INTRO

Ever feel like your personal growth is stuck in “buffering” mode? You’re not alone! Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s easy to overlook but impossible to ignore for long: Ignoring Personal Skill Development.

By the end of this newsletter, you’ll understand why neglecting your skills is more dangerous than leaving milk out overnight, and, more importantly, how to get back on track with practical, bite-sized steps.

Lingchi: Dream-Death by Stagnation

Let’s be honest: ignoring your own skill development isn’t a dramatic, overnight disaster. It’s more like a slow leak in your career tires. At first, you barely notice. Maybe you skip a webinar here, pass up a new project there. “I’m busy,” you tell yourself. “I’ll get to it later.” But over time, the effects add up:

• Missed Opportunities: That juicy promotion? It quietly passes you by, like a pizza delivery to the wrong address.

• FOMO at Work: Your colleagues start dropping buzzwords and using tools you’ve never heard of. Suddenly, you’re the person asking, “Wait, what’s ChatGPT again?”

• Confidence Drain: The less you stretch your skills, the more daunting new challenges seem. Before you know it, you’re stuck in the comfort zone-aka, the Bermuda Triangle of growth.

Here’s the kicker: skill stagnation isn’t just about falling behind professionally. It can sneak into your personal life, too. Ever tried explaining TikTok to your kids and realized you’re now “that parent”? Yeah, it’s a slippery slope.

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Hansei: Time for a Little Self-Reflection

Let’s get real for a moment. Grab your favorite beverage (coffee, tea, or that suspiciously healthy green smoothie) and ask yourself:

• When was the last time you learned a new skill-on purpose?

• What’s one thing you’ve wanted to get better at but keep putting off?

• Are you the go-to person for fresh ideas, or do you feel like you’re playing catch-up?

No judgment - just honesty. We all get busy, and sometimes Netflix feels more appealing than an online course. But recognizing where you’re letting your skills gather dust is the first step to cleaning house.

Kaizen: Small Steps, Big Gains

Ready to break the cycle? Good news: you don’t need to overhaul your life or become a productivity robot. Here are some bite-sized, actionable strategies to get you started:

1. The 15-Minute Rule

Set aside just 15 minutes a day to learn something new. Read an article, watch a tutorial, or try a micro-course (LinkedIn Learning and Coursera have great options). You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish in a week.

• Skillshare

• Linkedin Learning

• Coursera

• Udemy

2. Skill Swap with a Friend

Pair up with a colleague or friend and trade skills. Maybe you teach them basic Excel hacks, and they show you how to make a killer presentation. It’s like a potluck, but for brains.

3. Set a Monthly Mini-Goal

Pick one skill to focus on each month: Public speaking, coding, or even mastering the office coffee machine (hey, no judgment). Track your progress and celebrate small wins.

• Ladder - for fitness

• Habitica - track personal goals

• Duolingo - learn a language

4. Use the “Three Whys” Technique

Whenever you find yourself resisting a learning opportunity, ask yourself “Why?” three times. (“Why am I skipping this workshop?” “Because I’m busy.” “Why am I busy?” “Because I don’t prioritize learning…” You get the idea.)

This technique can help drill down the actual problem, and make it easier to understand the solution. For example (personally) watching TV was distracting me from achieving my goals. How much time was I wasting?! Cutting daily TV out of my life actually has made an impact in how productive and happy I’ve become.