Sales, marketing, and JavaScript. In that order. Then you'll be unstoppable in anything you decide to do.
Third ones covered, what are the best resources for the first two?
Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
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Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the skills are OK. I find the average personality type I encounter in finance a bit abrasive: one-dimensional, sharp-elbowed, too full of certainties. I worry that this might be a general phenomenon in the corporate world :/ (of course, these people also tend to be much much happier). The 'sigh' was almost reflexive: even writing the word 'finance' makes me feel bored.
> "too full of certainties" This is one of the worst possible qualities to have in finance... well, unless you're on the sell-side.
But all too common on the buy-side, e.g. in PE/VC, and even most public equity investors.
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#63I come from a very technical background--CS with Machine Learning, and I'm currently diving into the humanities and arts. I'm using Hackdesign as a primer into the arts and design frame of mind.
I think it's best to engage in domains of thinking that are worlds apart from where you currently are.
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#64I'd recommend putting some time into learning how to change your body composition, improve your fitness, and control your mood. Better physiology improves all other aspects of one's life. Also practical psychology (why people do what they do, etc) is helpful. After that, learn how to create software.
Which subjects/areas of psychology would you recommend for someone looking for learning about practical psychology?
Here are several books I've found extremely useful. Ranked by how important I view them.
1. Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman. If you're going to read one, read this. A lot of theory undergirding how people think. Decision making by people will make a lot more sense after this.
2. Influence - Robert Cialdani. Less theory and more pragmatic advice on how to influence people.
3. Drive - Daniel Pink, Switch - Chip Heath, Made to Stick - Chip Heath, Predictably Irrational - Dan Ariely. Books on specific sub-categories. More pop-psych. Information density is less, but easier to read.
4. Poor Charlie's Almanac - Charlie Munger. Best known as Warren Buffett's partner, this book is a collection of his speeches, letters, etc... You get an idea of how he thinks but, but you have to dig through the repetitive ramble to get it. Think of it as Charlie observing a lot of the prior principles but putting it into a real life/business context.
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#65Learning to write embarrassingly clearly.
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#66Earlier quoted context omitted.
Which subjects/areas of psychology would you recommend for someone looking for learning about practical psychology?
Here are several books I've found extremely useful. Ranked by how important I view them. 1. Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahneman. If you're going to read one, read this. A lot of theory undergirding how people think. Decision making by people will make a lot more sense after this. 2. Influence - Robert Cialdani. Less theory and more pragmatic advice on how to influence people. 3. Drive - Daniel Pink, Switch - Chi…
Thanks for the list! I had #1 and #3 in my list already, I'll check the others too :).
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#67If I had 6 months and no obligations, I'd learn to draw and to storytell, and I'd make and publish (for free if I can afford it) a graphic novel adaptation of Asimov's Foundation. Current item 1 on my "to do once we exit" list. It's a brilliant set of books by one of the most brilliant authors ever, and IMHO has a philosophy and structure that is rarely found in contemporary books or graphic novels. It would be a cha…
Start anyway. The rough draft will always be a rough draft.
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#68It's an interesting question, and maybe a wrong question altogether. From my current experience I've noticed that it does not really matter what you learn as long as you learn something. To go event further, choose something unrelated to your current skill set.
When you learn something new, the way you perceive the world, the way you think in general changes because you have more variables to work with. You will start observing things that were always there, but the subconscious part of your brain was filtering it out because it was considered "useless". You will understand more, and at some point will be able to make connections between apparently unconnected topics, get new ideas, innovate.
But if you want to learn a new skill just to monetize it (get a good payed job quickly), things are a bit different. Then you must stay in your area of expertise, and choose something close to that, something that either has potential in the near-future, of it can be monetized now. You will have to make a bit of research on that one depending on the area you live in and the number of open jobs available.
Re: Ask HN: What skills would you invest in learning?
#69Sales, marketing, and JavaScript. In that order. Then you'll be unstoppable in anything you decide to do.
Third ones covered, what are the best resources for the first two?
Here are the resources I've found most helpful:
Sales -------------
Steli Efti: his YouTube videos + blog posts at blog.close.io
Smart Calling by Art Sobczak
Question Your Way to Sales Success by Dave Kahle
Marketing -------------
Traction by Gabriel Weinberg