Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#1

Post by taigeair » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:09 PM UTC

I feel like I've stopped rapidly learning after university and plateaued in my career in the last 1-1.5 years. How do you stay sharp and continue to climb in your career?

I'm a product manager at a tech company. I read. I work on side projects. I learn new programs like Sketch, take classes on Udemy and Coursera, but do not feel like I'm learning as much as I'd like. I'm not learning that much on the job anymore, just adding value to the company.

Update: wow, thanks for all the advice. I'll definitely read through all of it. But beyond advice, I'm also curious what do smart people (like you) do to continue growing in terms of activities.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#2

Post by andrewbadera » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:17 PM UTC

1) Go to, present at, local meetups, unconferences. 2) Get involved in OSS projects. 3) Find a mentor. 4) Job hop to something that challenges you and probably pays you more as well.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#3

Post by jhawk28 » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:18 PM UTC

Find a bigger pond. Big fish in small pond is a good way for short term benefits, but it limits the growth.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#4

Post by jbob2000 » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:19 PM UTC

Try something new outside of software. You will learn some new things that will kick-off new learning in software.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#5

Post by hellbanner » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:21 PM UTC

What are your side projects? IMO learning is only useful is it lets you build something.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#6

Post by sosuke » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:22 PM UTC

Take on more responsibility at work, either do it on your own or ask for more from your boss, say you want to do more, you feel you can do more.

Or start contributing to meetups, be out there, and get another job that is a step up.

Or try and make a product on your own, even if it is a silly idea, until you launch it. Do it again.

1-1.5 years isn't a plateau don't stress too much, that you want to do more is nearly all you need to climb, there are countless people that don't want anything more

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#7

Post by brokentone » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:22 PM UTC

Surround yourself with people far smarter than you are. Bring up interesting topics that you want to learn about but can also contribute to, let them fill in the gaps. Ask them what they are most interested in at this moment. Ideally do prior steps while buying them drinks.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#8

Post by agentultra » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:23 PM UTC

Sounds like you're doing all of the right things. Try reading material from outside your primary interests: biology, pure maths, civil engineering, electronics, chemistry, etc. Ideas are not born in a vacuum and over-specialization can sometimes give you the illusion of progress. I find digging into a new subject exciting and it often gives me new connections or angles to programming and maths that I wouldn't have otherwise encountered before.

As for commercial applications... well software for business is usually dry and boring grunt work. Interesting, innovative, and challenging are, paradoxically, antithetical to commercial software. You want reliable, boring, and simple. Perhaps you need to look for a research position or take a risk and start a venture based on one of your ideas.

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#9

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:24 PM UTC

jhawk28 wrote: post #3

Find a bigger pond. Big fish in small pond is a good way for short term benefits, but it limits the growth.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How do you stay sharp?

#10

Post by compostor42 » Mon, Jul 13, 2015, 4:25 PM UTC

>I read. I work on side projects. I learn new programs like Sketch, take classes on Udemy and Coursera

Sounds like you are already doing more to improve than most!

>I'm not learning that much on the job anymore, just adding value to the company.

Do you feel like you are often the smartest person in the room where you currently work? If so, time to move some place where that isn't the case. I find working with people more skilled than myself is the fastest way to improve. Sure, your ego will take a hit, but it is worth it for the self-improvement benefits.

However, short of places like Google, I'm not sure how to go about finding a place with more skilled people. Can't know for sure until you are actually working there.