“Why are you reading that? It has nothing to do with your career.”
I’ve heard this more times than I can count.
At different points in my life, I’ve picked up books that had nothing to do with my industry—philosophy, psychology, history, even topics that seemed completely random. To an outside observer, it probably looked like wasted time. No direct skills. No immediate ROI. No clear connection to my job.
But something interesting kept happening.
Even when a book wasn’t relevant, it was impactful.
A Small Moment That Changed How I Think
I remember reading a book outside my field just out of curiosity. I didn’t expect anything practical from it. But weeks later, during a work discussion, I found myself approaching a problem differently—asking better questions, seeing patterns others didn’t notice.
That idea didn’t come from a technical manual.
It came from a book that was “not relevant.”
That’s when I realized: learning doesn’t always show its value immediately.
What Learning Within Your Domain Gave Me
Learning within my industry helped me grow in obvious ways:
I understood my work better
I became more confident in discussions
I stayed updated and competitive
I improved existing skills
This kind of learning strengthens your foundation. It makes you reliable. It helps you do your job well.
And yes—it is important.
But it mostly teaches you what to think, not how to think differently.
What Learning Outside My Domain Gave Me
Learning outside my field did something unexpected.
It changed my perspective.
Reading about human behavior helped me understand users and colleagues better. Reading about history helped me see patterns repeating over time. Reading about creativity helped me approach problems with curiosity instead of pressure.
As Steve Jobs once said:
“Creativity is just connecting things.”
You can’t connect things if you only see one world.
Innovation Lives at the Edges
Some of the most innovative ideas don’t come from experts who know one subject deeply—they come from people who connect ideas across domains.
A designer who understands psychology builds better products
A technologist who studies storytelling communicates ideas clearly
A business leader who reads philosophy makes better decisions
Innovation happens at the intersection, not in isolation.
Not Every Book Needs a Purpose
One mistake we make is demanding immediate value from everything we read.
Not every book needs to:
Improve your salary
Add a skill to your resume
Solve a current problem
Some books are simply meant to:
Expand your thinking
Make you curious
Challenge your assumptions
As Naval Ravikant said:
“Read what you love until you love to read.”
Because what shapes you today may guide you tomorrow.
Depth and Breadth: I Stopped Choosing One
Over time, I stopped asking:
“Is this relevant to my career?”
Instead, I started asking:
“Will this change how I think?”
Learning within your domain helps you grow vertically.
Learning beyond your domain helps you grow laterally.
You don’t have to choose one. You need both.
Final Thought
Some people focus only on what is relevant and become efficient.
Others explore beyond relevance and become innovative.
The ones who make the biggest impact often do both.
Because every concept, every book, and every idea leaves a mark—even if you don’t see it right away.
And sometimes, the book that “doesn’t matter” ends up changing everything.
