Tag Archives: Skill

How Do I Improve?

Posted on February 7, 2012 by AJ Kessler

Someone wrote to me today asking how to improve their photography.  I wrote back a short reply, and realized it is in no way limited to photography: Hi S., Thanks very much! My advice to you would be to look … Continue reading →

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Everyone Else Is Smarter Than Me

Posted on January 9, 2012 by AJ Kessler

If you’ve ever watched the Olympics, or professional football or basketball, you know what sheer talent looks like.  Right?  You know what god-given ability looks like: Usain Bolt demolishing runners in every race he enters; Michael Phelps beating the world’s … Continue reading →

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Do It Because You’re Bad At It

Posted on November 21, 2011 by AJ Kessler

From 0 to 18, we’re constantly doing stuff we’re bad at.  It starts out with just being by ourselves at night, then walking, then talking.  Eventually, we go off to school.  We’re out of our comfort zones, meeting all kinds … Continue reading →

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The Danger of Being Self-Deprecating

Posted on November 16, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Being self-deprecating can be extremely useful, especially if you wield any sort of power or authority.  Making fun of yourself, or belittling your own skills, can put other people at ease, can make people like you, and strangely enough, make … Continue reading →

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Skill Rot, or Why You Shouldn’t Learn That

Posted on November 7, 2011 by AJ Kessler

It’s not like riding a bike: you can’t hop right back on and it doesn’t come back easily, even though you still might end up getting your groin impaled by the contraption you’re trying to control. Skill rot is what … Continue reading →

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Look Better and Get Better By Culling

Posted on November 2, 2011 by AJ Kessler

It’s important to go back and review your old work.  Just a little time away from it and you can look at it with fresh eyes.  Enough time away from it and you can look at it with someone else’s … Continue reading →

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“You Can’t Compete On My Level”

Posted on October 9, 2011 by AJ Kessler

Someone said that to me today. It’s 100% true. He’s been doing this for 30 years, and he’s goddamned good at it.  Unlike most people, he doesn’t have 1 year of experience 30 times over, or even 5 years of … Continue reading →

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How to Earn Their Trust and Stop the Nagging

Posted on October 7, 2011 by AJ Kessler

There’s generally a big lag time between the time you make a change and the time that change is recognized. You undoubtedly noticed this as a child.  You demonstrate you know something, or know how to perform some task, but … Continue reading →

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The World’s Most Valuable Skill

Posted on July 1, 2011 by AJ Kessler

It’s not the ability to pick stocks or spot market trends.  It’s not the ability to sniff out which wells will produce oil or which methods will cure cancer.  It’s not the ability to mange people or leverage their talents … Continue reading →

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