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Ask HN: What can I learn right now that'll benefit me forever

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21–27 of 27 posts

Re: Ask HN: What can I learn right now that'll benefit me forever

#21
post #13

If a certain technology is very interesting/promising, then stop wasting large amount of time on Reddit/HN seeking advice/opinions about _whether_ you should learn it or not. Instead, find 3 or 4 hours to finish some introductory tutorials to actually get to know the thing. This 3 hour work will relieve you from weeks, even months, of uncertainty/lurking, not to mention the possible anxiety due to not understanding p…

Yeah, I was curious about React, spent the next two days of non stop just learning it, and haven't looked back. I use it for a lot of my web app projects now and it's been great.

I do feel annoyed by people who get caught up in the hype and say "we'll use react on our stack" when they don't even know what React is. I just point them to the facebook tutorial.

Re: Ask HN: What can I learn right now that'll benefit me forever

#24
post #22

If a music in a club/concert feels like it's too loud, it probably is. Leave before you damage your hearing permanently.

Plan ahead, bring earplugs. There are some that don't affect frequency response too drastically, so they won't ruin the music. Etymotic High Fidelity earplugs aren't too expensive.

Re: Ask HN: What can I learn right now that'll benefit me forever

#25
post #2

I learnt that in a workplace, be replaceable. As ironic as it sounds, that will keep you the job (along with your other great qualities). For a developer, keep your code clean, organized, COMMENTED. Have documentation.

This is very true.

I recently left a position as a developer where I may have been considered irreplaceable by some. I had worked with some systems and websites for so long I became a fixture of this organization.

When opportunities and change were presented to me from higher-ups in my organization my direct supervisors took it upon themselves to do everything in their power to prevent it. It wasn't pretty, there was plenty of drama, guilt, and even some underhandedness. Needless to say I found a new position ASAP.

In my new position I'm replaceable. I believe that if I left today someone could take my place relatively easily. However, I'm much happier and it's refreshing to feel like I have mobility in my career again.

Re: Ask HN: What can I learn right now that'll benefit me forever

#27

Learn how to manage your money so that you control your lifestyle, rather than letting it control you. Start simple by keeping track of your expenses, then develop a budget so that you aren't spending all of your money every month. Eventually you'll get to the point where you have the option to do what you enjoy in life rather than feeling like you're trapped on an endless treadmill. If you want something to do right…

Next, figure out what it means to "have enough to retire" (and why it has nothing really to do with age).
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