How Might You Rebuild Education?
There are some main points to think about before answering this question:
- Not everyone learns the same way as you.
- The current school system works well for some people.
- How might our values change in the future, and how can we prepare?
Okay, that said, what did you wish they’d taught you in school?
What do you wish you’d paid more attention to in school?
What do you think we’ll need to teach kids in the future?
Reply here and let me know.
Also, reply and let me know if you'd like to be included on a video call with other readers to talk more about this issue and how to solve it.
2 Minute Action
Just because they didn’t teach you something in school doesn’t mean you can’t still learn it now, or that it’s not now your responsibility to learn it.
Take 2 minutes to review your answers to these questions and consider the steps to teach yourself what you never learned in school.
It could be that you need to go for an MBA, a class on contract negotiation, or even just find a few good YouTube videos.
It only takes 2 minutes to start.
Or to email me and tell me what you think. ;)
It's Not Your Fault, But It Is Your Responsibility
The skills that were taught in school are mostly irrelevant.
Sure, there are basics like math and reading--but even now, the average reading level in the US is 8th grade.
It's not your fault, but it is your responsibility.
It's not fair, for sure.
The sooner we accept and adjust, the sooner we can get moving.
What skills are relevant for your success, today?How about in 10 years?
There are basic, fundamental skills that are required in everything you do.
Some of these are reading, writing, and math.
Then, there are multiplier skills, which help you get better at other skills.
Some of these are discipline, focus, and work ethic.
There are also transferrable skills which are more advanced and can be useful across any field.
Some of these are project management, negotiation, and leadership.
It's not your fault you were never taught these things.
But it is no one's responsibility but yours to make sure you practice, learn, and successfully implement these skills.
2 Minute Action:
Take 2 minutes to identify which of these skills you feel you are good at.Which ones are you bad at?Now is the time to commit to improving 1 of those weaknesses.The world is your oyster. "I don't know how" is a poor excuse.You have the internet, professional counselors, universities, and a supercomputer in your pocket.
"You have everything you need to build something bigger than yourself."- Seth Godin
The Core Of A Win/Win Negotiation
I needed the store to stay open for another hour.The lady at the desk wasn’t having it. She needed to close the store’s doors at 6pm and that was that.
So, I asked “what would have to happen for you to stay open for another hour?”
She thought about it.I offered a few extra bucks.She declined.I offered more.
She said she wasn’t going to take my money.
I asked her again if she had a magic wand, what would she “poof” away or “poof” into existence.Was there something I could do to help her make her job easier in exchange for some extra time.She took some time to think about it.After a while she said “you know what would help? If you wrote me a review on Yelp and told my boss that I helped you out.”Boom.Deal.It wasn’t about the money.It cost me 3 seconds to write a sterling review about how she bent over backwards to help me, her customer and share with her boss.She valued recognition—not cash.With some open ended questions and empathy we were able to get to a solution that the store manager was happy with and that also let me in after hours.
2 Minute Action
Before you negotiate anything or with anyone . . .. . . it could be a used car, with a pre-teen, or the Shah of Iran . . .. . . take an extra 2 minutes to ask a few probing, open ended questions that get at the heart of the problem.Genuine empathy and effort to understand will often result in a solid win/win.