The World Is Changing, You Just Haven't Noticed

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Education
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Reflections on a Ph.D. and the Path of Self-Learning

1. Reflection: The Limitations of a Ph.D. 🔗︎

  • Introduction

    “I regret spending so many years focusing on a narrow field and ignoring many important skills. I severely underestimated what can be learned in the industry and the opportunity cost of a Ph.D.!”
    —— Founder of fast.ai, Ph.D. in Mathematics

  • Core Idea
    • Even in a sophisticated field like artificial intelligence, a Ph.D. is not necessary.
    • The opportunity cost of pursuing a Ph.D. can be too high, especially when you neglect practical experience and diverse skills from the industry.

2. Self-Learning: Five Ways to Explore the World 🔗︎

(1) Travel: Discovering Passion and Direction 🔗︎

  • Why is travel important?
    • If you don’t know what you want to do or what you’re passionate about, long-term travel can help you find the answer.
  • How to learn through travel?
    • Travel to distant countries, experience different cultures, and meet all kinds of people.
    • Try out different lifestyles and observe how the world works.
    • Experience the real world, understand how people live in other places, and find your own interests and goals from it.

(2) Self-Learning: The Core Path to Mastering Knowledge 🔗︎

  • Why is self-learning feasible?
    • We live in an era where self-learning is easier than ever before in history, with abundant and accessible resources.
  • How to self-learn efficiently?
    • Watch videos: Learn from talks and courses by industry leaders.
    • Online courses: Purchase high-quality online courses from experts.
    • Attend events: Participate in conferences, seminars, and other events hosted by major companies in the industry.
    • Listen to podcasts: Get industry updates and deep insights.
    • Read books: Choose the best business and professional books for systematic learning.
    • Hire a consultant: Find a mentor or consultant in your target field for personalized guidance.

(3) Follow Outstanding People: Imitate the Path of the Successful 🔗︎

  • Why follow successful people?
    • The behaviors and mindsets of successful people often hold the secrets to success.
  • How to learn from successful people?
    • Choose a successful person you admire and study their words and actions.
    • Learn the details of their field and understand their habits and ways of thinking.
    • Try to integrate these habits and ways of thinking into your own life.

(4) Make More Positive Friends: Build a Social Network 🔗︎

  • What is the value of a university?
    • A university provides a unique environment where you have the opportunity to meet outstanding classmates and teachers.
  • What if you don’t go to university?
    • Proactively make an effort to build your own social network.
    • Make positive friends, communicate with like-minded people, and grow together.

(5) Save More Money: Invest in Your Future 🔗︎

  • Why is saving money important?
    • Avoid debt and don’t spend money on meaningless things.
  • How to save money and invest in yourself?
    • Save as much as you can to prepare for future self-investment.
    • Use the funds to learn new skills, attend training, or expand your network.