JOAT (eBook)

Life Lessons from a Jill of All Trades

Kristin Massey (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
240 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-8481-1 (ISBN)

Infos

In 'The JOAT: Life Lessons From A Jill of All Trades', Kristin Massey introduces her innovative concept of 'skill-stitching,' a transformative approach that blends diverse skills into a powerful tapestry of abilities.

Kristin Massey is a multifaceted creative with an impressive background as a recording artist in the group Red Siren and a voice-over artist. Her passion for culinary arts has blossomed into a successful career as a recipe developer, allowing her to create recipes for bestselling books and numerous health and fitness publications.

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In "e;The JOAT: Life Lessons From A Jill of All Trades"e;, Kristin introduces her innovative concept of "e;skill-stitching,"e; a transformative approach that blends diverse skills into a powerful tapestry of abilities. Negotiating her way from the bustling streets of Chicago and New York City to the sun-soaked boulevards of Los Angeles, each chapter unfolds with a new challenge, a fresh perspective, and actionable insights. Kristin's ability to turn failure into an asset teaches readers to embrace setbacks as steppingstones to success. Much like a modern-day Odysseus, she navigates the complexities of life with resilience and creativity, guiding readers to embrace their unique talents and confidently face life's challenges.

Textauszug

Chapter 2

Stage

When I was 12, my bedroom shelf was lined with second-place trophies from speed skating. Every January, I entered the local competition in my hometown of Glencoe, Illinois, hoping to win my age division. Luck, however, favored another skater, Lisa, who consistently outshone me with her collection of first-place trophies. Lisa wasn’t just a better skater than me – she excelled in almost everything she did. Interestingly, having her as my best friend inspired me to improve in all areas of my life.

You’ve probably heard about studies suggesting that the people you surround yourself with can significantly impact your future endeavors. It’s true – influential individuals can profoundly shape our decisions and pathways. I was always drawn to high achievers like Lisa. Her magnetic pull towards success seeped into every aspect of my life, nudging me to take chances and push limits. Left to my own devices, I probably wouldn’t have attempted half the things we pursued, but I was all in with Lisa by my side. As Tim Ferriss and Tony Robbins have noted, supportive companions can positively influence our behaviors and habits, leading us to evolve alongside them. In my case, this positive influence extended to a wide array of activities, whether competitive, like sports, or more collaborative, like music and scouting.

Over time, I met other inspiring students and amazing young women whose chosen career paths exemplified their exceptionalism. From entertainment law to medicine to talent representation, my circle of friends continued to push boundaries and achieve greatness.

Lisa maintained her pursuit of excellence, taking home the state volleyball championship in high school and earning a Landscape Architecture degree from Harvard. Today, she has a great family life, an award-winning art career with regular gallery shows, and a prime teaching position. During a recent conversation she surprised me by confessing that there were challenges she never would have accepted without my motivation and influence. Wow. This affirmation from a childhood “partner in crime” shows the profound value of shared experiences and camaraderie in a lifelong friendship—something no number of first-place trophies could ever measure up to.

What’s a JOAT anyway?

Think of a JOAT as a “Joiner Of All Talents.”

Being a JOAT means you are:

1. Constantly learning.
2. Curious about the world.
3. Fun and like to have fun.
4. Brave.
5. Seeing yourself as being successful.
6. Helping others be their best selves.
7. Having your friend’s backs.
8. Being a good life partner.
9. Putting in the time needed to excel.
10. Thriving in a creative environment.
11. Living your life to the fullest and not limiting yourself to one pursuit.
12. Never quitting but pivoting.
13. Being lazy sometimes (going above and beyond other times).
14. Having a resume that reads like a well-lived life fueled by dopamine.

Dopamine:
The Skill-Stitching Neurotransmitter

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to planning and pleasure that plays a role in motivation and learning. It influences our drive for exploration and aids in habit formation and skill development. To a JOAT, dopamine is like jet fuel.

On the ice and in the park with Lisa after school, I should have realized that what truly excited me wasn’t just trying to win but the thrill of learning new skills and exploring novel ideas. I discovered I was addicted to both the adventurous lifestyle and the dopamine rushes it provided. These neurochemical rewards gave me powerful encouragement, a biochemical pat on the back for bravery. My brain signaled, “Well done! Keep pushing forward!” Whether beginning a new journey or taking a risk, dopamine consistently fueled my excitement and bolstered my confidence to face any challenge.

