English translation · Reader alias: QingheRead the Chinese original ↗
Echo correspondenceNO. 01
To / For Airing
From Qinghe
Finding the drive to keep learning
Reader alias · Qinghe
NO. 01Letter
Qinghe to Airing
Hello!
I have followed your blog for a while. Your writing reveals a depth of thought, and your articles are always worth spending time with. A few questions have troubled me for a long time, so I wanted to ask for your advice.
[The reader’s age, city and specific career history have been removed.]
First: what do you think of product management? What are its career prospects in the current internet industry? Should I change positions or move into another kind of role? After all, I am approaching the “unemployment age” of 35! My undergraduate degree is in [subject removed]. Do you think a part-time master’s degree would be worthwhile? Which subject might suit me? I have looked into a Master of Engineering Management, but I am not sure whether it is right for me.
Second: how do you find the internal drive to keep learning? And how do you develop a habit of thinking deeply?
NO. 01Reply
Airing to Qinghe
Hello, Qinghe,
Reading your letter feels like meeting you. Thank you for following my work and for your trust. I can sense your anxiety: [age removed] and [length of career break removed] are indeed a heavy combination.
Here are a few thoughts on your two questions, for you to consider.
On the first question: I think product management has considerable potential in the AI era. Many engineers lack product sense, whereas this is a PM’s specialty. As AI lowers technical barriers, knowing how to make a good product matters even more. I would not change fields blindly. Instead, look for enterprise product or solutions roles that make use of your presales experience, and first bring your career break to an end.
I also know too little about [the reader’s field] to offer a suitable answer about postgraduate study. You need to decide in light of your ambitions and what you love. If it serves neither, and is simply a way to avoid today’s employment difficulties, I would not recommend it.
On the second question:
The drive to keep learning: my approach is to make myself produce something, whether an article or a small project. Making something of my own gives me more motivation to continue learning. I enjoy the process of creating, and without continued learning I cannot satisfy that desire to create. Inner drive is not something you “find”; it is something you build by doing.
Developing a habit of thinking deeply: perhaps it starts with not taking decisions for granted, and asking about the reasons behind things. Sometimes you uncover a different perspective, and that discovery brings a sense of accomplishment. Do not always rely on System 1 to decide; deliberately cultivate your System 2. Conversations with AI can also help you practice deeper thinking.