A knowledge capsule a day, keeps obsolescence at bay

I was at a conference recently, when a lady walked up to me and said that she took my advice and it helped her immensely. It took me a moment to recollect were I met her and what I had advised her about. I have been speaking at various industry events lately and one topic I inevitably talk about, is ‘continuous learning’. She was at one such event and heard me say that ‘a knowledge capsule a day keeps obsolescence at bay’’.

We are all aware that the world is changing at an unprecedented pace with the explosion of technology advances and the advent of new ways of working. And unless we keep pace with these changes, we will most likely be left behind. This isn’t a one-time effort either. It requires continuous learning.

Being a voracious reader, I read a couple of articles a day and make time to read a 100 books a year. I must confess that not all of these are business books, though. In my defense, when Gabriel Allon (the protagonist in Daniel Silva’s spy fiction) uses high-tech spy craft devices to fight enemies, I am still learning about technology advances, aren’t I?

Getting back to the point, I think everyone should consume at least one knowledge capsule a day, in order to stay relevant and informed. The capsule could take the form of a book, an article, a podcast, a video or even a conversation with an expert in your field. Content is so easy to find nowadays. Subscribe to a channel, follow relevant social media handles and keep an eye on bestseller lists. Pick 3–4 areas across your niche and keep yourself updated. The areas could be as diverse as Marketing, IoT and Photography, as long as they lie within your overall orbit. The more you learn about these areas, the greater your exposure and your ability to bring in a fresh perspective. Needless to say, it enhances your chances at growth and success. It also makes you an interesting conversationalist.

Go ahead and try it out. It will not take long for you to see the impact.