Building a Wide Base of Knowledge

Someone I’m advising asked me this morning how to build a wide base of knowledge across many subjects and disciplines. Here was my answer:

The short answer is that you need to be curious. Specifically:

Read widely.

Ask people what they are working on and dig in to understand. Ask lots of questions. Spend lots of time listening.

Work on your memory. If your memory isn't that great, take lots of searchable notes.

Build good relationships with people who you can ask about things.

Build up mental models: Conceptual understandings of how things are structured and work.