Note: Some of the groups and individuals mentioned on this post are examples. I do not have any affiliation with any group or individual mentioned. Some of the groups/individuals mentioned, I have purchased their services and products for my learning.
Overwhelmed with IT news, being bombarded with noise about new tech trends, the latest gadgets, CMS’s and ways of working?
The issue here is, you react to what you read and are being told. Build an awareness and anticipation of your surroundings, to better prepare yourself for new IT / tech trends.
- Tailor your social media to follow some of the individuals in your industry
- Follow companies like AWS, Cisco, and individuals that work in the tech industry
- I.e. Techworld with Nana (Devops), NextLevelSDDC.com (TikTok), Gary Tan, from Y Combinator (Startup)
- Instead of having random videos pop up, change the algorithm to respect the industry you’re in.
- You will find trends, tips and tricks in a controlled manner, rather getting bombarded with a mix of random and industry material
- Follow companies like AWS, Cisco, and individuals that work in the tech industry
- Write keywords down
- Listened to an audiobook, podcast or video and heard a word you’re not familiar with?
- E.g. CMS, agentic, network (i.e. IT networking perspective), stack etc
- Write these terms down and then research it
- It will build a future network of words for you that will relate to the tech industry
- Listened to an audiobook, podcast or video and heard a word you’re not familiar with?
- Anticipate the future
- So right now the trends in tech is AI (at the time of writing in late 2026)
- My challenge and thoughts around AI is, “what comes next”?
- Space, augmented reality, artificial conscience?
- Once the trend we’re on now becomes a thing of the past, a new trend will emerge
- Get ahead, read tech materials, have a think about what’s going to happen next?
- You don’t need to be right, you don’t even need to be wrong
- Get into the process of what’s next. It might be your opportunity to jump onto that band wagon
- Listen to audiobooks / podcasts related to IT
- Lets face it, most of us haven’t read a book since leaving school or college
- What most of us do have are headphones, AirPods and earphones
- So we have the ability and access to listen to IT material
- Similar to point 2, write down any keywords, terms or trends that might be of interest/catches your attention
- Get the syllabus of tech courses, then ask AI to provide a suitable book (non-fiction) for each topic, module, subject
- This is my secret weapon and the best advice I have probably given on this website
- Want to study a short course (or any kind of course), but don’t want to invest in the time in the long classes and sit the exams?
- I don’t like sitting exams. It just tests you in that very moment. Instead few should be testing ourselves at all moments
- Once you get the syllabus, upload the syllabus file or copy and paste the text into AI app, then ask the AI to provide you a book that will cover that topic
- Ask in the response to provide 2-3 books
- After obtaining the results, get the titles and research them
- If possible have a read of the text on the back cover and part of the conclusion (if not all of it, if possible)
- Reading the conclusion will give you a better summary of the book instead of the introduction
- I learned by reading the conclusion it gives you better perspective of the text
- Alternatively you can also buy the audiobooks
Summary:
- The above are some of my techniques to get ahead in the IT industry
- I surround myself with material, to further enhance my knowledge and skills
- I mainly use my listening instead of reading because I’m usually on the go and I’d rather listen than read