BuildsByGideon

Posts for Tag: What I Know Now

Find the Needle Movers And Develop Those as a Teen | What I Know Now 22

One of my biggest desires is to be the best or world-class in whatever I am working on. Doing the most, putting in the best effort, and moving faster than the norm.

How do you know what to do to further yourself and what to do with the information? Hearing many great leaders talk on this subject, I've come to find that there are typically 3-5 primary things in any given field you want to go into. And discovering what those are, and focusing primarily on those skills, will greatly increase the speed of your career. 

You can't be extraordinary by doing what everyone else is doing; that would make the term redundant. But being smart about what you spend your time on and taking the path of focusing on a few key points and becoming a master at those will give you the edge over those trying to do a million things at once. 

When you're trying to figure out the most important skills to learn, I've found a fairly simple trick, and I've used it many times. Pick the most common task in the desired area and try to do it half the time it normally takes to do. You don't necessarily have to actually do the task, but mentally go through the steps. It will make it very clear what you will have to cut out to do it in that time, and leave you with the topmost important things. 

Key take-aways:

1) Finding the top 3-5 things that make the biggest impact in your field and developing those skills will set you apart

2) You can't be extraordinary by doing the same thing as everyone else. So stop trying to get a ton of things done, and focus on a few skills that make the biggest impact

3) Finding those most important needle movers is as simple as trying to do the task in half the time. It forces you to cut out what's not entirely necessary and leave you with the core.

Finding Your Path As a Teen | What I Know Now 21

One question I hear all the time from my peers is that of unclear life direction. And it's been one that I've been trying to figure out a good way of finding.

I know I did not, and still don't know exactly where I want to go with my future career. But I've found that picking a direction and pivoting along the way as you get clearer on where you feel you should go works wonders!

I think that everyone has had some point in their life where they really enjoyed something, were super engaged and put in good old fashioned hard work, and felt accomplished at the end of it. This could be that one time when you helped your grandfather do a bathroom renovation or the time you spent ten straight hours working on a mini model diorama. You may not have enjoyed every aspect of it, but there was one specific thing you really liked. Whatever it might be, I find that you can get a decent idea of what you enjoy doing. 

That's how I got started and got to where I am today, working at a CNC machine shop. I absolutely did not start out saying I want to make prototypes for big companies. No, I started with architecture of all things, and as I learned more about that industry, I pivoted to 3D design and model making. And from there, I made the jump to the machine shop. 

Key takeaways:

1) No one knows what they want to do at the beginning; even down the line, it changes

2) Getting started is as simple as finding what you enjoyed doing in the past and researching that

3) You pivot along your career journey; what you decide is never final; you change to find your desired path


Learn Faster By Teaching What You Learn | What I Know Now 20

I've found that one of the fastest ways I've been able to learn new things and remember them is by teaching other people what I learned.

I may understand something and try it out, but it may just remain exactly what it is. It could be a solution to a problem I've been having for a while, and I found something online that worked for this scenario, and I moved on. But I've found if you then relate this story, you are forced to put it in your own words, describing what you think the issue was and your hypothesis for why the solution worked. You may get new insights into other problems that you're having, or at the very least, have a better vocabulary to find solutions to problems down the line.

If you shared what you learn, you also get the amazing opportunity to help someone else that might be working on a similar problem, and what you shared just gave them the last link to solve it. On top of that, you start a conversation with other people, saying what worked and what didn't; I've had many people respond to problems I've had with other solutions or related information that I would never have come to on my own! On top of this, you are showing yourself to be someone who wants to go to new heights and not afraid to say, "I don't know."

In my own learning, I've spent 6+ hours trying to figure out how to get a machine running, and there was a single problem that I could not for the life of me figure out. I eventually gave up and sat down to write about what I learned and did that day, only for the solution to come to me in the middle of my second sentence. It was so obvious and yet something I hadn't considered at all, and I only was putting my thoughts into words to share online!

Key takeaways:
1) You can better understand new ideas by teaching those to other people
2) Sharing your experience not only helps others but also opens other's to share their experience
3) Writing what you did, even if it's an open problem, shows you to be someone that wants to learn
4) Formulating your thoughts into words may give you the solution on its own!

Paying Rent At 16 Was the Best Thing I Could Have Done | What I Know Now 19

I've always wanted to "be mature beyond my years," which is pretty common among those my age. I want to prove myself, be the big person who did something harder than those around me. Unfortunately, a lot of this is selfish pride, but there are many good aspects of having this feeling!

To be totally honest, the saying I hated the most from my parents is the "we pay for everything you have, so as long as you live under this roof, it's our rules." This really got my goat and got me angry on more than one occasion, which is why, a few months after my 16th birthday, I came to my parents with a proposal. Once I graduated, I would start paying rent, and in my mind, I saw this as an opportunity to 'escape from being under the complete authority of my parents' and 'be my own man.' Thankfully, they agreed to this, and starting July 1st, I would pay $500 a month for rent and car insurance.

