Knees weak, arms are heavy. I stood there. Nervous and sweaty in front of a room full of little boys and girls.
Eleven years ago, I was invited to speak to them on Career Day.
Would they laugh me out of the room? Would they like me? Would I even make sense?
I relaxed when I said something funny and made them laugh. Game on. I was accepted.
I shared how I sold digital products to people from all over the world on the internet. This was a time before ALL kids had cell phones, so it took a minute to clarify. It would be much easier to explain today.
They seemed impressed and engaged. I was happy. I shared what skills I needed to do my job with the kids and what they should be focusing on as they get older.
Math. Reading. Writing. Speaking.
But then I told them there was one skill they had to master above them all: LEARN TO LEARN.
“Make it your superpower. Become a superhero”.
“Ohhhhh,” they echoed in unison.
“As we move into the future, you will need to learn new skills quickly and efficiently. Jobs will exist in the future that doesn’t even exist today. You will solve problems and make the world a better place. Learning to learn will make this easier.”
“The more skills you learn and start to stack, the more valuable you will become.”
I ended my speech. They applauded and then came and asked me if I was really Fe’s daddy. I nodded.
This was 2009. They’re all entering the workforce now and going to college.
I often wonder if I made an impact and if at least one of them to became a superhero.
