Now what?

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Have had to remind myself of this lately…The Way to Learn X is to Do X.

Rather than waiting to get hired at your job of choice, start trying to do whatever it is you want to do on your own. Of course it’s easier said than done, but it helps to have a vision of a finished product to help you learn some new skills rather than picking up a bunch of manuals and plowing through them blindly.

Here’s an example from Louis Rossetto, talking about the creation of Wired:

Six months later, I created a second prototype on my own. Learned how to use Quark, Photoshop, and Illustrator in the same month — and juggle too.

What'd you create today?

Part of my training to get into the world of product management is to start making more things….not specs or plans or wireframes - actual finished products (ie: today I made a t-shirt on Zazzle).

I can’t fully articulate my beliefs on the benefits of creating, but thought this Vonnegut quote summed it up nicely:

I always say to people, practice an art, no matter how well or badly [you do it], because then you have the experience of becoming, and it makes your soul grow.