Time to read: 2 min & 15 seconds — 450 words. Written by Joseph Pack.
The schooling system is a box.
Inside that box is an academic system of learning (maths, english, science, geography, history, etc).
Some kids, less than 50%, fit perfectly inside that box.
They do what they’re told. They sit still in class. They do their work, get good grades, and become whatever the path determines for them — doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.
Then there’s the rest of us, split into these two sub-groups:
Those who force themselves into the box
Those who never fit in the box
Group one struggles, but they make it work.
Often by working longer, foregoing sleep, and inhaling gallons of Red Bull.
Group one would thrive in a box that met their unique traits. But pressure from family, teachers, and society forces them to conform and become a cog in the system.
Then there’s group two.
That’s us by the way. Well, most of us.
I punted school immediately.
I never did homework. And (often) did the opposite of what teachers told me to do.
Those teachers told me I’d fail at life.
What those teachers didn’t understand is that my failing inside of this exceptionally limited box would have zero consequence on my performance outside of it.
And it’s the same for you.
Here’s why:
Chess training only improves chess skills
“Chess training only improves chess skills as classroom training (almost) only improves classroom skills.”
Nassim Taleb
A story…
My wife takes our son to a playgroup on Wednesday mornings. Last week she heard one of the Mums say she’d put her seven year old son on ADHD meds. When another parent asked “what’s he like at home?”, she replied “oh, he’s an angel at home, this is just for school”.
The boy doesn’t need medication.
He’s not broken. He’s seven.
What he needs is help finding the box he fits in.
School will not help him find that box due to what Naval Ravikant says here:
“School is a combination of a small bit of education, large doses of socialization and compliance training, and a massive dose of babysitting.”
Naval Ravikant
Consider this: if your teachers predicted your failure, question their basis for such a verdict. Do they possess real-world experience beyond the classroom?
If their expertise is limited to teaching, it might be wise to question their authority.
No matter your age, there’s still time to find your unique ability and use it to your advantage.
For that, I recommend you take the Kolbe A Index.
Once you know your unique ability there are endless ways to practice, build audiences, and rewrite the script of your life.
It won’t be easy. But I reckon it’ll be worth it.
Shout if you need help.
🤘
Great article you wrote, really hit the nail on the head!
Ive spent my whole life living in the wrong boxes, school was especially tough for me. I like what your doing and i like when a piece of writing really resonates with me. I have been meaning to write you earlier but as you know I am a procrastinator, Im interested in what you have to offer but i dont really know what it entails.
Id love to find a way to keep me writing and doing more creative works but it seems that after im done working and with my short 2 days off a week, its tough for me to justify not taking it easy and just relaxing. I know i have so much more to offer but its really hard to get me staarted and continuing a project.
Thanks for hearing me out and id like to hear from you.