Self-guided learning: Wealthier in life, wiser in choices, happier in being
Learning is pivotal to success in today's business. Here is a framework to help you learn quickly and effectively.
When I started my career in 1995, many roles we see today, like DevOps engineer and site reliability engineer, didn’t exist. The rise of cloud computing, smartphones, and related technologies has led to the creation of these new jobs. This transformation isn’t limited to the software industry; it has also impacted fields like retail and e-commerce. For instance, e-commerce emerged due to the internet, and new roles such as conversion rate optimization and A/B testing have developed over the last two decades.
In this fast-changing environment, you can’t sit back and expect to grow. As the saying goes, when new technology starts rolling, if you’re not part of the steamroller, you’re part of the road. To be part of the roller, you need a structured approach to learning new systems, software languages, and new ways of working.
To help with this, I created a framework called Consume, Produce, and Engage. Over the last twenty years, I’ve used this framework to navigate various technological changes, from multi-tier applications to cloud-native technology and everything in between. I have used this framework to learn value investing, project management, and many other domains. This framework has proven effective for me, and I believe it’s essential for anyone looking to adapt and thrive as technology evolves and new jobs emerge.
# The Framework: Consume, Produce, Engage
In the consume phase, you focus on understanding the basic concepts and fundamentals of the subject. This can be done through various methods such as classroom sessions, workshops, books, podcasts, and videos. Today, you can even interact with AI tools like ChatGPT to enhance your learning. It’s crucial to grasp the fundamentals first, as they serve as the foundation for further knowledge. I’ve found that books, which have stood the test of time, are particularly valuable.
Merely consuming information turns you into a storehouse of ideas. To truly learn, you need to contextualize what you’ve learned by producing something of value. This could be a blog post, a YouTube video, or a presentation—whatever format works for you. The key is to create something, as this process helps you learn more deeply. Think of it as teaching someone else; when you produce content, you retain and crystallize your knowledge better.
While producing helps with retention, it reflects only your perspective. To gain a broader understanding, you need to seek feedback from others. Engaging with different viewpoints allows you to see various dimensions of the topic, enriched by others’ experiences and insights. By respectfully interacting with others, you can develop a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the domain.
# Pillars of Effective Learning
To keep learning effectively, you need to focus on three main pillars: mindset, environment, and tools.
The first pillar is your mindset. You can either have a fixed mindset, believing you know everything and don’t need to learn more, or a growth mindset, where you actively seek to grow by learning new things. You might think a subject is too difficult for you, or you might believe you can break it down and succeed, just like you did with tough exams in the past. Your mindset is crucial because what you truly believe shapes your actions and reality. As the saying goes, reality is first created in your mind before it manifests in the physical world.
The second pillar is your environment. The people you surround yourself with greatly influence your learning. It’s often said that you are the average of your five closest friends. In the past, this meant being physically present with those people, but now, thanks to the internet, you can connect with like-minded individuals on platforms like Twitter and social media. By joining mastermind communities, you can place yourself in an environment that challenges you and supports your learning journey. However you build it, the environment should be forgiving and encouraging. It should allow for mistakes to happen but also give you support to move forward in whatever domain you’re learning.
Lastly, the tools you have access to are important for your learning process. If the tools are too expensive or not readily available, it will hinder your ability to learn. The tools should facilitate your learning by helping you combine different ideas and concepts, allowing you to create and share knowledge. In the past, platforms like SlideShare and LinkedIn were useful for sharing and engaging with others. Now, with tools like ChatGPT, you can generate blog posts and clarify your understanding through conversation. The best tools hide their complexity and let you work with ease and speed. Go after those tools.
# Benefits
By adopting the "consume-produce-engage" framework, you position yourself to become wealthier, wiser, and happier—equipped to navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world while enjoying a fulfilling and prosperous life.
# Wealth
A strong learning framework boosts your confidence and courage to take on jobs that seem beyond your current skills. When you have a solid foundation, you believe you can learn and improve your abilities. Mistakes will happen, but with the right approach, you can fix them quickly. You can also reach out to others for help and move forward. This framework has significantly increased my earning potential.
