What Is the Need of the Hour? — My Thoughts
Monday morning, coffee in hand, I was browsing LinkedIn. I read some great stories, opinions, thoughts, suggestions, and views.
But I felt something was missing—something many of us are not paying enough attention to.
People are stopping learning too early.
I thought about this for almost an hour and asked myself, “Is my observation correct?” I concluded that perhaps it is, and I am sharing it here with the hope that at least a few people will pause and think.
1. Learn technology, not just how to use it
From GitHub to AI-powered coding, technology has made programming easier. With the right prompts, AI can write code and even correct it.
But are we losing the art of coding?
Are we still thinking through algorithms, designing logical flows, understanding the code, and solving problems ourselves?
I worked with an excellent Java coder in the US who was a guitarist turned coder. His passion for coding was remarkable.
That passion for learning is what we should not lose.
2. Learn the complete end-to-end picture
I have heard this many times in meetings: “I have done my part. I don’t know what happens upstream or downstream.”
Who sends the data to you? Why? What happens to your output? Who consumes it?
Unless we interact with people and understand the end-to-end flow, I don’t believe we can build sustainable systems.
This is systems engineering thinking—something I feel we are slowly stopping learning.
I once worked with an ex-Army veteran who built excellent SOPs and an accountant who audited them. At the time, we all felt the pain of those processes.
But that discipline helped us eventually become part of BigBlue through an acquisition.
Thanks to our VP, who came from AT&T, we learned how data flowed across the organization and how to troubleshoot problems for our customers.
Don’t just learn your part. Learn the system.
3.Be humble. Let go of your ego
I have seen talented people fail because their ego became bigger than their willingness to learn.
When someone points out a blind spot or an area for improvement, the first thought can be:
“Who is he to tell me?”
That is where learning stops.
I once heard a powerful story about Indra Nooyi being reminded to leave her CEO role behind when she came home. The exact words may vary, but the lesson is simple:
Leave your ego behind before you enter the workplace—and certainly before you enter your home.
One of our CEOs once said that managers may not always be role models, but you can learn from them what not to do.
That stayed with me.
When someone points out your blind spots, don’t see it as criticism. They may be doing you a huge favour by giving you an opportunity to grow.
So, my simple thought for this Monday morning:
DON’T STOP LEARNING.
THE ONLY WAY TO GROW IS TO LEARN.
