Learning and Working

Learning can be hard work . Having to work and do some extra learning can be what? well, "double hard work"? 🤣🤣🤣. I am currently finding a balance by asking myself two questions.......

One of the toughest things to manage as a cybersecurity professional is keeping up with security concepts, knowledge and skills. I ask myself a million and one times “when does it end” , “who send me work bayi” .Well , I know it does not as you cannot stop learning in general.

Why Do I have to keep Learning?

Technology is evolving and so is the approach to security. 10 years ago, there was little information or pursuit on cloud security or blockchain security and all of that plenty stuff. These days there is so much happening in the cybersecurity space and a lot of people do not want to be left behind. As much as we cannot learn or know everything, we have to continuously strive to get better.

To be very honest, it can get overwhelming and exhausting sometimes. I mean, how am I supposed to work 9 -5 and also catch up? “I am already tired from working for hours in a day an I just want to relax.” - If this is you, I feel you and I have been there (In all honesty , a lot of times, I still feel that way)

…..but you know we cannot give up yea?. Let me tell you how I have been doing it.

How am I Approaching this Learning and Working thing?

It was a bit difficult at the beginning. I mean how am I supposed to work and learn new skills 🥲🥲🥲? I am sure a lot of people can relate.

For me, what has worked for me in the past few years is I divided my learning requirements in to 2 parts by asking myself 2 questions.

1.     What skills /concept do I need to learn or build on to carry out my job effectively and efficiently?

2.     What skills/concept do I personally want to learn or build on?

Skills I Need To Get My Job Done

Working and learning can be done synonymously. While carrying out your responsibilities at work, you will need to keep building on your current skills to make progress. To be honest with ourselves, we never have all of the skills, or we may need to be more proficient in them, so this is the “working and learning thing”. I evaluate the skills I need to do my job which really varies over time. The best approach for me is always to take my time, make research why trying to get the work done, talk to people and ask questions.

This way I get to do an excellent work and learn something in the process. One of the mistakes I made was diving right into getting work done without understanding or knowing why or asking questions.

Do not just work, if you can, ask questions. Understand the ideology behind a certain approach or task you are working on . Trust me, you can be working and not learning.

What Skills Do I Want To Learn And Build On

Because of the evolving nature of security, we always have some concept/skills we personally want to build on. Here is the second category.

These skills may help me with my job but it is not essential for my job. On the other hand, it will help with my career progression.

This is where I built my learning consistency. I dedicate a certain number of hour(s) daily/weekly to learn this skills or concept. If I have a training or certification planned out, it falls into this category. If I have books or research papers I want to read, it falls under this category as well.

The idea is to be able to itemize and be deliberate about what you are learning and most importantly , rest!. Please rest when you feel you exhausted. (I actually said “what if I am always exhausted in my head? 🤣🤣🤣). You get the message yea?

Sometimes, the only learning you need in a day/week is the one to help you do an excellent job at work . There in no harm in that.

……and that is on that.I will like to know how you all are doing it as well. Please share.

This Newsletter was inspired by Micheal’s Tweet.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you.” - B.B. King