41–50 of 63 posts
When I'm away from my computer for an extended time I feel better physically and spiritually. I also get nothing done. We need to treat these machines with the respect we give hallucinogens and power tools.
I am an information addict, and this is what HN makes me do: http://www.benjamincoe.com/tetris/ :-)
The real trick is to not just consume information, but to digest it. I.e. don't merely eat a lot, make sure you have a high [information] metabolism. Understand what you read and share what you understand.
I decided that I'm happiest when I'm learning, so why fight it? I quit my job a year ago, and since then have managed to channel my information addiction to create a very satisfying lifestyle consulting and building my own companies with the information I've learned (and continue to learn).
I research things I'm interested in and passionate about. I want to know more. I'm an infosec guy by career and I can tell you that there is no way one can master all aspects of it. This should come as no surprise to entrepreneurs, developers, or geeks in general, really.
I'm currently interested in learning more about computer forensics. I have basic knowledge, but want to familiarize myself better with the methods, tools, and tricks of the trade. As usual, I also want to understand the counter of that -- anti-forensics technologies.
All the while, I surround myself with other bits of infosec news and knowledge, industry thought leaders, document what I play with, and eventually write about it to share it with others. There's no sense being a hoarder of information. Sometimes I come up with something genuinely unique. Other times, I feel like more of a curator.
I have other interests as well: bicycling, mechanical repair (think: automotive, appliance, etc) just to name a few. I'm equally as passionate about those things as well, and spend a good deal of my time learning about those things and putting them to practice.
1. I kinda thought I was, then I left for a one month road trip with limited connectivity. When I did have connectivity, I checked email, local news, and HN, and that was it. I had no urge to keep up with anything else. It was kinda nice.
2. In his _Technological Society_, Jacques Ellul writes the following: "We are constrained to be 'engaged,' as the existentialists say, with technique." Though this was written over 40 years ago, it very much describes our current information age.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
That's essentially what I did - given my mild obsession with figuring out how businesses work, I read thousands of books over ~6 years, started a website (personalmba.com), created a 12-week course (crashcourse.personalmba.com), took on private clients, and landed a book deal. I'm essentially paid to learn as much as I can, isolate the useful/practical bits, then teach them to others. If learning comes naturally to y…
How did you get into this line of work? If I could get paid just to learn things and share them with others that were truly motivated to learn, I'd be set for life.
Among the keys to pulling this off includes finding information that people are motivated to pay you to teach them. Unfortunately, most of the obvious things that pass this test are pretty well-covered by slimy folks that can outsell most of us (how to make money in real estate, how to pick folks up at the bar, etc.).
But anything you know that other people know that they want to know can be made to work. To get started, you have to start proving that you're an expert at what you want to be paid to teach. Start making high-quality contributions on forums that discuss what you want to teach. Attend conferences. (Self-)publish a book.
You'll have to act like everyone knows you're an expert even in the early days before everyone knows. But eventually you'll get there if you're patient, smart, and just the right amount of self-aggrandizing.
I think I'm going to start by moving my mail icon away from my iphone homescreen, and setting up a few push reminders to ask whether I am focusing on what I want to do and not wasting time.
I just realized I'm an information addict today while reading The 4 hour workweek. I think I'm going to start by moving my mail icon away from my iphone homescreen, and setting up a few push reminders to ask whether I am focusing on what I want to do and not wasting time.