Think of the Children

I’m not sure it’s worth offering life and career advice to your kids. Because, it’s sort of their job to ignore you. Following some biological instinct to run in the opposite direction of your sage advice.

But regardless, parents have instincts too. And that’s to share some of our scarred wisdom. But given the future looks like a big ball of tangled wool that bears no resemblance to our own lived experience, what wisdom do we possibly have to offer?

Here’s my top 10 (for now). They change weekly at the moment.

1. Don’t worry too much about standardised tests — They’re standardising for the wrong intelligence
2. Worry a lot about being socially pleasant to be around — You’ll want to be around people, no matter what
3. Get excited about asking really good questions — When all answers are available instantly, the secret is learning how to ask
4. Obsess over interrogating information to solidify and justify what you believe (aka critical thinking) — The world is full of facts, but your unique perspective of them is what will set you apart
5. Make art. In any form —Obsess over honest, vulnerable self-expression through a craft — No matter the power of the machines, this is what we’ll still crave and will form culture
6. Indulge in loving nature — In a hyper-connected, hyper-fast, hyper-intelligent life, this will be the crucible of your sanity
7. Have agency — Autonomously think about what the world needs, and how you can contribute to that — Don’t wait to be given work, or shown the way. You must learn to carve your own path
8. Learn how to run your own business — Entrepreneurship and learning how to turn ideas into value is the only safe career path ahead
9. Embrace unlearning, and relearning. Repeatedly. — Expertise is dangerous. We must get comfortable with the discomfort of always being a newbie
10. Dream — The scale of your ambition is likely smaller than the scale of what’s possible. Don’t be your own ceiling.

Parent or not, I’m sure you all have your own set.

What are yours??

Particularly keen to hear from anyone shaping education in any form right now. As, humbly, it feels like we're some miles off the mark.