I'm a firm believer that most anything can be learned and ironically when I left school, that's when I developed a deep interest in acquiring new skills and building upon existing ones as efficiently as possible.
I have a blessing and a curse of being interested in a broad array of things, and being able to learn things quickly is helping me scratch that eclectic itch!
Over the years I've delved into teaching myself...
- Code
- Painting/Drawing
- Video editing
- Being infront of the camera (harder than it looks)
- Animation
- Strength training
- Business
- Content creation (yes it's a skill)
- How to learn
Am I a master at all (or any of these?) hell no! But I get the most gratification out of consistently growing in whatever topic I'm looking to learn more about, no matter how small the progress is.
We've all heard the saying
"A jack of all trades is a master of none".>
Which seems like being interested in many things and spreading yourself too thin is a bad thing.
But funnily enough, the full phrase is
“a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Now I don't know about you, but that sounds more interesting to me!
"Are you self taught?"
I get this question a lot, and it's kind of hard to answer. The way I see it, even if I went to a standard school for (x) topic, skill, I'd still need to do a butt ton of work on my own time.
Working under a master
Back in the day before TV, phones and the internet, to get good at something, you often times had to work under a master of their craft.
But the great news is, we can do that any time now using courses, youtube videos and books.
Allowing ourselves to study under many masters, from many differnet disciplines.
Steal Like an Artist - 10 Things Nobody Told You About Being CreativeSkill stacking
I attribute a part of my succes at build my following to over 220k across IG, Twitter, and TikTok to being able to aquire skills quickly and use them to produce content that is follow worthing that people seem to enjoy and learn from.
It's easy for me to forget about the separate skills while I'm in the midst of making the content but breaking it down, in any one week I'll tap into the skill of:
- Drawing/painting (self explanitory)
- Communicating ideas/teaching (creating engaging educational posts)
- Video editing/animation (for video content like reels, shorts and tik tok)
- Marketing (content strategy, creating engaging hooks, CTA's and thinking about the user experience of the posts)
- Graphic design (creating appealing visuals for both video and image posts)
- Coding/development (Building and maintaining this blog)
This isn't meant to be a 'Look at me' kind of thing, it's more of an attempt to highlight, as a one man show, what I have to tap into, to keep the content churning, and the money revenue coming in.
And I think it's wise for any creator to start to think about what skills they can stack together to give them an advantage when doing their thing.
Grit (talent is BS)
Grit - Angela Duckworth
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Grit: the power of passion and perseverance | Angela Lee Duckworth Ted Talk
- The main indicator of success is consistent perseverance (Grit)
- Most other indicators IQ, Talent etc weren't reliable indicators of success
- Prolonged persistence over many years
To Synthesise
Grit and Talent
Duckworth argues that grit is a better predictor of success than talent or IQ, but she also acknowledges that talent and other inherent abilities are important and should not be overlooked. She suggests that a combination of grit and talent can lead to exceptional performance and success.
Grit and Flow
Flow, also known as "being in the zone," is a state of optimal performance and enjoyment. Duckworth suggests that grit and flow are related, as the focus and persistence required for grit can lead to flow, and flow can in turn lead to increased grit and motivation.
Grit and Passion
Grit involves sustained passion and interest in a long-term goal. Duckworth suggests that finding and pursuing one's passions can lead to increased grit and motivation. However, she also notes that grit can be developed in any area, not just those that align with one's passions.
Grit and Success
Duckworth's research has shown that grit is correlated with success in a variety of areas, including education, career, and personal development. However, she cautions that grit is not the only factor in success and that other factors, such as luck and opportunity, also play a role.
Actionable Ideas
Set challenging goals
Setting challenging goals can help you develop grit, as it requires sustained effort and persistence to achieve them.
Practice deliberate practice
Deliberate practice involves focused, intentional effort to improve a specific skill or ability. It can help you develop grit and improve your performance.
Seek out growth opportunities
Grit can be developed through learning and growth. Seek out opportunities for learning and personal development, such as taking on new challenges or seeking feedback from others.
Cultivate a growth mindset
Adopting a growth mindset, or the belief that your abilities can be developed through effort and learning, can help you develop grit and resilience.
Find a supportive environment
Surrounding yourself with supportive and encouraging people can help foster grit, as it provides a positive and motivating atmosphere.
Take care of your physical and mental health
Maintaining good physical and mental health can help you develop grit, as it allows you to have the energy and focus needed to pursue your goals.
Persevere through setbacks and failures
Grit involves persevering through challenges and setbacks. When faced with setbacks, try to reframe them as opportunities for learning and growth, and continue to work towards your goals.
Share your learnings with others
Share your work - Austin Kleon
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In "Share Your Work," Austin Kleon offers practical advice for creatives looking to share their work with a wider audience. Here are some key takeaways from the book:
Be authentic and share your personality
Kleon suggests that sharing your personality and being authentic can help you connect with your audience and create a sense of trust. He advises readers to share their work in their own voice and to be genuine in their interactions with others.
Share the process, not just the finished product
Kleon advises against waiting until your work is perfect before sharing it, as it can hold you back and prevent you from getting feedback and improving. Instead, he suggests sharing the process of creation and inviting feedback along the way. By sharing the process, you can connect with your audience and create a sense of transparency and authenticity.
