In a recent internal team meeting, I emphasized the importance of self-learning. One of the product managers posed a basic question: "How do we go about this?"
While I had a few examples to share, such as courses, books, and blogs, it lacked a systematic approach. Tried arranging my thoughts into the following framework.
The Two Dimensions
The learning space for professionals can be defined by two dimensions: Familiarity and Time to Impact.
Familiarity
This dimension reflects the proximity of the topic you wish to learn to your existing knowledge. As you move further away from the origin, you venture into areas unrelated to your current expertise. For instance, I recently came across a book by an investment professional who discussed what he learned about investing from Darwin. In that case, he was exploring a topic quite distant from his familiarity axis. On the other hand, taking a course on UI/UX as a product manager would be closer to the center — more familiar.
Time to Impact
This dimension also considers the element of uncertainty. As you move away from the origin, you may engage with subjects that interest you and seem important but lack immediate application. For example, I've been reading several articles on AGI (artificial general intelligence), which fall into the long-term category. While I must learn about this megatrend, can I utilize it in the next 3-6 months? Probably not. Conversely, if I have an automation project on the product roadmap and if I start educating myself on it, I will be able to apply in the medium term.
To thrive in any role, particularly in these times, investing in self-learning is essential. Therefore, it's wise to adopt a structured approach to maximize the value of our learning time.