problem-centered learning
Collecting, categorizing, and curating knowledge has been an ongoing pattern. I would do these activities by creating powerpoint slides [before the age of the grid and feed] of classic Hollywood actresses from the 1920's and 1930's. Before that, I would indulge my imagination in coming up with fantasy worlds, printing letters on an old computer page, watching my words light up the gray screen.
While I was sitting in the car learning personality typology while on my break at a day job, I took detailed notes. I really wanted to understand how I could fix my psychically painful situation by understanding my personality type. Maybe this was the way to get out of this?
At the "third spaces" of Northern Virginia, I took a course on Coursera on how to build a Google AR app. It was the first time that I really felt like I was gaining a skill to enter the "real workforce." Before, I had been working low-pay service jobs. The workforce that everyone I looked up to was a part of. During this phase of learning about AR and VR, building that app, I went to local VR events in order to be in the same room as these change-makers.
One podcast episode that I listened to in those days in 2017 featured a guest who talked about 'coffee chats.' Essentially, he asked people in his network if he could learn more about their job role. I was really inspired by this because I believed this was also what my personality type would do [his type was very similar to mine so it resonated more]. I emailed him saying that I felt inspired and we connected, eventually having our own 'coffee chat.' I modified it slightly by calling it a 'coffee convo.'
I tested out different income opportunities; posting flyers in coffee shops in which I advertised my french conversational knowledge [this was my first experience advertising/marketing], generating ideas for language & music learners [since I was going to create a business teaching them], posting general helper & sitter services, messaging a veteran of a company I wanted to be a part of. Doing these activities, I honed the skills of strategizing, searching, simplifying, and resource gathering.
Then, I did a 9 week long research project about how to go about jumping into the tech field. I created a curriculum for this project, as well as for many other self-learning projects; piano pedgagogy, french, russian, skincare, the VR space, how to travel frugally, how to monetize my blog [I also honed skills of strategy, resource gathering, and simplifying much like I did in my income opportunity testing phase]. I wrote out the steps. I was interviewing web developers. I wanted in. Not just in the tech space. In all aspects of my interests, to be in connection with others in those spaces.
Afterwards, I held three jobs. One of these jobs I got by advertising my landscaping experience on Nextdoor. Someone needed their vines and branches trimmed? I was the one to do it. Someone needed their lawn weeded? I would make it happen. Even before this landscaping job where I set my own schedule, I listened to a wealth of podcasts. But my podcast listening became more intensive during this time. Primarily, I learned about money, self-employment, and libertarianism.
In 2022, I dedicated my time to really honing my elementary social skills. It was my top priority. I did this first by going to local meetups. I also was having an in-person language exchange which was scary because it wasn't over Skype this time. I researched how to ethically travel [not just frugally travel like before], how to date, how to write and market content online, solo business marketing, and how to have a more healthy relationship with tech.
I did the same thing that I did before because it's what I knew; advertising my language learning and accelerated-learning knowledge by means of flyers and Nextdoor. But after getting a taste of solopreneurship, I wanted to go back to writing, starting with copywriting and online writing. To build a high-income marketable skill that isn't being taken away by automation. Instead of developers, I decided to interview writers [in particular copywriters] that I had found on LinkedIn.
Instead of powerpoints, I currently curate lists on my blog and social media. Last spring, I took a deep dive into health and nutrition when I got a job at a juicery. I also took a Udemy course on beginner sales skills. Originally, the reason why I started learning sales was because of my sales-friendly customer-service facing job at that same juicery. And guess what? I found that it is a stimulating skill!
I don't regret dabbling into so many diverse spheres of knowledge thanks to my own research, tests, and audio education. I believe that my knowledge and skills can contribute in diverse ways to the marketplace. It's exhilirating to explore and experiment.