CONTEXT

School prepares us for tests, but it doesn’t necessarily teach us the skills we need to navigate adult life.

We talk a lot about mentors in our careers. But for many of us, our mom was our first mentor. 

Long before life coaches or exec advisors, mom was there teaching the “adulting” skills that no curriculum covered.

Here are 7 essential skills I wish were taught in every classroom. Thank you so much, Mom, for teaching me these at our kitchen table. ❤️

THE 7 SKILLS

1. Personal finance:

• How to establish good credit early

• How to set up an investment portfolio

• How to do taxes

Recommended reading: I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

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2. Public speaking:

• How to avoid filler words

• How to overcome stage fright

• How to tell a great story

Recommended reading: Talk Like TED by Carmine Gallo

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3. Time management:

• How to organize your calendar

• How to prioritize your tasks

• How to avoid burnout

Recommended reading: Essentialism by Greg McKeown

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4. Emotional intelligence:

• How to master your own emotions

• How to create a safe space for others

• How to build relationships that last a lifetime

Recommended reading: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

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5. Self-discipline

• How to keep up healthy habits

• How to spend less time on your phone

• How to follow through on commitmentsRecommended reading:

Recommended reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear

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6. Critical thinking

• How to challenge assumptions

• How to receive (and give) feedback

• How to make informed decisions

Recommended reading: The Almanack of Naval Ravikant by Eric Jorgensen

(Btw— you can download this entire book for free at this site. It’s wild that they’re giving it away for $0).

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7. Negotiation

• How to advocate for yourself

• How to ask the right questions

• How to think of win-win solutions

Recommended reading: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

CLOSING THOUGHTS

There are so many more skills that might come to mind: how to lift weights, get better sleep, write AI prompts, enjoy nutrient-dense meals, file taxes. 😅 

But the 7 listed above are pretty timeless and universal.

School taught me facts, but my mom taught me skills. The things I learned at home prepared me for the tests in life that matter most.

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone who celebrated yesterday— and especially to all the moms who teach their children the lessons that they wish they learned earlier.

Until next week,

Jade

P.S. Honestly, one skill I definitely wish I learned sooner was how to make money online.

🎉 HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to everyone who joined the May cohort of Archimedes. This group blows me away. You’re Tech CEOs, Founders, Marketing Leaders, Startup Advisors, Exec Coaches, Keynote Speakers and so much more. I can’t wait to meet you in our welcome session tomorrow. You’re about to learn the entire system that grew my LinkedIn from 1k to 400k followers in 2 years.

Missed out on this cohort? The next time we’ll run this program will be at the end of July. Learn more and read member reviews at JoinArchimedes.com

P.P.S. Sending a warm welcome to everyone who joined this community since last week. Learn more about The Quiet Rich here. 🎉