Septimaeus

Habitually using your own machine for non-work tasks often lets you keep certain records of the research process which begat the work, even while the client/employer owns the work itself through SLA/NDA/AOI. This typically includes records contributing to general “personal expertise,” such as query history, bookmarks, generalized notes, and other non-proprietary information.

It also lends to an overall impression of professional sprezzatura when the client can only see a history of master strokes, without the nitty-gritty details of your autodidactic effort.

Assign it as a research collection task to a junior dev and forget to follow up.

(Fr tho, auto doc frameworks and related instrumentation are easily worth weeks. I will fight your manager.)

I think he meant ‘first’ as in top-most, the one with the preemptive disclaimer.

Yourself. Time and resources you invest in yourself usually grant the highest returns in the long run.

Examples:

1. When job hunting, prefer opportunities that give you more valuable experience when possible.
2. While planning your schedule, give highest priority to activities that contribute to your physical and mental health.
3. At the grocery store, choose fresh ingredients over the cheaper and easier premade options.
4. When budgeting finances, pay yourself first by setting aside what you can for your future. If not yet possible, see 5.
5. Invest in your continued education, which can include traditional credentialing such as degrees or certifications, but also online and night classes, or even self-guided study.
6. Choose relationships and experiences over things. While things can temporarily improve lifestyle, relationships and experiences permanently expand the life you have lived.