Since that point, I've been so much more motivated to achieve my goals, showing that I can be different from my peers and make money to pay the rent like a man. My parents don't need me to pay rent and aren't short on money, so offering to do so didn't make financial sense, but I knew it was something I had to do to accelerate my growth.

What ended up happening was I actually grew much closer to my parents and took heed of their wisdom and what they had to offer more often. This had a cascading effect where I started doing much better in my work, writing, and setting future goals! I felt more in control, and even though I don't pay for everything to live on my own, I do pay for a good chunk of it, which has brought me amazing opportunities and results!

Key take away's:
1) Wanting to be mature beyond your years, though maybe driven by pride, is a good thing, so long as you don't get full of yourself
2) I was able to out of "being under my parent's thumb" and start the journey of becoming a man by paying rent
3) Paying rent has brought me closer to my parents, given me huge confidence, and a new outlook on setting goals for the future!
4) Paying your room and board even in situations that don't make financial sense is still really good for your personal growth

People Want to Teach and Share Their Knowledge | What I Know Now 18

Something that really has been an eye-opener to me recently came to realize that people want to be a teacher and mentor and go to great lengths to do this!

I've found that the people I look up to teach and mentor those around them in some form or fashion. This comes out most commonly in books they've written or talks they've done. But on a smaller level, with those who aren't in the public light and don't have a desire to be, there still is something inside them that wants to bring up and train the next guy. And if you can find someone that's well experienced, you may find that they would be willing to take you under their wing and teach you all that they know, for free.

A perfect example of this is my own boss. He is someone I looked up to and sought advice from when getting started at a makerspace, and because I showed interest and was willing to go the extra mile, he hired me on. Having to jump through some legal hoops in the process. Since I started working for him, he has shared so much knowledge of the industry and would even pull me aside from my work and talk for hours on the clock. It's very much like a karate kid scenario, where the sensei taught Daniel the art of karate and refused payment for it.

Key take away's:
1) People want to be mentors
2) Finding someone well experienced that isn't necessarily in the public spotlight is ideal for finding a mentor
3) Older, wiser people want to 'discover' and train the next guy and teach all the secrets of the trade
4) You can easily find yourself in a karate kid situation and massively progress your path in life

We Won't Do What We Don't Understand | What I Know Now 17

I've found that what often limits me the most from trying something new or following advice is my not fully understanding the concept. I've noticed a huge difference between knowing something on the practical level and actually believing it to be possible. Those are the conscious and subconscious minds; I only heard about this specific wording today, which matches exactly what I've noticed!

Your conscious mind is something that you can communicate with directly. It's the voice in your head that commands your body, and you can hear talking with real words. Your subconscious is that back voice, the one you don't hear, but you feel it is there, which dictates your body's deeper emotions and motivations. A real-world example would be giving a friend advice, and they understand it and even repeat it back to you in their own words. But their subconscious doesn't fully comprehend it, and they inevitably don't take your perfectly reasonable and sound advice.

I've found this is an absolutely massive factor in my own learning and understanding of new ideas and concepts. I rarely hear something and immediately try it out, even if it makes perfect logical sense and there is proof behind it. I have to mull the idea around and get confirmation from other people that it's something that works; if not, I put it away in my mental filing cabinet to do more research down the line. There are so many concepts and ideas that I didn't do or completely understand when I first read them that I would just put on the back burner; that has come full circle, and I do understand them and now have the foundation to build something on.

1) We won't do what we don't understand on our subconscious level
2) Something might be completely logical, but you don't take action on that; you are normally not convinced it's worth doing
3) Realizing that any new ideas won't turn immediately into actions helps you keep that idea on the back burner for when it does click for you
4) No learning is ever wasted

Become the Teen Your Boss Wants to Hire | What I Know Now 16

Through a lot of reading and talking with people, I've found that there are quite a few things you can do early on as a teen that can propel you really far! 

One of those things is becoming someone that your desired boss would have a hard time not hiring you. For the most part, actual work experience isn't something you can have under your belt, so you will have to compensate elsewhere. 

I've found that if you put yourself in your boss's shoes, you can get a pretty good idea of the kind of person they would want to hire. No matter what the field of work, genuine interest plays a massive part in choosing someone to hire. Showing that you're interested in the work and proving that you are someone who will learn on your own is massive; just by doing that, you set yourself apart from most of your peers. The problem is how to show that you are the kind of guy that does go above and beyond the call of duty? 

Having a blog or Instagram page is an excellent way of doing this. I really like Instagram because it's free to post, and you can get a really nice visual overview of the posts when you visit someone's page. A blog is really nice for longer story formats, where you have the freedom of showcasing your project better. Doing this also gives you the ability to improve your writing skills and pick up the terminology for the industry you want to work in. 