For instance, when I got the chance to consult for the Government of India, I knew nothing about the public sector. However, I took the opportunity and worked alongside highly experienced professionals, including IAS officers, who are among the best in India. I also collaborated with industry leaders from banking, policy-making, and entrepreneurship. Thanks to my confidence in learning, I was able to keep up with these experts. This experience not only boosted my earnings but also gave me a sense of fulfillment from contributing to my country. Additionally, it helped me build a network of contacts who referred me for more opportunities. Having a strong learning framework greatly enhances your earning potential.
A strong learning framework can also significantly enhance your investment opportunities. By applying the consume, produce, engage model, I invested in various assets such as real estate, mutual funds, gold, and the stock market. Over about 20 years, the dividends and passive income generated from these investments have not only covered my annual expenses but have also allowed me to consider retirement. However, I enjoy my work, and I work only three days a week, which can be considered partial-retirement.
# Wiser
Following a structured learning framework helps you become a multidisciplinary learner. By synthesizing the information you gather, you can develop expertise in various fields.
Take the mundane example of creating a curriculum vitae (CV). You might start without knowing what makes a good CV. Initially, you may just list your name and jobs. However, as you learn how to write a good CV, you’ll look at examples and seek feedback from others. This process teaches you that a CV needs both numbers and narratives. Numbers alone don’t tell a compelling story, and stories without numbers can lead to your CV being overlooked.
You’ll also learn to highlight the outcomes of your roles instead of just listing activities. This realization will lead you to explore typography, font sizes, and which fonts to use or avoid. You may wonder why these details matter, prompting you to delve into psychology and understand how human attention works. The seemingly simple task of creating a CV exposes you to theories from various fields.
As you continue to study different topics, you’ll become a better learner and gain expertise in multiple areas. Over time, you’ll learn about epistemology — how people learn and retain information, as well as philosophy, psychology, and theology. Engaging with these subjects will help you integrate knowledge from different fields to achieve your goals. Thus, having a structured learning framework transforms you into a multidisciplinary expert.
Learning across multiple disciplines helps improve decision-making skills over time. As you create artifacts by combining ideas from various fields, you begin to understand different mental models. This understanding allows you to absorb knowledge from various domains, making you wiser in shaping your life. You’ll learn what works and what doesn’t, and understand the psychology behind your current situation.
This wisdom applies to many areas, such as parenting, marriage, career choices, and financial decisions. As you gather data and synthesize information from your studies, you develop your own mental models and philosophies. By being a multidisciplinary learner, you gain valuable insights that contribute to a fulfilling life.
# Happier
Learning from different fields allows you to make better choices and find joy in the process. Initially, you may learn for specific reasons, like getting a promotion or completing a certification. However, over time, you start to enjoy learning for its own sake. You engage in activities simply for the fun of it, whether it’s investing, creating apps, or networking.
As you dive deeper into these pursuits, they become enjoyable rather than just work. While some may find these tasks tedious, you experience them as fun. This enjoyment, combined with the knowledge you gain from others, sharpens your skills and improves the quality of your work. People appreciate collaborating with you because your output is solid and high-quality.
This creates a positive feedback loop: you’re happy doing what you love, and others are willing to pay for your high-quality work. You can accomplish tasks more quickly than many others, making your life feel more enjoyable. Even though you put in hard work, it seems to come naturally to you, leading to greater happiness in your life.
# Overall: The Benefits of the Consume, Produce, Engage Learning Model
The consume, produce, engage learning model helps you build essential skills and adapt to the changing technology landscape, leading to personal and financial growth. This model not only equips you with strategies and techniques for continuous learning but also allows you to earn in a way that suits you. Instead of chasing crowded markets, you become wealthier in your own unique way. This financial growth boosts your confidence in decision-making, enabling you to make wiser choices in life.
As a result of this learning approach, you experience greater happiness. You can build meaningful relationships that are not just transactional. People are genuinely interested in talking to you, and you can draw from a wide range of concepts and ideas during conversations. This ability to synthesize information makes interactions engaging and helps you form long-term connections.
Additionally, as you gain financial resources, new opportunities arise. You may find yourself mentoring others or designing innovative products. You can even create job roles that didn’t exist before, carving out your own niche in the professional world.
Ultimately, this learning framework leads to respect from those around you. It enhances your life by providing wealth, healthier relationships, and a sense of fulfillment. While others may see you as consistently happy, you know that this success is the result of your hard work and dedication to the consume, produce, engage model.
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