I spent 20 minutes looking for a thumb drive other day and finally gave up. I discovered it in a “special” place two days later where I had placed it so I wouldn’t misplace it. I will never forget about that special place again. I always know how to spell Mississippi because my mother said the spelling with me over and over again one day. I can even sweat pipe connections because I went through five feet of solder, half a container of flux and a small bottle of propane getting it right. Yes, there are lots of videos on YouTube on how to do all kinds of stuff. But that’s not the same as actually doing it.
One of the failings of education in the US is that we focus way too much on content knowledge rather than application. Yes, you have the degree. But how many times have you actually applied what you’ve learned? I’ve advised employers for years to focus how applicants think during selection, rather than what they know. Does it take more time to do this? Yes. But it’s worth the investment.
I interviewed a machine shop owner who told me that he lays a fifteen-piece three dimensional puzzle out in front of applicants and asks them to assemble it in front of him. Just watching them attempt to do so tells him about their confidence to try something new, their patience, their perseverance, how they handle frustration, their creativity and their ability to think in three dimensions, a quality essential to being a skilled machinist. You can do the same thing with computer programmers, tradespeople, those who want to be auditors, and any other kind of job.
Take a few minutes to do something over and over a few times. You may not be good at it at first, but even a few repetitions will probably make you better. It will also remove the apprehension about trying it in the future. You’ve already done it. I hadn’t ridden a bicycle for 30+ years. But then I decided to try again. Was I very good at first? No. But I wasn’t afraid to get on and try. The confidence to try is SO much more important than knowing how something is supposed to be done if you’ve never done it. Go ahead. Give it a try, whatever it is.