Share your work online
Kleon advises sharing your work online, as it can help you reach a wider audience and connect with other creatives. He suggests using social media and blogging platforms to share your work and engage with your audience.
Share your work in person
In addition to sharing your work online, Kleon suggests sharing your work in person, through events such as exhibitions, workshops, or talks. He advises readers to seek out opportunities to share their work in person, as it can help them connect with their audience and get valuable feedback.
Share your work for free
Kleon suggests sharing your work for free, as it can help you build an audience and establish yourself as an expert in your field. He advises readers to share their work through platforms such as social media, blogs, and podcasts, as well as through events such as workshops and talks. By sharing your work for free, you can connect with others and gain valuable exposure for your work.
Share your work with others
Kleon advises sharing your work with others, such as with fellow creatives or with an audience, as it can lead to feedback, collaboration, and opportunities for growth. He suggests sharing your work with a community of fellow artists or with a mentor, as it can help you get valuable feedback and improve your work.
Share your work with the world
Kleon encourages readers to share their work with the world, as it can help them connect with others and gain exposure for their work. He advises readers to be bold and take risks in sharing their work, as it can lead to new opportunities and growth.
Overall, "Share Your Work" offers practical and encouraging advice for creatives looking to share their work with a wider audience. By being authentic and sharing the process of creation, sharing your work online and in person, and sharing your work for free, you can connect with others and gain exposure for your work.
Just in time learning
From my experience, an effective way of learning skills is to choose a skill that you'll be using in real life relatively soon.
For example, if I wanted to learn about how to edit a YouTube video for the first time, I would ideally be editing a video for myself pretty soon after doing some research.
I've spent so much time reading books, courses and tutorials on topics that thought I'd need "one day".
There's nothing wrong with this if you're genuinely interested in the topic, but most all tutorials, courses, and books that I use the contents of soon after absorbing the information have stuck, vs reading about the best investment strategies when you don't have a solid income yet.
- Helps concepts stick as you'll be using/practising them soon after learning.
- using the skill/technique in context helps solidify it as well.
Habits, the secret weapon
Habits, when you fall off the wagon
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It's happened to me many, many times. Everythings great, the habit is there, I think to myself "How could I ever not keep this up?"
Then one day, the motivation is lost, something comes up, and I have to skip a day or two.
How I think about getting back on the wagon
- Health and fitness
- Start small again
- Make it fun again
Have you ever had a streak going with a new habit or routine, only to have it derailed by a missed day or two? It's happened to me countless times, and I know I'm not alone in this struggle.
One of the most common habits people try to build is around health and fitness. Maybe you've been going to the gym consistently for a few weeks, or you've been eating a healthier diet and feeling great about it. But then something comes up, and you have to skip a day or two. Suddenly, it's all too easy to let that momentum slip away and fall back into old habits.
So how can you get back on the wagon when this happens? Here are a few tips that have worked for me:
- Start small again. If you're feeling discouraged because you fell off the bandwagon, it can be helpful to dial things back a bit and start small again. This can help you build back up to your previous level without feeling overwhelmed.
- Make it fun again. Maybe you fell off the wagon because the habit stopped being enjoyable for some reason. If this is the case, try to find ways to make it fun again. Maybe you can try a new workout class or switch up your exercise routine. Or, if it's a dietary habit, try a new recipe or cook a favorite dish in a healthier way.
- Be kind to yourself. It's important to remember that it's okay to make mistakes and have setbacks. Don't beat yourself up for falling off the wagon. Instead, focus on what you can do to get back on track and move forward.
By starting small, making things enjoyable, and being kind to yourself, you can get back on the wagon and continue building healthy habits. Don't let a missed day or two derail your progress – with a little effort, you can get back on track and keep moving forward.
It's easy to get caught up in the results we want to see when building a new habit or trying to improve a skill. But it's important to remember that the habit itself is the goal in the beginning. The results we hope to see – whether it's losing weight, getting stronger, or improving a particular skill – are just a side effect of consistently showing up and putting in the work.
So if you fall off the wagon, try not to get too discouraged by the lack of immediate results. Instead, focus on getting back into the habit of showing up and putting in the work. The results will come eventually, as long as you keep at it. And even if you don't see the results you were hoping for, the habit itself is still valuable and worth maintaining.
So don't get too caught up in the end result. The habit is the goal, and by getting back on track and consistently showing up, you can continue to make progress and see the benefits over time.
I have found this most apparent in fitness and the gym.
Starting SUPER small
Starting small makes it almost laughably easy to do.
Want to get started on a new art habit? Do 5 mins a day.
You might be thinking...what's the point? 5 mins a day is nothing and that's not going to help me get to my goals.
But at this early stage in the habit forming game, forming and keeping the habit is the goal, not the outcome of the actions yet.
You don't have to stay at (insert small effort task) forever, this is a strategy to get cracking and ward against procrastination.
Although this isn't the greatest analogy, it's one that can illustrate the point.
You don't get addicted to cigarettes by starting off smoking a pack a day, you might have one at a party every other week, then you might only smoke when you drink, then you'll only smoke in the evenings, and before you know it you're spending $100 a week on darts.
This isn't a perfect analogy but it illustrates the point that I want to do the same thing with a 'healthy and helpful' habit.
If you fall off, don't beat yourself up
I fall off of habits, it is expected, and now after many fall offs, I plan for them.
Take the Gym for example, let's
