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diff --git a/2024/talks/learning.md b/2024/talks/learning.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..82672de4 --- /dev/null +++ b/2024/talks/learning.md @@ -0,0 +1,185 @@ +[[!meta title="Survival of the Skillest: Thriving in the Learning Jungle"]] +[[!meta copyright="Copyright © 2024 Bala Ramadurai"]] +[[!inline pages="internal(2024/info/learning-nav)" raw="yes"]] + +<!-- Initially generated with emacsconf-publish-talk-page and then left alone for manual editing --> +<!-- You can manually edit this file to update the abstract, add links, etc. ---> + + +# Survival of the Skillest: Thriving in the Learning Jungle +Bala Ramadurai (his/him) - https://balaramadurai.net + +[[!inline pages="internal(2024/info/learning-before)" raw="yes"]] + +In today's fast-paced world, the need to learn new skills is more crucial +than ever. The ability to adapt and evolve not only enhances your +employability but also empowers you to navigate life's challenges more +effectively. By acquiring new skills, you stay relevant, innovative, and +capable of seizing opportunities that come your way. + +The session will begin with an engaging discussion on the necessity of +learning new skills, emphasizing that the ability to adapt and evolve is +crucial. Using the metaphor of "emptying your teacup," you will explore the +concept of approaching learning with an open mind, ready to absorb new +knowledge and skills. + +Next, you'll dive into actionable techniques for managing your tasks and +projects efficiently. Bala will introduce the PARA method—Projects, Areas, +Resources, and Archives—a structured approach to organizing your work and +life. You will learn how to categorize your tasks, set clear goals, and +maintain a balanced workflow. + +Furthermore, the talk will highlight the importance of regular reviews. +Weekly, quarterly, and yearly reviews will help you stay on track, reflect +on your progress, and plan for the future. Through these reviews, you'll be +encouraged to ask big life questions, such as your financial goals, the +impact you've had on others, and your work-life balance. + +Finally, you'll be introduced to the 9-windows framework, a powerful tool +for future career planning. Join us and take the first step towards +mastering the art and developing the mindset of skillful survival in the +fast-paced ever changing learning jungle. + +About the speaker: + +Dr. Bala Ramadurai is an author, coach, consultant, podcaster and +professor. He has authored a book on Design Thinking called Karmic Design +Thinking (<https://dt.balaramadurai.net>). He has 3 patents to his credit and +10+ publications in international research journals. He co-founded TRIZ +Innovation India (<https://trizindia.org>) and is an Adjunct Professor at +Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (India), Universidad +Panamericana (Mexico), Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies and +National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning (NPTEL). He is also a +board member in the Board of Studies for Symbiosis International University. + +In this talk, you'll discover the importance of continuous skill +development and learn practical strategies to manage your personal and +professional growth effectively using Emacs org-mode, Getting Things Done +(David Allen's GTD), PARA (Tiego Forte's Projects-Areas-Resources-Archives) +and system operator (or 9-windows). Bala will guide you through a +transformative journey of self-improvement and productivity. + +See also: +# Discussion + +## Questions and answers + +- Q:What is TRIZ? + - A: Russian methodology (documented in books) + - Translates to "Theory of Inventive Problem Solving" +- Q: Thank you for this talk, very interesting. One of the things that + frustrates me about modern webdev is the rate of churn when it comes + to useful knowledge. I think Emacs can help to counteract against + this by building lasting tools where mastery can be built. Do you + agree that learning similar but different things again and again is + ultimately wasted bandwidth? What can we do as technologists to push + back against this? + - A: New things are always coming up, and we "have" to learn that + new things. We also have to be aware that there are so many + projects, hobbies, and Life™ waiting for you. It's not a + balancing act, but if you pay attention and are present in the + moment (fully present), then **look back** and **connect**. + Something that appears to be a waste of time at first could + potentially tie back to something else and be really helpful. + - EX: Experimenting with CSS, and how it could be used to + customize an org-mode export. + - Then, a student mentioned that the slides were too bulky + to be scrolled through. + - ...But because I'd looked already at CSS, I could play + with weasyprint to make the slides. +- Q (reworded as a question): \<chum-cha\> Why add an "Abandoned" + project to the "Resources" folder instead of the "Archives" + folder? + - A: Many a time, when the projects