Second Order Consequences of "Needing to Know."

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Hey Reader,

For our entire lives higher education has been the pathway to success, right?

Degree -> Resume -> Job -> Money -> Stability -> Success

Things are different now, right?

• Record high unemployment for college grads
• Sky high debt
• Internet = free learning

Most people I know right now are questioning the value of higher education, yet:

Higher Education is a business serving a need.

Unfortunately that need is 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄.

The higher education model has brainwashed us all to think “𝗜 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼, 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝗱𝗼”.

That's the same problem holding you back from getting your business idea off the ground or stepping fully into that big career pivot isn't it.

When things feel uncertain, we seek information instead of validation.

So we delay progress. We:

We go back to school

• delay progress 2 years
• leave with high debt load
• get “deeper” expertise (that actually constrains our options and identity)

Or get “certifications”

• Do you need a stamp to be competent?
• Is that gonna really make the difference on your resume?

Or “ consume and plan”

• Randomly scroll the “experts"
• Chase every shiny idea
• Plan 20 steps ahead instead of executing step 1

Of course there is a baseline education that sets you up for success.

Of course, we need to understand certain tactics before we can even attempt.

I'm not arguing against that.

But where do you draw the line?

When is enough enough?

Do you really have to know 15 steps down the road before you actually begin?

Do the true costs of delay even register?

If you want faster progress, here’s all you need to do

Trust what you want

Your “feelings” are the other half of intelligence you're not using.

You want to build a business, but don't know if you can succeed so you keep daydreaming.

You want a big pivot, but you're not sure if you're "qualified" so you go back to school.

Instead, what if you said, "yes, I want to build a business." And you just got started? You can't see any pathways until you actually start.

Risk manage (don’t leave your proper job, yet)

There really are no binary decisions. You don't have to leave your job, burn the boats or go "all in" to build a business these days. It's not "either or", its "both and".

You will have to re arrange the ole schedule to create the space you need, but that's completely doable (even with three kids under 6 and a 60 hour work week)

Execute the first step, then the next

Where the knowledge trap leads is to complex planning, when in the beginning, all we really need to know is what's the first step. Learn that, then move to the next.

If you don't have sales, build an offer.

If you don't have an offer, create a compelling idea.

If you don't have a compelling idea, ideate.

If you can't ideate, learn your Advantage Stack (this is your unique combo of advantages you can bring to the world).

Any of those first steps can be done in a weekend, or shorter with locked in AI set ups.

Everything else is irrelevant, or up to your future self to learn at the right time.

Case Study (Application)

In addition to coaching, I’m a University level professor (adjunct).

I never taught a class in my life before this. I don’t have a teaching Masters. I don’t have a CV.

Here's what happened using the process above:

1. I just decided I wanted to understand how today’s students think, and I wanted to equip them with more dynamic perspectives of their futures.
2. I put the move in context: either outcome wasn't going to change my life. I looked at it as an experiment.
3. Then I reached out - made connections and asked, learned and found an opening that fit with what i wanted to do.

Now I teach a class on entrepreneurship and creative problem solving using frameworks and tools like:

• Product-Market Fit
• Business building
• Experimentalism
• Design Thinking
• Options Design
• Scenario-ing
• Leverage
• Sales
• AI

There isn't another class like it, and if I "needed to know how" before starting, I'd still be in school.

It happened just cuz “that’s what I wanted.”

I just gave myself permission.

You can do it too, just step into your 𝘄𝗵𝘆 and let go of needing to know 𝗵𝗼𝘄.

Light that 🔥,

Mike
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Michael Gardon Founder, Rejoin Coaching Host, Breaking Work Podcast​ Author, Breaking Work Journal​

Want to take your shot? I help unfulfilled and burned out professionals break free from the corporate chains and build Self-Directed businesses without quitting their jobs (yet). Step 1: Watch this video and see if it hits in the right places ;) Step 2: Book your free call (no pitches. No sales. Just for you.)