I am always trying to learn something new, it’s something of an addiction of mine. So, here’s what I’m currently learning and what I’m using to do it:
Mandarin Chinese
Why learn Mandarin (and teach it to your kids)
This post is from a side project I am planning to document learning Mandarin with my kids. I currently live in Nanjing, China and also lived here previously in 2015-2016. I have been learning Chinese on my own since that time.
Some of my favorite tools and resources are:
Coursera Chinese Courses
These are self-paced courses in Mandarin Chinese like you might take in a university setting.
DuChinese
Fantastic app to improve reading (in either Hanzi or Pinyin) and listening comprehension skills for all skill levels in Chinese.
Anki
This is a powerful and simple tool to learn anything, but I have basically learned all my Mandarin Chinese just using this app several minutes a day. There are web, Android, and iOS versions. Spaced repetition is a superior method to regular flashcards which improves learning and retention of any subject and Anki software makes it easy to use.
Chinese Audio Flashcards
These flashcards are easily uploaded into the Anki software program for HSK levels 1-5. They contain single vocabulary as well as a wide variety of sentences with audio samples with two different speakers for listening comprehension. Highly recommend.
Crytpocurrency
Every financial professional needs to stay abreast of current topics in finance. While cryptocurrency can seem experimental, we must remember that all forms of fiat since inception of the concept have been based on sheer faith. If we can place faith in a piece of metal or paper backed by a sovereign authority, why should a computer program and the agreement between individuals be different? That is the question. Conceptually, there is no fundamental difference between these sources of value. In practice, there are a lot of technical and philosophical hurdles to overcome before crypto can be widely accepted as a stable store of value.
I’m currently enjoying Coursera’s Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency course through Princeton University which answers questions about how the technology works, how users are adapting to perceived flaws, government regulation and alternative uses for cryptocurrency technologies.
On my Bookshelf
Conspiracy by Ryan Holiday
This book is just so good. An unbelievable story you have to hear to believe. Holiday provides tremendous insight into the minds of famed investor and entrepreneur Peter Thiel, gossip peddler Nick Denton, and Hulk Hogan.
The Creative Curve by Allen Gannett
Gannett makes a case for why more people should try to be creative, that it is as much a science borne of intense periods of study and effort as much as it is that ephemeral letting go of convention and becoming inspired. He debunks the myth that certain people are just more creative than others and will inspire you to pursue creativity in your own life.
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time by Jeff Sutherland
Just started reading these – both evidence-based and full of helpful anecdotes to illustrate their points.