Key takeaways:

1) There are so many small things you can do as a teen that can massively increase your chances of getting hired

2) Put yourself in your desired boss's shoes and ask yourself what kind of person you would hire

3) Showing interest and willingness to spend your free time learning more about it sets you aside from your peers

4) Starting a blog or Instagram is an amazing way to showcase what you've done and get the message across that you are a guy who enjoys working in that industry. 

Strive vs Survive | What I Know Now 15

I've found that I feel two major things, and they define how I show up for those around me. Those two things are striving and surviving.

If you're sick, down, or depressed, you tend to have a self-centered outlook on life, and I see this as the survival mode. I find that if things don't pan out the way I expected at work and I'm absolutely exhausted when I get back, I don't feel like assisting those around me. I don't look for opportunities to serve and give. This leads to inaction in my own projects and a blah feeling, which causes me to sit on the couch for hours watching videos.

Compared to the strive mode, where you are going places, you make and set goals, you push for bigger and better things, and you're excited to see the challenges you might face. Being in the strive mode, you are the most giving and want to build people up; you want to do something great! You're ready for anything and want to take on new projects and fight big battles!

Getting out of the survive and into the strive mode has been something I've been trying to figure out for some time, and I think part of the reason is how much you do day today. If you're constantly pushing and rarely take a breather, it drains you and puts you in a state of trying to survive the day. Brendon Burchard uses the method of leaving your feelings and emotions when you transition to a different work or situation setting. He does light meditation, releases all the pent up emotions from those things he just finished and came into the new situation with a clear mind and ready for anything that might come!

Motivation & Mindsets - Consistency Over the Long Term | What I Know Now 14

Something I read and hear from many great leaders is consistency. Doing something regularly day after day!

The major problem with doing something consistently is sustainability. Is what you're doing something you can continue doing weeks, months, or even years down the line? Weathering through the times when you really don't want to do it, and yet continuing. I've found two major camps in accomplishing any goal: motivation, and the other is a mindset change.

Motivation can be found in anyone; everyone gets motivated by something; if not, we wouldn't get out of bed in the morning, we wouldn't have a will or reason to live and go brain dead or otherwise. Motivation is something that can take someone's potential and actualize it. It's getting someone almost 300lbs to eat healthily and lose nearly 100lbs in a relatively short time period. It's the drive for going after something. However, it doesn't last; motivation fades as things start to slow down or get into a rhythm and we become desensitized to what we've accomplished, and without a clear vision for the end goal, there is a lapse into old behavior. I always thought that motivation, once had, would keep you going forever, it would take you leaps and bounds, and that's what would generate more motivation and energy. This is true to a certain extent, but after a while, it becomes commonplace, or we lose interest in the goal.

Having that thought of "I'm going to lose motivation sometime down the line" in the back of your head as you're going into a new project or idea sets you up for success. You can then ask yourself, "alright, I'm going to lose motivation for this, what will I do when I don't feel like it anymore," and that's something that I've found you need to answer before going for a goal, if not you will fall off the path. If you set in place small changes that you know you can consistently do over the long term, you will go much farther, even though you feel like you could move mountains initially, and doing small things doesn't make any sense.

Motivation is something that gets you started; mindset is what keeps you going.

Key takeaways:
1) Everyone is motivated by something; if not, they wouldn't have a reason to get out of bed in the morning.
2) Motivation is a huge power, but it's not sustainable; there must be a mindset change for lasting impact.
3) Sustainability is more important than doing something big at the moment.
4) Making small changes, in the beginning, feels counter-intuitive, but can keep you going over the long term

The Most Rebellious Thing You Can Do As a Teen | What I Know Now 13

I am extremely grateful for my family. I've grown much closer to my parents and siblings this year and have much deeper connections with each of them!

I'd say one of the biggest mindset changes I've had this year was asking and taking the advice of parents and mentors. In the past, I would want to figure everything out on my own, and I still struggle with this, but I've come to realize that there really isn't anything new, and most of what I am going through has already been figured out or gone through by others. So why not just take their advice, and save me the headache? This has been a question I've asked myself a lot when I go down the path of trying to do things all on my own. I think the answer is pride. I want to be the guy who figured it all out; I don't want to take assistance as it could be seen as weak.

But on the other hand, I absolutely don't want to be the guy that goes along with the crowd. Coming to find out that many people try to figure things out on their own is the "popular" thing to do, turned me away from wanting to do that. So started my journey of asking, researching, and testing solutions to problems I was having, and going about it in a non-conventional way. Asking my parents for advice and heeding it is about the most rebellious thing I can do!

All my life, I wanted to be extraordinary, different. Starting in my teens to work toward setting myself up for the future has been one of the most "different" ways I can be. I don't want to take the heavily trodden path; I want to take the path that few have gone. I want to take advice from people and not disregard it.

Key take away:
1) There are so much value and wisdom from those more experienced than me, and just asking can save you many headaches
2) People want to help you
3) Taking advice from older, wiser people is about the most rebellious thing you can do as a teen.