How do you learn new stuff: read blogs or watch videos?

Arsen Misakyan
61 replies
As founders, we wear many hats. We all have to learn a bunch of new things DAILY. On any given topic, there is an overwhelming quantity of content. You have to search - vet - learn; rinse and repeat x 100 a day... What's the most effective learning method for you?

Replies

Tiagorbf
I mostly watch videos and listen to podcasts. Since I started my own podcast (wannabe-entrepreneur.com) I have been learning a lot by interviewing entrepreneurs :)
Arsen Misakyan
@tiagorbf I'm all down with the learn-by-teaching concept. It's been super effective for me.
Usually through Podcasts or Audiobooks
Arsen Misakyan
@maxwellcdavis these have been great for me especially while cycling or driving. One downside though; it's hard to take notes:)
Paul VanZandt
I think videos end up being more effective, but I don't always have time for them. Because of this, I find myself reading blogs more often, but I get more out of the videos I watch.
Arsen Misakyan
@paul_vanzandt I kind of always do both. I YouTube it first, then Google it after.
Philipp Stelzel
Personality Archetype Test for Notion
Personality Archetype Test for Notion
By doing it. And when I get stuck, I mostly prefer videos!
Arsen Misakyan
@philipp_stelzel You don't get value from what you've learnt, unless you put it to work, don't you?!
Philipp Stelzel
Personality Archetype Test for Notion
Personality Archetype Test for Notion
Pablo Fatas
I think nothing beats a well made video but a lot of these can feel slow or have a lot of filler. I feel I get more targeted and speicfic information when reading articles/blogs. But the best is always asking someone you know. Nothing beats a live human you can interact with :)
Arsen Misakyan
@pablo_fatas Yeah, I'm totally on board. Live human interaction is the best; but also a luxury nowadays:) I've had it a lot, when a 10-15 min discussion saves you hours of research time.
Pablo Fatas
@arsen_misakyan better information and in less time. What more could you ask for? Plus the social aspect is simply good for you in general
Dylan Merideth
@pablo_fatas fireship makes awesome videos for self-taught coders and formally taught coders alike
Pablo Fatas
@dylan_merideth I’ll check it out. Been wanting to get back into coding :)
Samir Moussa
I've moved toward learning through experience. As you rightly said, founders wear many hats, and there just isn't any time to be an expert in everything. So when something I don't know comes up, I learn about it and do it. You'll spot patterns of weakness in certain areas where eventually you commit to "doing it properly" by watching or reading the appropriate books. I tend to allocate a few days to dive deep into a subject, but these opportunities are rare. One or two top recommended books for that subject. Definitely relate to the hustle! 💪🏽
Dylan Merideth
@samir_moussa an education will make you a living, a self-education will make you a fortune. Not that its about the money, but more that if you include your own personal and more intimate goals into a learning process, it embeds and is recalled much faster
Arsen Misakyan
@samir_moussa That totally resonates with me. Also, when diving deep into a subject, I've found this technique to be super useful for learning - I start writing about it myself.
Kashif Rasib
Depends what I'm doing, if it's a course I'm taking I like to have the books and the video material. However, if it's for some quick self learning on a topic, I prefer videos. Videos with examples of what's being explained help me understand the concept better, whereas from a book I may not be able to visualise how the concept is applied to the real world. Overall I find short videos easier to take in.
Arsen Misakyan
@kashif_12 Yup! Videos are more fun and are easier to digest. Especially, when you Google a topic and it returns a video with specific timestamp; that saves a lot of time.
Andrei Petrik
All of the above and more: - podcasts - blogs - summits and conferences - paid training - youtube - sometimes twitter threads
Arsen Misakyan
@andrei_petrik2 yes, sometimes I find very interesting and niche-specific stuff on Twitter. As long as you're following the right accounts, right?!:)
Anny Wiliams
The main thing is to concentrate on learning. And try to watch videos in popular formats so that there are no problems with playback. After all, once I found a cool course, but it was not easy for me to watch it because it was in FLV format. So I was forced to look for a new player to watch it in high quality video format. To make it easier for others than me to choose, I advise you to read the article here https://mac.eltima.com/flash-pla... which will help you decide what is best for you to view web pages, SWF games or FLV movies. At least it won't be confusing and will save you the time and nerves you would have spent looking for the perfect Mac player.
Gurpinder Singh
For me, its videos and podcasts as they are much engaging
Arsen Misakyan
@gurpinder_singh I listed to podcasts a lot, especially to real entrepreneur trial and error and success stories.
Troy
Both can be equally good. I tend to write my learnings down, at the end of the day, imagine myself in a situation that requires it and use it... It helps remember it the next time the situation arises.
Arsen Misakyan
@boarzilla :)I write them down too. Got a pretty substantial "ideas/learnt stuff" stash: Google Docs, I Phone notes, Downloaded Podcasts with minute marks:)
Vaibhav Taneja
For me, watching videos is more interesting, because visuals attract me more than written content.
Arsen Misakyan
@vaibhav_taneja There you go:) Another "Yay" to videos. Videos, at this point, are winning this poll with 70%.
I used to read a lot to learn new stuff, but I have swiftly shifted to watching videos online to learn anything I want. No doubt both ways are great, but I believe in videos, many visuals are involved, so learning becomes relatively easy and fun.
Arsen Misakyan
@qudsia_ali Hehe:) I often, to save me some time, increase the video speed to 1.5x or even 1.75x.
Nicole Ogloza
Watching videos to me are great, but I feel like stuff sticks more when you read. To think of it, we naturally read more when it comes to being on the net all day!
Arsen Misakyan
@nicole_ogloza "being on the net all day!" - tell me about it:) I've started to scan the articles in "Z" pattern (diagonal). It kinda helps me to better manage my own "RAM":)
Nicole Ogloza
@arsen_misakyan ahahah "RAM" nice one! thanks for the tip on reading diagonally hehehe
Gideon Oni-Becsen
I actually prefer to read articles and blog posts. I might just skim through or break it all down and digest the bits painstakingly. I feel like reading is more effective for me. The problem with video is that don't have the patience except it's a video less than 3 minutes.
Arsen Misakyan
@gideon_bcxa The good old CMD + F does wonders, doesn't it?:) With videos I do increase the speed a lot so I spend less time.
Speedie
Both. But I have read blogs more than I have watched videos.
Adriel Cruz
Most of us use social media platforms and watch videos to learn tutorials, life hacks, etc. Books are still useful too if you're that kind of person who likes to read. But both ways are useful in any way you can learn new stuff.
Arsen Misakyan
@adriel_cruz True, it depends on a topic. Sometimes a short Tweet might teach an invaluable lesson.
Rich Watson
NVSTly: Social Investing
NVSTly: Social Investing
Seeing it helps learn it, rather than reading it.
Arun Pariyar
For abstract concepts I like to read because I can form my own imagination and build concepts. For hands on things I find videos best because they show you exactly how to get it done, which is really a timer saver. Followed by both is reinforcing by doing after all, practice makes perfect 🚲
Arsen Misakyan
@arunpariyar Bravo! Same here. Unless I execute what I've learnt, it's value vanishes over time.