31–40 of 222 posts
Honestly I would drop the ego that fuels this mindset and make an inventory of the topics you've actually pursued in life so far. That can be a good indication of the things you truly find valuable, and it can lead to uncomfortable realizations.
A lot of people here are going to talk negatives and prioritization and purpose, but I personally also want to be practically omniscient, and you should strive for it too. You need strategies if you want to know a lot. Certainly focused things like classes and intensive study are necessary from time to time (and especially early in life), but we can't do that our whole lives, nor do we want to. What we need is to dev…
The best way to actually command subjects is to work on them. Spend some time at companies doing the things you want - preferably in high paying jobs - and then start something on your own where you have to wear all the hats and submerge yourself in the technical details.
It's not as deep as academia, but it's certainly broad. This tactic might be what you're looking for.
And if you get exceedingly lucky, you might wind up with the capital and stumble upon the kind of unexplored areas ripe for growth that Elon Musk did. That's probably the ideal scenario - you get to work on incredibly interesting subject matters through hiring the best talent in the world. Use your team as a high level search and filter algorithm, and be present to learn and enjoy the process.
I'm nowhere near as successful but have employed people to do exactly that. It's not a bad alternative.
Never been very good at planning, tho.
I used to get this with books until I came across the Japanese concept of Tsundoku which helped identify and calm the anxiety. Tsundoku (積ん読) is the acquisition of reading materials and letting them pile up without reading them.
A lot of people here are going to talk negatives and prioritization and purpose, but I personally also want to be practically omniscient, and you should strive for it too. You need strategies if you want to know a lot. Certainly focused things like classes and intensive study are necessary from time to time (and especially early in life), but we can't do that our whole lives, nor do we want to. What we need is to dev…
You can read books till the cows come home, but don't expect to become an expert from reading alone. I can't imagine anyone on their deathbed wishing they'd spent more time reading on the toilet Vs actually practicing a skill.
I'd also ask yourself "Why do I want to be an expert specifcially?" Is this really just a manifestation of narcissism? Are you really after admiration and respect? Work on yourself. That's the best advice I can give you.