# Startup Coach 02 - How to Learn Technology Stuff Quickly Part 1

DevFeed: [Startup Coach 02 - How to Learn Technology Stuff Quickly Part 1](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/startup-coach-02-how-to-learn-technology-stuff-quickly-part-1-28337.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<http://fuzzyblog.io/blog/startup/2020/01/12/startup-coach-02-how-to-learn-technology-stuff.html>)

Author: Fuzzygroup

Published: 2020-01-12T00:00:00Z

Content type: tutorial

Language: en

Sources: [Scott Johnson](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/scott-johnson.md>)

Topics: [Learning](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/learning.md>), [Programming](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/programming.md>), [Product Management](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/product-management.md>)

Tags: [how-to](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/how-to.md>), [learn](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learn.md>), [learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/learning.md>), [programming](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/programming.md>), [startup](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/startup.md>), [startup-coach](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/startup-coach.md>)

## AI overview

This first part of Startup Coach explains how a business-oriented founder can learn technical subjects quickly. The author recounts learning through repeated reading of Byte Magazine and previews recommendations for approaching technology learning in 2020.

## Source excerpt

There are typically two types of folks that want to have their own startup: Engineers / Technical folk who have the ability to create their own products / services / mobile apps / SAAS apps Business Folk who have a concept but don't have the ability to create their own technology There are exceptions to the rule - sometimes you will see someone who straddles these lines (I do; I'm both more than business savvy and I write code like demon every damn day) - but, generally, this is the split that you see. This post is written for the business person who finds themselves with the need to learn technical things quickly. I'm going to tell you how, decades ago, I learned how to learn technology stuff and then, in part two, I'm going to give recommendations for how I'd approach this in 2020. How I Learned Technology Stuff - in April, 1982 I date my technology education back to April 1982 (it was likely earlier since this was a cover date on a periodical and magazines come out before the date on the cover so they have news stand time but we'll go with April). Going on that date, this puts me at: 2.7.0 :038 > birth_date = Date.new(1967,11,20) 2.7.0 :039 > magazine_date = Date.new(1982,04,01) 2.7.0 :040 > (magazine_date - birth_date).to_f / 365 14.372602739726027 so let's call it 14 years old. At this point I was likely a sophomore in high school with no formal computer training save for I owned an early personal computer which I mostly used for playing games. And then I walked into the local Walden Books and discovered Byte Magazine: You can read this issue online here. and I was just plain fascinated. What I discovered was that not only did I not understand this magazine, I maybe understood only every 15th word (generally pronouns). But what I did was this: I simply read it even though I didn't understand it I bought the next issue And I read that and I understood a bit more Lather; rinse; repeat And then, five years later, I started my first software company based on what I