Curiosity killed the cat but it unlocks your genius

You know the drill: certificates, diplomas, and the conventional hoopla surrounding education. That's the narrative we've been spoon-fed, with the belief that structured learning is the be-all and end-all, especially in the business realm.

But here’s a hot take: what if this traditional educational parade is marching to the beat of an outdated drum? What if traditional schools are dead?

Learning Off the Beaten Path

This of course is coming from a guy with a Masters degree saying traditional education is dead. I've sat through enough seminars to last me a lifetime. You've got these so-called gurus preaching the same tired tactics from a playbook that should’ve been retired last century.

Like that one time, an investor insisted the sales team should hop on flights for face-to-face pitches. Not a bad idea right?

Well the service is a only a about a grand a month. I nearly choked on my energy drink shaking my head as I held back a laugh.

Glancing around the call, the same question bounced around my head: "Is it just me?"

Soon enough, it hit me like a truck: the most potent learning experiences aren't wrapped in a shiny bow.

We learn by doing, not just listening or reading. Even if the advice comes from a well-worn trailblazer, it may not jive with your reality. Why's that? Because sometimes, so-called best practices are anything but.

A Curious Mind's Guide to Real-World Learning

Tossing out conventional wisdom opens up a whole new vista on learning:

- Question Everything: When someone tells you, "This is how it's always been done," take it with a grain of salt. Be that person who digs deeper. The one who isn't afraid to poke holes in the "tried and true."

- Trial by Fire: Oh, the things I've learned from a good flop are invaluable. Forge your path, make your blunders, and harvest the lessons.

- Craft Your Own Learning Odyssey: Mentors, books, courses – they're all tools in your arsenal. But remember, knowledge without action is like a Ferrari without gas. You aren't going anywhere without fuel and action. You have to drive your learning journey forward by doing, tweaking, and doing some more.

- Blend Learning with Doing: Separate work and education? Nonsense! Mesh them together. Make sure you've got a system to snag all those juicy insights as you hustle. What are those rabbit holes that you have gone down on Youtube? There is something tugging at you and revealing the knowledge you need.

Shifting the Paradigm

This way of thinking doesn’t always get the standing ovation. You'll hear, "Trust the system; it works." But let's get real – are you really getting anything out of another by-the-numbers workshop?

There's a juicier route. It's paved with individuality, inquisitiveness, and that entrepreneurial fire. It's about commandeering your education, rejecting cookie-cutter best practices, and maybe, just maybe, scribbling out a few of your own.

To Wrap It Up

The well-trodden path of learning? It's cozy but not my cup of tea. I didn’t learn to run a business from textbooks or lectures.

Instead, I leaped out of the comfort zone and found that a hands-on, eyes-open approach suited me best: doing things, observing the ripples, and adjusting the sails accordingly. In fact I have learned more in the last 12 months when the economy has been kicking my ass about business than I did in all my years in school.

So how about it? Time to start questioning, bucking the norm, taking bold steps, and learning on your own terms.

Investing in ourselves, in our own idiosyncratic ways, is the smartest play we can make. And trust me, your unique learning expedition will be the most rewarding venture you’ll ever embark on.

After all, isn't life the greatest teacher?

Here's to the trade-offs we make on the way to wisdom.

So tell me! What would you learn to do if you knew you would succeed?

Jake