Dopamine is essential in shaping our habits over time. When we consistently participate in novel activities, our brain forges a powerful connection between these experiences and the pleasurable dopamine release they induce. It’s like an adrenaline rush that rewards us for conquering new worlds, with the promise of exciting experiences to come.

The Dopamine Dilemma:
Breaking the Click Bait Spell

There is a darker side to these habits when they become harmful. The founders of Facebook and Instagram, among others, have engineered their services to trigger frequent dopamine releases. Algorithmic strategies capitalize on users’ craving for instant gratification, offering experiences promoting appearance and material possessions, rather than fostering the deeper values of intelligence, achievement and empathy. Exploiting the reward centers in their brains, social platforms specifically attract adolescents, keeping them hooked by creating a cycle of interaction that can be highly addictive.

Studies show that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health, including depression and anxiety. Excessive and problematic social media use has been linked to sleep and attention problems and feelings of exclusion.

When harnessed positively, dopamine rewards us for venturing beyond our comfort zones. The dopamine release in our brains during new experiences reinforces our behavior, sparks our curiosity, and enhances our ability to learn and remember. Think of dopamine as the ultimate motivator for those striving to master multiple skills and become a “Jill (or Jack) of all Trades.”

(See: A JOAT’s Guide to Dopamine at the end of this chapter.)

Everyone Needs A Mr. Erickson

Life before turning eight years old had me feeling overlooked and undervalued by my teachers. Luckily, my parents decided to move us when I was in third grade, which wholly transformed my world. Moving across a freeway landed me smack dab in the middle of a wonderland called Central School, where I transformed from Zero to Hero, all thanks to my new principal, Norm Erickson.

When Mr. Erickson walked into my classroom and took a moment to kneel beside my desk, his warm greeting instantly made me feel at home. At that moment, I went from assuming I didn’t belong to believing I mattered. He encouraged me to get involved in different activities, like talent shows, school plays, and writing contests, which I was excited to take part in. Moving to a new school didn’t change my identity, but knowing my efforts would be seen and valued pushed me to do better. Instead of feeling ignored and alone, being recognized and appreciated by my teachers increased my motivation and self-esteem.

Once I started believing in myself, achievement became a self-fulfilling prophecy. This phenomenon is called the Pygmalion Effect, based on the improvement observed when we think our actions matter. Also referred to as the Observer Expectancy Effect, it states that belief in another person’s potential brings that potential to life.

Having a mentor like Mr. Erickson in your corner can make a difference—someone who sees your potential and inspires you to shoot for the stars. I see myself in that role for you, offering guidance and encouragement as you work towards your aspirations. By sharing my highs and lows, I hope to help you make well-informed choices, recognize opportunities, and side-step speed bumps as they come along.

Here are some key takeaways from my journey:

• Learn from my successes: Note what worked well for me and consider applying those strategies in your own life.
• Avoid my mistakes: Be aware of the missteps I’ve made so you can steer clear of similar challenges.
• Be open to all of life’s experiences; stepping out of your comfort zone can lead to personal growth. As you pursue your path, remember that taking care of yourself while being mindful of others is essential.

A little support can make all the difference in overcoming life’s challenges—everyone needs a Mr. Erickson.

High School and College: The CliffsNotes

As I entered my teenage years, like many kids, I began to crave new adventures and experiences; my interests started to broaden, and I wanted to explore more of what the world had to offer. Our next-door neighbor Stacy introduced me to haute couture with her chic fashion sense and British Vogue subscription. I loved the look of U.K. bands, especially the Rolling Stones, and wanted to dress and sound like them. Without American Idol or The Voice coming to town to search for talent, my chances of being discovered were slim. So, I sang with my friend Loraine in a girls’ choir, jammed with Karie (a Matey), and played the world-famous blues bars on the South Side of Chicago while practicing those “moves like Jagger.”

During my senior year, I landed a job at a realty company in Winnetka, a neighboring village on the North Shore. They asked me to come in two afternoons a week to organize new listings into notebooks, categorizing them by price and location. The only issue was that I wanted to avoid juggling work and school on the same day. I mean, if you could arrange it, who wouldn’t? So, I struck a deal with my dad: he would call the school to provide excuses for my absences. In return, I’d attend classes three days a week and...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 10.6.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Beruf / Finanzen / Recht / Wirtschaft
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3509-8481-1 / 9798350984811