#60 Listening Speeds and Learning New Skills

Welcome back!

Spring is officially upon us, and we figured it’s as good a time as any to check in on those New Year’s resolutions.

What did you resolve to do back in January? How’s that coming along?

We think any resolution, any way that we can improve ourselves, is fantastic, but we’re particularly fond of those focused on growth.

And the best way to grow, year over year, is to commit to learning (and perhaps mastering) a single new skill.

So, think about it - what’s the last new skill you learned? What new skill would you like to learn next? And once you do learn it, what do you plan to do with it?

If you’re not growing, you’re stagnating, and if you’re stagnating, you’re getting left behind.

We can’t have that. We won’t allow it. No one’s getting left behind. In fact, we’re doing the exact opposite. Like those clocks last week, we’re springing forward!

Let’s get to it.

Here are the Seeds We’re Planting This Week:

💰️ Why You Should Learn a Skill You Can Sell

👍️ Listening at Different Speeds

💡 Master ChatGPT in a Day

➕ Much. More.

Expert Advice 🤝 

Who is Steve Adcock?

• He runs Millionaire Habits website and newsletter, the latter of which has over 37K subs.
  

• His work has been featured in CNBC, Forbes, Business Insider, Market Watch, and many more publications. He also has over 318K followers on X.

Who is Codie Sanchez?

• She’s the founder of Contrarian Thinking, self-described as “the world’s first free-thinking finance and media company.” It has many offerings, all of which can be found here.
  

• She has over 483K followers on X.

Making Cents 💰️ 

Why You Should Learn a Skill You Can Sell

Short and Sweet: You know this by now - in 2024, multiple streams of income is the norm. Learning a profitable skill opens the door to new streams.

Why It Matters: Because the more sellable skills you have, the greater your value in the marketplace. In addition to creating new income streams, this also makes you more attractive to potential clients or employers.

💡 Let’s Get Specific: 3 Benefits To Learning a Skill That Can Sell

• Client Acquisition: Learning a high-demand digital marketing skill (Copywriting, SEO, Email Marketing, Content Curation etc.), for example, can assist in a steady stream of clients.

• Earning Potential Optimization: Diversifying your skill set and client base optimizes your earning potential, ensuring you're not overly reliant on a single income source.

• Career Growth: Expanding into new skill areas not only enhances your marketability but also keeps your career and personal aspirations evolving. This can prevent burnout, raise your professional ceiling, and increase your confidence.

🎥 Let’s Take Action: 4 Things to Do ASAP

1. Identify Your Interest: Start by pinpointing a skill that’s not only in demand but also sparks your interest. Passion is key to sustained learning.

2. USE CHATGPT: There’s no excuse to not use AI during this phase. Take 25 minutes to brain dump your interests to the bot and see how far you get. Remember, when prompting: be specific!

3. Utilize Online Platforms: Join a Skool Community, Udemy, YouTube (*go down a rabbit hole*), or LinkedIn Learning to find courses taught by industry experts. Many offer free trials or are affordably-priced. (There are also infinite numbers of resources online if you want to go the free route.)

4. Real World Action: Apply what you learn through your current projects at work. Real-world application gives you a sense of what you’re already interested in.

(PSA: It's not just about making money; it's about discovering a new part of yourself, pushing your limits, and potentially finding a passion that could bring joy and fulfillment beyond financial gains. The journey of skill acquisition could be the most rewarding venture you embark on all year.)

Hustle Hub 📈 

• YOUR SUCCESS: 8 side-hustles to try this year, courtesy of a couple of experts.

• THEIR SUCCESS: Here’s how two friends’ side-hustle became a full-time gig that’ll bring in $500 MILLION this year.

• YOUR SUCCESS: In light of today’s Making Cents, here’s a throwback from January published by Forbes: 8 high-income skills to learn.

Always Informed 🦾 

👍 CHATGPT: Since it’s inception, this section has been about keeping you updated on AI news, and moving forward it will continue to do that.

But considering today’s focus - the importance of learning a new skill - why not use this space to give you information that can either A) become your new skill, or B) help you develop one?

Courtesy of Superhuman newsletter, here is an easy-to-understand breakdown of how to master ChatGPT:

Cool Communicator 😎 

✍️ LISTENING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS

As this section likes to remind every now and again, good communication isn’t just being able to speak and write well; you need to be as good taking information in as you are sending it out.

A recent article entitled “How to Be a Good Listener” from Psychology Today focused on the importance of being able to listen in different speeds, or modes: “fast mode” and “slow mode.”

Normally we’d be more than happy to give you our human TL;DR Takeaways, but today we’ve decided to demonstrate ChatGPT’s prowess as an information-summarizing intern:

CHATGPT’S TL;DR Takeaways:

1. Synopsis: The text discusses the different paces of conversation and how they affect intimacy and understanding between individuals. It emphasizes the importance of being a good listener in various contexts and highlights the benefits of both fast and slow listening styles.

2. What is fast listening? A "fast listening style" refers to a conversational mode where individuals engage in rapid exchanges. In this style, conversation partners are tightly aligned in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, allowing for an intimate and connected experience. It requires heightened levels of attention to maintain the pace of the conversation. It can be particularly effective in situations where the content of the conversation matters less than the shared experience.

3. What is slow listening? A "slow listening style" involves engaging in conversation at a more measured and deliberate pace. In this style, individuals take their time to carefully consider their responses, often pausing to fully absorb what the speaker has said before formulating their own thoughts. This style is particularly effective in situations where the topic is complex and allows for deeper reflection and thoughtful responses.

4. So…what can I do ASAP to become a better listener? Be adaptable! Recognize when to employ a fast or slow listening style depending on the conversation's nature and goals. Be ready to respond quickly if the conversation calls for a “fast listening style,” or pause to listen carefully if the situation calls for a “slow listening style.”

O.T.F O.F.T = ONE FINAL THOUGHT

Unlike with ChatGPT, there is no cheat sheet that can teach you how to master communication. Every situation is unique and requires its own strategic approach.

The only way to even begin to know how to handle each of these unique situations is to pick up on the little things.

This requires patience, practice, attention to detail, and of course, being a good listener.

Before You Go

We hope you enjoyed this edition of OTF.

Next week, we’ll be back with some new Convo Starters, how to deal with people who talk too much, and a 2-DO to take you into April.

See you then!

You are now On The Fly and In The Know.