Working in services and consulting means we are always busy with other people’s projects. We hardly have time to breathe, let alone think, with packed schedules, constant distractions, and relentless deadlines. We are supposed to be experts who have all the answers, but that’s not always true. 

Our work is shaped by tools, systems, methods, and frameworks. We are skilled at following instructions, reading blogs, learning courses, and applying the knowledge to build and link systems, code software, etc. This is the technological aspect of our job. 

Beyond the technical lies the creative, where we explore ourselves and our surroundings. This is how we understand people and the world. We need to cultivate these skills and apply them when we encounter a “technical challenge”. 

You might think you know how something works or how it can solve your issue. You might also realize you were mistaken or baffled when you try to use it. How come it doesn’t work like that!? 

I’m a hands-on learner. My wife is always curious about my learning activities. I tell her I’m just messing around with my computer. I bet you know the feeling of experimenting with technology to understand things better, because that’s what drew many of us to this field. We enjoy tampering with electronics and computers. 

Blogging, making a video, or showing others what I learned are some of the ways I learn. It makes me recall what I learned and reflect on it more than when I was just playing around. Was it what I hoped for? Did I discover something new? How would this benefit the people I serve? 

Here are some tips for getting creative when learning something technical: 

• Look for the links. Imagine how the technical thing fits in with other things you know or care about. For example, if you are learning about machine learning, you can explore how it powers different fields, such as gaming, healthcare, or education. You can also compare and contrast it with other kinds of programming or data analysis. This will help you expand your view and see the whole story. 
• Be curious and inquisitive. Don’t just take the technical thing for granted, but dig deeper into how it operates, what are its drawbacks, what are its options, and how it can be better. You can also imagine how you would apply it in a practical situation, or how you would teach it to someone else. This will help you enhance your knowledge and ignite your interest. 
• Play with different options. Don’t just stick to the rules or the samples, but mix them up, tweak them, or smash them. Observe how your results change when you alter a variable, a feature, or a source. See if you can invent something original, helpful, or amusing with the technical thing. This will help you grow your skills and explore new opportunities. 

You’re not alone in your passions. There might be people near you who share the same hobbies. Check out some groups in your area, follow hashtags on your preferred social media platform and spread your knowledge. I was a bit shy when I first shared my opinions online, but trust me, it’s worth it.  

It is time for a confession. This blog post was created as a learning experience using Copilot for Microsoft 365. I drafted a rough outline document and then used Copilot to refine and improve the content. I experimented with the different tone choices and asked for tips to improve the style and content.