Messy learning
Each end of year review at bp I’d write “I learnt a lot this year”. But in hindsight I’m not sure how true that really was. The learning felt pretty linear and slow. Except what I learnt about playing the game – often by falling on my face. But I’m not sure I learnt much until I started at Launchpad – bp’s business-builder. Then it got messier.
I think it was because then I started working with different people from me, people who challenged me, people who changed me (in a good way).
Now I’ve left corporate life I’m spending even more time with different people, in a more ambiguous setting, challenging myself more and changing even more – perhaps irrevocably.
And the learning is messier than ever. Even if it is quite fun.
Education vs learning
When some people leave a job, they embark on a path of education: retraining, a structured learning curve. I’ve thought about it a few times. I am fascinated by human psychology – and as a parent - child psychology. But more studying does not appeal. It also feels like an easy way out from this entrepreneurial journey on which I’ve embarked.
But like all good entrepreneurs I ask myself why settle for just one thing; why not both? Can I learn more about psychology and build my business? Seth Godin thinks so. He seems to be on an anti-education mission right now which has struck a chord with me:
This week two founders separately said that Familiarize helps startups “learn to find their customer”. I had never thought of it that way – I focused on helping them find their customer, but not helping them learn HOW to do it…I am itching to use the “Give a man a fish” line, but I’ll spare you.
This week, I ran a customer discovery workshop for the ten brilliant Techstars Energy startups. I’m coaching some of them directly on their own specific journey to find their customer, but this was en masse, on Zoom. I felt like a lecturer, theorising on the Familiarize method – and whilst I did force some active participation with a template, putting them on the spot to share, it felt more like education than learning (without the certificates at the end).
Instead, I offered individual coaching to each of the startups who are interested in understanding more about their customer. That way I will set them up with something more like learning.
Back to me
The messy learning curve definitely applies to learning about myself.
One of the biggest things I’m learning (not always very successfully) is how to feel ok now I’m no longer needed. Over the past decade at bp I faced little competition for the work I did – I had scarce skills. It was good for my ego to feel needed. Even if really it was “There’s no one else, you have to work with him”.
But…
Learning to deal with that is hard. And it’s nothing education can teach me – or even a book (although I will try this week Instagram followers). It’s hard yards, active learning, self-talk etc.
But maybe one day Familiarize will be needed instead, and I’ll get that feeling vicariously.
Meanwhile, here’s a few tips:
Distinguish your education from your learning and start prioritising the latter – it will help you grow faster and build you more sustainably.
Invest in time to observe yourself and what you’re learning about Number 1. Focus on something that makes you uncomfortable – like me dealing with my superfluousness. Again, this is where you have maximum opportunity for growth.
I am a big fan of writing stuff down. Record how you feel – often. Give yourself some hardish evidence to look back on to track your growth
Set yourself a learning goal and commit to it. It may even start with some kind of education, but quickly orientate it to some kind of active learning. You don’t need a crappy Coursera certificate to tell you you’ve learnt something. By way of example, I am committed to learn about child psychology – I will start with something academic, but I am going to quickly apply it to my children. I am invested in helping them understand themselves, as much as I want to understand them.
Sometimes I feel like writing these blogs is as much about me pulling something that’s been nagging away at me out of my head and in to words, as it is about sharing in the hope of helping others.
Drop me a line with any topics you’re wrestling with as you make your move to life outside a corporate – I’m sure as hell I’m wrestling with them too and would love to see if I can help.