are abandoned, given some + time, some projects revive and you could restart. Also, these + abandoned projects could serve as useful resources for some + other related projects. I tend to move Archives to another + filing system to conserve space at the end of the year. +- Q: How would you avoid the blind spots in your personal review, e.g. + problems you cannot see with yourself because of unconscious + hinderances? + - A: I feel that when you are reviewed by others, those blind + spots become apparent. Otherwise, it can be tricky to get to + know this in personal reviews alone, in my opinion +- Q: What tool are you using to sync your todos and notes in multiple + hosts? + - A: The only other tool I use, apart from emacs on my computer is + Google calendar. I use org-gcal to sync the events from Google + Calendar. If I am on the move and away from my computer, I mark + an event for monday morning, 09:30am with the task that I just + thought about. In that event, I prefix it with TODO, so that + when it shows up in my org agenda, it shows up as a TODO task + and I am able to process it. Org-gcal syncs to my + 0Inbox/TODO.org +- Q:Emptying your teacup is something interesting you had in your + talk. Sometimes my thinking is sluggish until i write down the + thoughts that refuse to leave my head "generally in journaling or + gtd". I am also pleasantly surprised about what comes out. You + brought this up multiple times other reasons for this? + - A: Emptying your teacup is just the start, in my opinion. When + you finish processing all your thoughts is when the thought + actually leaves your head for good. Since, there is no reason + for your head to hold on to those thoughts. GTD suggests using a + someday-maybe folder or file for parking thoughts that are not + going to work out now, but you would like to keep to them look + up later. I look at the someday/maybe once a quarter. +- people can join BBB: + [https://media.emacsconf.org/2024/current/bbb-learning.html](https://media.emacsconf.org/2024/current/bbb-learning.html) + +## Notes + +- i want to learn new skills because it is annoying + not being able to do something +- I like learning because it feels good for me, like it + grants some dopamine. And the more one learns, the more one is able + to do. +- By analogy, the email inbox is for receiving mail, not for + holding it +- Article on e-mail organization: + [https://pointieststick.com/2024/07/09/how-i-manage-my-kde-email/](https://pointieststick.com/2024/07/09/how-i-manage-my-kde-email/) + - Thunderbird enables automatic tagging. +- For adding files to the agenda, I have an updated version of the + System Crafters setup. + - System Crafters Set-up: + [https://codeberg.org/SystemCrafters/systemcrafters-site/src/branch/master/content/videos/build-a-second-brain-in-emacs/5-org-roam-hacks.org#headline-5](https://codeberg.org/SystemCrafters/systemcrafters-site/src/branch/master/content/videos/build-a-second-brain-in-emacs/5-org-roam-hacks.org#headline-5) + - Updated Set-up: + [https://github.com/gs-101/.emacs.d/blob/17c04c0ef1c5fb4083c8d94a5240ed8ef7d4a841/modules/gs-org-roam.el#L96](https://github.com/gs-101/.emacs.d/blob/17c04c0ef1c5fb4083c8d94a5240ed8ef7d4a841/modules/gs-org-roam.el#L96) + - Just add a ":agenda:" tag to the file and call + "dw/org-roam-refresh-agenda-list" +- I plan to add an "Archive" file to my Roam set-up, I don't have + one currently. Usually I just leave the finished task in the file. + Not sure if it's effective. +- perhaps "abandoned" means in PARA not + definitive for all time, and could be useful in the future again. + but that's just a guess, not being familiar enough with PARA. + - Thanks! That makes sense and I think + that's probably the correct answer. I guess my interpretation + of the "Archive" folder is that it's there so that you can + pull stuff out if you change your mind, whereas Resources is + more for things that are "Active" and I wouldn't personally + see an "Abandoned" project as active. + - personally i would also pull out from + any folder, may it be named "archives" or not :) but maybe + archive implies in PARA for completed projects only - + however, pls double check with the presenter Bala +- I was doing some of these already but not in a formal way. This + gives me a lot of structure to do it. Thank you so much. I like the + "emptying the teacup" idea a lot. +- I will probably add the regular reviews to my workflow. I also think + it is the hardest concept in your talk, isn't it? +- Personally, I use Syncthing + ([https://syncthing.net/](https://syncthing.net/)) + to sync files. + - I'm using Nextcloud for syncing files. It also has WebDAV + interface which can be used by the Phone Apps. + - I'd use NextCloud too, but I don't have a server set-up (a + NAS, for example) at home. I'm waiting until I buy one to + get into self-hosting. +- Thanks, that was a great talk - I'll be watching it again :) + + +[[!inline pages="internal(2024/info/learning-after)" raw="yes"]] + +[[!inline pages="internal(2024/info/learning-nav)" raw="yes"]] + + |