Not to Pursue, but to Ensue

Godin listed the skills he felt couldn’t be outsourced.

analysis

insight

surprise

responsibility

humor

creativity

guts

respect

charisma

vision

calm

love

Did you learn any of those in a classroom? The only way I’ve found them is to surround yourself with people that already have them. To absorb them through iteration and imitation until they become dispositional. Books are only a mediocre substitute. The key though is to avoid the academic pressures that push you away from those skills and towards sycophantry, cautiousness, repetition, tradition, jealousy and shortsightedness. Because once you tattoo yourself with those any of these viewpoints, the scars never go away.

11 Responses to “Not to Pursue, but to Ensue”

  1. W October 24, 2007 at 2:58 pm #

    I just had to say you’re my favorite writer. Don’t stop.

  2. W October 24, 2007 at 2:59 pm #

    I just had to say you’re my favorite writer. Don’t stop.

  3. Soren October 24, 2007 at 4:01 pm #

    Good shit, man. Started reading a few posts ago, and the whole philosophy you have has gripped me. It’s really interesting.

    Keep writing.

  4. Derek Kreindler October 24, 2007 at 4:53 pm #

    These are also skills that cannot be faked.

  5. Daniel October 24, 2007 at 5:12 pm #

    Do you think there are ANY merits to the classroom? I mean, other than the obvious social benefits of going to grade, middle and high school. Do you think school in general is totally pointless or simply that its importance is overstated?

  6. Ryan Holiday October 24, 2007 at 6:07 pm #

    No, I love it. It could just be a lot better.

  7. J October 25, 2007 at 11:09 am #

    bought and read The Dip twice now. Fantastic. What’s your favorite Godin book?

  8. Eva October 25, 2007 at 12:16 pm #

    Very true.

    But I also have to say something in defense of the classrooms; at least where I live, it depends a lot on what you make of it. Whether you take the easiest path or a more challenging one, whether you use your creativity to deliver work above average, whether you try to get deep into the problem and thoroughly unterstand it or just consume given solutions, wether you respect the teacher because you know he has something you want, and yet have to work for, as knowledge or skills. It’s all up to you, basically.

    eva

  9. Derek Kreindler October 25, 2007 at 1:36 pm #

    Unfortunately, a lot of teachers suck. Standards to be admitted to teachers college are almost as low as the salaries that come with the job. Both should be rectified. Because you always will remember those handful of teachers who made a difference, but with that, you had to suffer through the incompetent, awkward and/or creeps who just wanted the summers off.

  10. Eric Ogunbase October 25, 2007 at 7:51 pm #

    My experience with teachers is unfortunate, because there are those who genuinely care, and are in their position to make the students around them that much better. But these teachers are a distinct minority.

    The majority of the teachers I encountered in elementary, middle and high schools drank apathy for breakfast.

    It’s sad.

  11. Danny July 16, 2011 at 4:43 am #

    Sorry about the glib post mate. But Thankyou. I just learn shit when I’m on here. Thankyou.

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