We have not set up our guidelines for determining how to go about learning for the NarWalter project. The general attitude we plan to take moving forward.
NarWalter came from multiple conversations about learning new things after 30. Career changes, excuses as to why people couldn’t make a change, that sort of thing. This project is about doing and learning. One of the silliest arguments we have heard to date, is the “I am too old to do this” along with “the internet belongs to the young.” I admit to saying twitter is stupid (before I understood it) but the internet belongs to an entire generation is just silliness. The generation before me has extensive life experience, what if it was applied to a changing world? In the comfort of your own house. What if you decide to be forward looking again?
Unofficial Rules
We are busy people, we have lives, we are established and for the most part, aren’t off backpacking and sleeping in parks anymore like youth hostel loving adventurers we were or wished to be. There is responsibility and limited resources. And as such we need to set some running guidelines for undertaking this project.
Cheap or at least low cost: This needs to be inexpensive, and preferred free. Most everything we do will be via online courses, libraries and social networks. If money is involved, we plan on keeping it as inexpensive as possible and embracing the ensuing increase in work that usually offsets price. Upfront, I know some of the certifications we want to obtain will cost money. I don’t know if they are worth it yet. We will find out along the way. I may go out of my way to earn extra money on the side in some crazy manner (and document it) just to pay for it all and not effect family budget if it comes to that.
Online learning: The majority of what we are going for is by nature, online. Which makes this part much easier. Everyone needs to have the resources available. And chances are, if you are reading this, you have the resources. Some will need to work harder than others on this part due to geographical limitations, no computer, etc. There is always a way to adapt and overcome if the will is there!
Networking: In my experience, this isn’t cheap and isn’t aligned with the cost portion above. Truth is, we can’t do without networking. We need people around us with similar goals, not the same, similar. Much of the cost has been brought down with social media channels, MeetUp etc. So this is good. It isn’t as if you will need to go out eating fancy dinners or buying rounds of drinks if you don’t want to. Most importantly, reaching out, connecting, and learning more from each other is the key to success here, or at least we believe it is.
Commit, in a HUGE way: We are all busy in millions of different ways. Nothing is going to account for stepping up and doing the work that needs to be done. With work, kids, side businesses, extended families, we can make excuses all day. But we wont learn and we cant change unless we bring everything we have and commit.
Embrace your Pain: Let’s be honest. We don’t make changes without motivation to do so. Unfortunately, most times, we are in a painful spot that we need to get out of. If this is your case, embrace it as your motivation. I am not saying if your leg is broke to toughen up and run on it. I am saying if you have fears, dig deep inside yourself, use that energy, and get to peace again. For me, the motivation (pain points) is having so many people ask how to change. They are asking if it is worth it to them. This in not something anyone can answer for you. I don’t know that answer myself. However as far as learning a new skill, I am here to answer that question and open the opportunity to share the experience. We will find answers.
Use failure to learn: First of all, a cliche? You bet, but no truer words exist. Humans need good stress to grow. Not the heart attack, no sleep type. When we fail it is an opportunity to learn, to figure out a new method and what works best for us. There isn’t one answer to anything! Most importantly, obstacles aren’t really obstacles, they are games to be played. We are going to study our obstacles here and we are going to figure out how to get around them. We are going to mess up. THIS IS GOOD! This gives us the chance to be better on the second try, to improve who we are and how we approach. No one gets hurt if we fail doing this. The world wont change, but we are better by embracing failure.
Drop negative self-talk. It is going to happen no matter how positive we stay. Thoughts will come; saying we don’t have time, aren’t able to do this, it is too hard, or just wanting to quit. Don’t listen to any of this. If you hear it, remind yourself we are here to learn and that we can do. Tell your brain you have learned before and can easily do it again. Even harder, don’t listen to those saying you cant. Acknowledge them and understand they are really saying they wouldn’t themselves. Then move on, push forward, they will feel left behind and that hurts some, but don’t allow them to hold you back. We wont listen to negative people or even our own negative thoughts. Finally, we know we can do this.
Personal Support: Sometimes this works perfectly with the networking above and other times, this is a separate group altogether. If you are extremely lucky, reach out to your partner, friends, family, and don’t forget, the internet to support you! Heck we are all here together, comment below! We can now connect with millions of people we would have never known otherwise. IRL (in real life) isnt something separate from the internet persona we use to have even 2 years ago. It is one in the same. Find a group, find friends and surround yourself with people that support you!