to podcasts/audiobooks, I like to put on an audio book and do a repetitive form of exercise or just walk around, I live in a city with lots of great places to walk so heading out for a 4 hour walk in the evening is easy and I can easily get through an audiobook, I take notes while I walk too. - Write about it, if I am learning about something I like to write about it too, this helps me cement the topic I am learning. - Do a course or workbook on the topic
Apart from the focus topic areas, I am subscribed to the Economist, Bloomberg Business week and various mailing lists, I like to scan through these articles and read any that catch my attention, I feel that having these taps on broader interest areas keeps me from getting too bored or narrow in my field of specialty (which is software).
I think the thing that helps me the most though is that I work as a consultant. I move industries (banking, retail, government, biochemical) and technology (c#, java, ruby, javascript) every few months so I am constantly finding myself in the deep end in new fields - this drives me to be on top things and is a good motivator to rapidly learn.
I have learned more in my 4 years as a consultant then I did in the 4 years at uni and 3 years working for other software shops.