I Found My Lifelong Companion

And here’s why you need it too

Pooja Rane
ILLUMINATION
5 min readJan 5, 2024

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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

In today’s fast-paced world, where we often juggle demanding careers, personal interests, and the pursuit of happiness, finding a balance can be tough.

As someone who works as a Technical Account Manager in the tech industry by day and engages in a multitude of activities during my free time, including YouTube and writing, I understand how overwhelming life can get.

However, I firmly believe in the power of continuous learning to not only enrich our lives but also provide a sense of fulfillment.

Welcome to my world, where learning is a constant companion, and allow me to share with you why I find it so essential and how I manage to maintain this habit.

Creating Your Happiness

In my earlier years, I was on a relentless quest to discover my “dream job.” I devoured self-help books, watched countless motivational videos, and embarked on a journey of self-discovery.

My goal was to find a career that would align perfectly with my ambitions and passions. However, as time passed, I came to a realization that changed my perspective on work and life.

I discovered that the idea of a “dream job” was, in many ways, a fallacy.

The world doesn’t always operate by our desires.

Rather than searching for a job that perfectly matched my identity, I needed to create my happiness in my career. This meant finding a way to incorporate the things I loved into my professional life.

For me, this involved a combination of my day job in tech, YouTube content creation, and writing.

By embracing this diversified approach, I found a way to create my happiness. Learning new things played a pivotal role in this journey.

Learning to Adapt

One of the challenges in creating happiness is that it often requires a broad range of skills and knowledge that traditional education may not provide.

In school, we are taught specific subjects, but life demands much more. To succeed, we must learn how to be financially literate, understand accounting, and even grasp the intricacies of running a business.

This is where learning new things becomes invaluable.

For instance, I started learning how to draw digital portraits, not because it was directly related to money, but because it piqued my interest.

Through experimentation and exploration, I discovered that I enjoyed it. This newfound passion seamlessly integrated into my life and contributed to my overall happiness.

Author’s digital portrait (Drawn on iPad)

The key lesson here is that life rarely hands us the perfect career on a silver platter.

Instead, we must be proactive in crafting a fulfilling lifestyle that aligns with our unique interests and passions.

Learning new things allows us to experiment and discover what truly makes us happy.

Efficient Learning in the Information Age

In today’s information age, the ability to learn efficiently and effectively is itself a valuable skill.

We are bombarded with information from every corner, and the pace of innovation is relentless.

Success in many fields depends not solely on the sheer volume of knowledge one possesses but on the ability to distill and synthesize that knowledge into actionable insights.

As a professional in Tech, staying current with emerging technologies and tools is a constant challenge. New advancements seem to emerge weekly, and staying ahead of the curve is imperative.

However, the focus is not merely on acquiring knowledge but on discerning what is worth learning and, more importantly, how to apply that knowledge effectively.

Personal experience has taught me that being able to adapt to new technologies and methodologies is crucial for professional growth.

Learning as Fulfillment

Beyond the practical advantages, learning new things brings me a deep sense of happiness and fulfillment.

It may be a personal trait, but I resonate with Ayn Rand’s quote that suggests the purpose of man is to learn and create.

Simply learning without applying that knowledge doesn’t bring me the same sense of fulfillment as synthesizing new information and using it to create something meaningful.

The process of absorbing knowledge, distilling its essence, and applying it to real-world challenges is an immensely rewarding journey.

It’s not about acquiring knowledge for its own sake but about leveraging it to improve oneself and the world around us.

In my case, this process encompasses my career as a Technical Account Manager, my YouTube content creation, and my ventures into writing.

Maintaining the Learning Habit

Now, you might be wondering how I manage to maintain this habit of continuous learning amid a busy life.

It comes down to two key components that have been crucial in sustaining this journey:

  1. Knowing What Pushes My Buttons: I have identified that social accountability is a powerful motivator for me. When I commit to something publicly, I feel compelled to follow through. The fear of disappointing others and disrupting their routines becomes a strong driving force.
  2. Developing the Right Mindset: My goal during writing isn’t always to be hyper-productive. Instead, I focus on the act of showing up consistently. I understand that some days will be more challenging than others, but the habit itself is what matters. Embracing this mindset allows me to persist even when conditions are less than ideal.

In conclusion, continuous learning is a pathway to personal and professional growth, offering a multitude of benefits.

Learning is not just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about applying it to improve our lives and the world around us. Discover what motivates you, adopt the right mindset, and consider joining a supportive community of learners.

As the saying goes, “If you want to go far, go with others.”

Learning is a lifelong adventure, and I hope you’ll embrace it for a more fulfilling and productive life.

Don’t worry you don’t need to buy me coffee or my course! If you liked the read, let’s connect!

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Pooja Rane
ILLUMINATION

Writing helps me soothe my soul, so here I am 🌻| I show my “techyside” on : https://www.youtube.com/@poojarane11494, Currently in Dallas, TX