Learning new skills. Anyone done it without a 'reason' other than wanting the skill?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’ve nearly posted this thread many times over the past few weeks. I’ve finally decided to go ahead with it.
Lately I’ve been trying to learn some new skills, and to a lesser extent improve some existing skills.

I’ve been trying to learn the cosmetics of web design using Dreamweaver (this means learning about div tags, css, and other design aspects of web authoring)

I’ve been trying to learn Photoshop.

I’ve been wanting to improve ASP skills.

I’ve been wanting to improve PHP skills.

edit: I recently purchased a tablet (wacom fun). I’d like to learn how to be good at using it. this would happen almost automatically if I had a lot I needed to do with photoshop.

And general IT stuff.

The problem with all of the above is, I do good learning when there is a job that needs to be done. A thing that needs to be created. A hole that needs to be filled. In other words I have developed some reasonable SQL and ASP skills due to there being a need for intranet reporting tools (specific ones).

But now there’s no actual need for anything. There’s no need for a PHP website, ASP website, website. No need for any photoshopping.
So, have you the reader any experience of learning stuff without there being a goal for your learning (a thing that is needed) other than simply wanting to learn it/wanting to have that skill?

How do you do it? Have you any advice to improve the process for someone like me, who finds it hard to learn stuff without one of the above mentioned needs?

2

I started teaching myself Arabic some time ago, and I’ve kept up with it, although I’m far from fluent. There’s really no reason to, other than I want to learn more about Islam, because it plays such a big role on the world stage nowadays. I don’t see myself using it for any kind of job, and I have absolutely no plans or desire to see Koran-land for myself, so this one’s pretty much for my own interest.

As far as how to do it . . . Hmmm, good question. The thing is that I’ve never been particularly goal oriented. I’m one of those guys who takes life as it comes, and while it makes for an interesting existence, it’s not very helpful when you need to develop a career, but enough about me.

I guess the way I’d look at it would be to ask why you assume you don’t have goals. What’s stopping you from making internal goals? For instance, I look at this:

and I think “But of course there’s a need! No one has to tell you to do a certain thing for that thing to be important.” For example, what is your favorite activity in the world? Are you still way into photography? Wouldn’t it be awesome to arrange your photographs in some sort of online database so that you and yours could access them using queries? Well, there’s your need for PHP and/or ASP! Hey . . . what if you decided to arrange them in some sort of online photo album in PDF format or insert funny composites of George Bush? There’s your photoshopping need.

An important thing to remember is that your biggest needs and goals come from within. No one besides yourself has to tell you to eat or sleep or hit the latrine when you need to. No one outside of yourself needs to tell you to look for what makes you happy. You recognize your own needs, make your own goals, and then achieve them. It’s the most natural thing in the world. You’ve already been doing it your whole life. You just have to learn how to do it consciously, that’s all.

Good luck! I’m still trying to motivate myself to learn PHP and MYSQL, and there is a definite need for me to do so outside of pure interest. I just can’t be bothered right now, and anyway, I’m in grad school, so there’s not much free time. I’m genuinely interested to know how this goes for you, so please feel free to PM me with anything about it.

3

I fancied learning to drive HGVs. I don’t really think I can be of much help to you though, because all I did is booked some lessons and took a couple of tests (including a medical one) and passed. Not really terribly difficult but good fun.

So the key thing is making it fun. What is your motivation for learning your skills? If it isn’t for fun, then why on earth are you doing it? Personal betterment is, past a certain level, really not terribly good motive y’know. And if it is for fun, then you will find that you motivate yourself :slight_smile:

4

Juggling. I stopped at 3 though, I figure there would be too much of a leap between my enjoyment of it and the time it will take to learn it from 3 to 4.

5

I’m learning AutoCAD, so I can do drawings and get paid. :slight_smile:

6

As far as IT skills go, I recommend seeking out an open source project that crosses into the areas your trying to develop and then contribute. By choosing an existing project you will have both the opportunity to contribute something meaningful + an existing codebase that you can reference when you get stuck + other developers on the project who might be more interested in assisting you when you get stuck since alot of projects have their fair share of “shit work” that tends to be perfect for cutting teeth on.

7

Actually the difference in difficulty from 3-4 objects isn’t much. Going from 4-5 objects is the big hurdle.

8

Recently, yes. I’m a little bored at work, so I put in a bunch of time on my own this winter learning Dreamweaver & CSS, a little Photoshop & Fireworks. (Hmm, sounds familiar.) I did design and implement our site at work last fall, but that was what got me interested in really learning my stuff. We’ve added a few free or cheap MySQL and PHP based apps that will give me a chance to spend more time on that and get paid for it.

One of my IT co-workers had an outside client who desperately needs a new website, so I used that as an example to play with. I probably spent 100 hours learning technique, researching good design and pouring it all into a little local plumbing & heating outfit’s site. [Now, the guy did actually end up hiring me, but I’m not charging him for my learning curve. And anyway he hasn’t been prompt getting me content, so we’ll see if my first ‘client’ results in a real website.] I’ve also done a little site for our local Search & Rescue, just for fun.

I like the tech/design merge of website design/management. It’s fun! I initially had the idea that I would make some money on the side, but really, I just enjoy the whole puzzle-solving game.

9

I’ve been teaching myself to contact juggle for a while now just for fun. It’s very, very relaxing and meditative in a way.

10

You need to watch Michael Moschen for a while, then.