Serendipity and Learning

One of the things we actively do is calling people who are trying out new things. In the past few months we have met people who are trying to push the envelope on many things - from game based assessments to AR driven trainings to technology learning companies to a bunch of other things. Learning things from interviews. Learning things from people in different industries. Learning things from books. Learning from leaders. And of course, trying out some of it. Trying out something new. With a hint of curiosity. With a bit of knowledge of reversible and irreversible decisions. Falling a bit, failing a bit, tweaking a bit... Realising that there is indeed, so much to learn...

The internet is a world of information. In an age of information everything is but a google search away. Take the example of science. When I was studying, if my textbook said water froze at 0 degrees, we took at as the truth. We did not have a doubt. Today, the internet is a great doubt clearing machine and ever so often when the kids come up with a doubt, we google and get an answer (or sometimes more confused). Apart from this, I am a huge fan of serendipity and believe it builds my divergent thinking muscle. The other day I was at an office and noticed a book called 'The Lego Architect' and bought it on Amazon. This book, while it is about Lego and architecture, taught me many words which I had no idea existed. Brutalism, for example. Leaded windows. How does water behave at 0 degrees (trust me the answer will surprise you) How to install CustomRom on a phone (yes, he got the bright idea that he can do it - luckily I dissuaded him). We dismantled an old mechanical ...

Over the last few weeks, I have got rid of Facebook, Instagram from my phone and leaving only Twitter and LinkedIn as Social media. And of course, Whatsapp because it has become a default communication medium. What I realised that much time was being spent in meaningless scrolling and the best part is that I am not missing it. And that there are better things one can do with the internet in your pocket! What are those better things? Well, one is serendipity (post coming soon). The other is to use the time saved for better things and ideas. And of course, save your eyes.