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. ;)
The Unpopular Beliefs That Make People Tick
"You're anxious, stop telling me to worry so much.""You don't know what other people want, so don't tell me what to do.""Your writing is too basic, why are you dumbing it down?"
I've gotten criticism for a few unpopular beliefs, like my death bed timer, the idea that you absolutely should get rich, and the fact that I write at a 7th-grade reading level.That's fine.Let me explain why I hold firm in these beliefs.
My Writing Style
I've written and edited academic publications in Developmental Neuroscience and the Decision-Theory literature.I don't use that kind of language here for good reason--only a few people can read it.The average reading level in the USA is a 7th-grade reading level, and I want to reach more people.Not everyone, just more than the people who already know the value of what I'm sharing.The point is to get to the point. We've all got things to do and places to be.Few people want to read some huge wall of text.Most people just want a useful, digestible, actionable nugget every day.
On Getting Rich
I think you should get rich and then spend that money helping people live healthier, happier, more productive lives.In the amount of time people try to make everything perfect and in the perfect way, they could have had a profitable product by now.Apple didn't start by making computers that were deconstructable and recyclable. Patagonia didn't start by making pullovers from only organic trees. There are many examples of this in the world.You start by making a minimally viable product, getting the cash you need to survive and THEN you figure out how to make things even better.Speed to market and profitability will decide how you survive.If your idea/project/business dies or dries up, you can't help anyone.
The Death Bed Timer
I have estimated how much time I have left to live.Of course, it's not accurate because no one can ever know this exact number--but that's not the point.The point is to have an estimate.The point is to look at a number that decreases and understand the reality of my shrinking mortality.Two of the most common regrets of dying people are:
- Not having lived the life they wanted
- Having worked too much
If you're serious about avoiding regret and living a life of purpose and deliberation, you'll do what it takes.Watching my Death Bed Timer countdown is my way of reminding myself to stay the course, make every second count, and keep improving.
2 Minute Action
I want you to take 2 minutes to question yourself right now.Unpopular beliefs are a good way to challenge others and get to the bottom of the truth.They're also helpful because challenging others can help them solidify their point of view.What are some unpopular beliefs you have?I'd love to hear what yours are, so comment or reply and let me know.Just identifying them, or saying them out loud can help you think about how to build a lifestyle or habit around them.
Why Are You Reading This?
I ask a lot of questions, tell a few stories, and give examples of tactics that have worked for me in the past.The point isn’t to tell you what to do.The point is to ask you questions that you can ask yourself in the future. You read this and get a small reminder of how to think instead of what to think.
2 Minute Action:
Here are some simple questions you can ask yourself in the future:What would Elon Musk do if faced with this problem?How would Bill Gates approach this?What’s something positive your Mom would say about you?