𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯

I strived to inspire others through my writing, even as I keep learning (a lot). 

My final post of the year covers major lessons I've learned, which hopefully also will resonate with you.

Dumb Questions are Powerful

I fully embraced asking simple, potentially obvious questions this year. While complex questions make me seem smart, simple questions help me learn.

Inevitably, potentially naïve questions reveal more because the responses uncover motivations and thought processes. If I ask, “What is the main problem you’re trying to solve?” or “Why is that important?” I will get a range of answers, including some unexpected ones.

Once I get past my ego and risk asking a question that may make me appear foolish, I often learn a lot.

AI is Incredible and Fallible

My experience with AI is mostly in writing, so I may be extrapolating wrongly. That said, I’ve found that AI sometimes greatly improves my work, while other times the writing may be grammatically correct yet incredibly useless. 

Whether you're a technophile or a technophobe, you will agree that the world is changing rapidly. AI may cure diseases, unify society, or create new threats and exasperate division.

I've been thinking a lot about the world once AI is omnipresent* and see the chance to redefine and enhance humanity as AI improves our circumstances. I'll have many more discussions, in person and through posts and podcasts, about how startups can reshape humanity as society evolves.

Face Your Fears

When studying neuroscience, I learned that positive and negative stress manifest similarly in our body but are interpreted differently by our mind. For example, our heart rate increases whether jogging on a treadmill or running from an angry bear, but jogging makes you feel better afterward.

This year, I visited the Arctic. I hate cold weather starting at less than 50° F. Knowing my destination, I felt nervous for months before. Once there, despite enduring -12° F for two hours, seeing the Northern Lights was exhilarating.

The difference between positive and negative stress is intention: 

“Working hard for something we don’t care about is stress,

for something we love is passion.” – Simon Sinek

I plan to push myself on a couple of big projects and other ways next year, valuing the return on facing my fears.

Be Vulnerable to Learn

I don't like to talk about myself. Learning rarely happens when I'm talking, I would say in my head. However, I realize that's an excuse. More deeply, talking leads to openness, and that makes me uncomfortable.

My most impactful writing has been sharing personal stories and vulnerabilities rather than presenting facts and insights.

When I constructively express my thoughts and feelings, most people can relate to the emotions and outcomes, and we collaborate better.

I hope my lessons help to foster your growth.

______________________________

Photo by Anette Niia who can be found here

𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲: 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗸 is a 500-page handbook with over 130 articles that ascend into topics like leadership, growth, sales, marketing, operations, finance, and teams.

In five minutes, learn the best methods and practical solutions to reach your dreams.

* Building for an AI-Abled World can be found here